Goat Care
Health
In our researching in learning how to raise our goats we have found that they are some diseases that can be passed to humans. In testing our herd we are looking for CAE/Johnes and CL and other disease that can be present; if left untreated can be fatal to our small herd. They get tested once a year. We also do not bring any outside animals to our herd without testing as they could be a carrier for these diseases. For breeding we work with our mentors to rent time with their bucks that are tested for the same diseases. Please know that we do not believe in-breeding. We also administer our herd supplements and copper bolus twice a year. Keeping their copper levels up helps with their immune system. However, every animal is different and it is important to know what your animal needs are and consult with your vet. Deworming is also important as it helps keep them healthy. It is recommended to deworm them twice a year. It is important to rotate the dewormer as they can become immune to it remember to test them for this as well. All this information can be found in their health chart when you login. One disease that we are extremely careful as mentioned above are CAE/Johnes/CL and BoSe in does. This can be fatal to our herd and also be transmitted to humans. Overall things please consider finding a vet that is willing to work with you and your herd.
Hooves
Goats need to have their hooves trimmed. Every goat is different we recommend to trim their hooves every 4-6 weeks (remember that this will vary by goat and the ground that they walk on). Our mentor taught us how this can be. Our herd is very small so we clean their area once a month. It is important to keep their area clean as it helps keep them healthy. As our herd grows we plan on cleaning their area four times a year; spring, summer, fall, and twice in the winter.
Debudding and Castration
Debudding and castration are performed by our local vet.
Feeding
What do I feed my herd? Food is not always the same as it is dependent on the season, the age of the goat, and the area that someone is living in. Some food recourses are not available in all areas. Researching ahead of time can help in the feeding process. Goats are picky eaters. It is also important that they have access to clean water at all times. We have our herd on a feeding schedule as it helps them to know when they are going to be fed. In our opinion we believe that when an animal knows when they are going to be fed they are less likely to be stressed out. Like humans they thrive on routine. At the moment we feed our herd twice a day. In the morning and evening they get alfalfa. We live in a farming community giving us access to fresh quality alfalfa. Our does also have access to a pasture where they can graze. We have also made mineral tubes it is a mixture of minerals, baking soda, and salt. This helps with their digestion and it is a great way to give them minerals. It helps keep the area clean as they are not stepping on the minerals and it is not getting wet. We also give our girls treats. When our does give birth we include more minerals in their diet.
Bucks and Wethers
At the moment we do not have either as we have just started our herd. Please know that Bucks and Wethers are highly susceptible to urinary calculi. In other words urinary stones. This is a very painful condition that can be fatal if not treated. How is urinary calculi formed? Well it is formed when the buck or wether is not getting enough water and the minerals are not being flushed out of their system. When the ratios of calcium-to-phosphorus or other minerals are not adequate. That is why prevention to this is very important. One thing is do not feed grain to wethers and bucks. Wethers and bucks should not be fed alfalfa but lose hay and once in a while lose grains. Avoid feeding high calcium grains to wethers and bucks. Always ensure fresh water is available, along with ammonium chloride. Please note that if it is left untreated it can be fatal. Always consult with your vet.
Housing and Fencing
It is important to provide a safe and clean environment for your herd. We started with a dog house and a small area for them to roam. We have since then expanded their area and we are in the process of building a small barn. We have found that it is important to have a clean area for them to sleep in and to have a place where they can get out of the weather. Note that goats do not like to be wet. They should have a hay feeder and a mineral feeder. This can be made or bought; because are herd is so small we decided to buy a hay feeder but make a mineral feeder. Pinterest is your best friend for many different ideas. Goats should have a clean water source at all times. We use a small bucket that we change out daily. Remember our herd is small. We are in the process of making their own play area that we have designed ourselves. If you are interested in the plans please let us know. We would be more than happy to provide where we got our resources and how it was made. It is important to have a fence that is strong and that they can not get out of. We stared with a rigid steel wire that start with very small openings (great for kidding) and gradually gets bigger. The fence should be high enough so that they can not jump out of their pen. For their bedding we use straw reason to this is because it is easy to clean and it is not expensive. In the winter as it helps keep them warm. Before we put down the bedding we lay down some lime.
Milking
We are continuing our research on milking and will provide more information as we gain experience.
Buying
Things to consider when bringing a goat home below you will find some resources that we reverted to when we first started. One important thing that we ask when considering buying a goat is who the seller is. Every animal is a responsibility regardless of the size or type. It is important that you buy from a responsible, reputable and ethical breeder. Make sure you ask question and do your research. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Goats are not individual animals they are herd animals. When buying a goat it is important to buy at least two.
Buying
Things to consider when bringing a goat home below you will find some resources that we reverted to when we first started. One important thing that we ask when considering buying a goat is who the seller is. Every animal is a responsibility regardless of the size or type. It is important that you buy from a responsible, reputable and ethical breeder. Make sure you ask question and do your research. We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Goats are not individual animals they are herd animals. When buying a goat it is important to buy at least two.
Helpful Books
Books that we have found helpful are:
Helpful Resources
Websites that we have found helpful are:
Overall please know that you need to establish a relationship with your vet as they are one of the most important person in your herd. Feel free to ask if you have any questions. We want to help you grow in your journey as we have grown in ours.