Raising goats? Everything you need to know here…
As with any animal, there are countless amounts of information to learn about goats. But what a delightful creature! Hardy and full of spunk, they provide companionship, milk products, and cute kids! Enjoy our Goat IQ: Raising Goats page!
In my years of goat ownership, I’ve realized one thing: I love my goats. I LOVE raising goats!
And the more I learn, the more I realize that there is always more to learn.
Raising Goats for Beginners. Start here:
With that said, never let anyone shame you for not knowing all there is to know about raising goats. We all start somewhere. There is a lot to learn from reading AND from experience. And the combination of both will continue to make you a great goat owner.
A-Z Goat Information:
Abscesses in Goats: Identification, Types and Effective Treatment
Adaptability and Goats: Surviving and Thriving
Analyzing Hay and Forage for Goats
Basics to Raising Goats–5 Tips!
Breeding and Pregnancy Tips for Goats
Breeding for Optimal Milk Production
Breeding Goats for Best Results
Breeding Stock: Avoiding mistakes when purchasing
Broadleaves: Why they are better for goats
CAE: Prevention, Management, and Treatment
Chocolate Pudding from Goat Milk
Choose Goals and Mentors Wisely
Copper Bolus: safe for pregnant goats?
Coughing: Normal or Sick in Goats
Dietary Needs of Goats–the Realistic Realities
Diseases: Prevention, Control and Management
Euthanasia: When to Consider Putting Down a Goat
Fainting Goats: The Truth About Fainting Goats
Feeding Goats: Terms You Should Know
Fencing, Pen, and Pasture Setup for Goats
Fencing: Pallet fencing for small animals
First Goat: What You need before bringing them home
Geriatric Goats: How to Care for Old Goats
Hay, Forage and Feed to Give Goats
Heat Stress and Heat Stroke in Goats
Heredity and Environment in Dairy Goat Development
Hooves: How to Trim Goat Hooves
Horns on Goats: Pros, Cons, and Purpose
How to Convince Your Parents to Get Goats
Hydrating a Sick Goat: Vital to Recovery
Injections: Your Comprehensive Guide to Giving Injections to Goats
Lifespan of Goats: how long do they live?
Livestock Guardian Dogs for Goats (LGDs)
Long Stem Fiber is Essential for Goats
Lumps: Lumps or Abscesses on a Goat’s Face, Neck or Jaw
Management: Goat Management: Successes and Pitfalls
Market: How to Determine Your Market
Marketing for Goat Product Sales Directly from the Farm
Markets: 7 Goat Markets to Choose From
Medications: Extra-label and Off-label medications for goats
Milking: Training New Goats to Milk
Milk Goiters/Milk Neck in Goat Kids
Milking Goats: Prepare for them!
Mineral Guide: Complete Goat Guide
Minerals: Can Goat Kids Have Minerals?
Mow Your Goat Pastures–Here’s Why!
Needles and Syringes for Goats
Newborn and Young Kid Health Challenges
Newborns and Young Kids Up to One Year
Nutrition for Goats: Complete Guide
Nutrition: 4 Tips for Optimal Goat Nutrition
Organic and Natural Practices for Raising Goats
Parasite Information Book and Binder
Pedigrees, Registries, and Genetics in Goat Breeding
Preventative Care: Raising a Better Goat
Profit with Goats: Free Course
Protein: Excessive protein problems
Raw Milk: is it safe for kids and babies?
Sickness and Disease: 5 to be aware of
Sickness: Sometimes an “easy” fix
Sick or Injured Goat: Answer these Questions First
Stress in Goats: How to prevent it and stop it
Tips: Considering goats-Here’s what you need to know
Types of Goats: Milk, Meat, Fiber
Vaccines: Multivalent-Are They Safe or Not?
Vaccines: Which are available and Necessary or not
Vaccinating and Deworming Goats
Water Source: How it’s affecting your goats
Weeds and Leaves: Why Goats do Best on Weeds and Leaves (and not grass)
Winter and Goats and how to care for them
What I Wish I Had Known Before Owning Goats
The posts below will encourage you to learn all there is to know about how to prepare for goats, goat health, and caring for your goats through the ups and downs of all the issues that may arise.
6 Reasons Your Farm Needs A Goat
What I wish I had known before owning goats
BEFORE Bringing Home Your First Goat
General Goat Information and Health at a Glance:
• Temperature: 101.5 – 103.5
• Pulse: 70-80 beats per minute
• Respiratory: 15-30 per minute
• Rumen movements (Stomach): 1-1.5 per minute
• Puberty: 7 weeks to 8 months. At weaning (2 months), separate the bucks from does
• Full Growth Size: Goats will continue to grow into their 3rd year
• Estrus/Heat Cycle: 17-23 days
• Gestation: 143-155 days
• Life Span:
• DOES: 11-12 years on average, death is usually kidding-related. Does who retire from breeding, around the age of ten, live longer (16-18 years).
• BUCKS: 8-10 years, the stresses of going into rut each year cause their lifespan to be shorter.
• WETHERS: 11-16 years on average.
Print off the information and hang it in the goat barn!
Necessary for Raising Goats:
Goats are sensitive to the elements and will need a good shelter to get out of the wind, rain, hail, and snow. The shelters linked below are so easy to make, they are economical and have done such a great job of protecting our goats.
Fencing is one of the most important parts of goat ownership. Goats have a knack. A crazy knack for being able to get out and being exactly where they are not wanted. Do your thorough research on which fence will work best for your property and goats.
Below is linked the pallet fence we use. But even with that four-foot fence, my Mini-Nubian buck scaled over that fence like he was a Thoroughbred at the races. And he still had all of his necessary parts intact after reaching the other side, thankfully! And well, he kind of was in a race. A pro-creation race. A doe in heat was being serenaded by another buck. And that was not to his liking.
That is all to say, never underestimate a goat’s will and desire to get OUT!
Pallet Fence: Great for small livestock
Fencing for Goats and Small Livestock
Double Sized Pallet Goat Shelter
Goat Feeder Using Pallet Boards
Follow on Pinterest for more shelters, fencing, feeding, and health care ideas for goats: Follow on Pinterest.
General Goat Care Information:
It helps to be prepared with as much information as possible. We only own a few acres on the edge of a smaller town, so the quest to answer the question, “How to raise goats in my backyard?” is high on the list. And from my experience, goats start out as pets and then they are being raised for profit…because, well…it’s easy to end up with too many goats and then your spouse insists that they need to start paying their own way…
Am I the only one…?
Your Complete Goat Mineral Guide
Goat Feed: Hay Cost Calculator for GOATS
CD&T Vaccination for Goats: What is it?
Milking Goat Needs and Raw Milk Information:
Raising goats is a really good investment if you are interested in a healthy source of milk products and potential income, which could at least pay for the cost of your goats for a year.
We offer an exclusive email series on being profitable on your property, which includes ideas for utilizing the different avenues of income from goats. Your next step would be to sign up here: 230 Ideas to Profit
And did I mention the love of goats? They will give you a beautiful relationship that will benefit your whole family! You will be invested in more ways than one.
Benefits of Raw Milk That YOU Need!
Astounding Benefits of Goat Milk!
How to Build a Pallet Milking Stand
Homemade Milk Filters Using a Bed Skirt
Goat Care Pre and Post Pregnancy:
Even your most special wether needs proper nutrition to remain healthy. And sometimes issues can still arise with the best and most proper care available. And when the issues arise it can be very scary.
Years ago, I didn’t know about goat polio, but now I’ve had the first-hand experience and have learned an incredible amount about the condition. I researched all I could and now combine that with my experience, which makes a complete picture. That’s how life works, even for you! You will read and learn and then experience. All of that will grow you into a better goat owner.
It can be easy to bring home a goat and feel like all will be well, always. I was there once. I had owned a few wethers for a handful of years and had never had any problems.
But when pregnant and lactating animals are present, there is a whole new set of things to think about and deal with. Ketosis really does happen. Goats are actually quite picky and do require a high nutritional diet. Pregnancy complications are a part of the deal. And sometimes kids are born with unknown issues. It can be heartbreaking and sometimes almost too much to bear.
Easy Goat Due Date Calculator & Goat Care During Pregnancy
What is pregnancy toxemia in goats?
Kidding Kit: A Complete List of What You Will Need for Kidding
Ketosis in Goats: What is It and How to Prevent It?
What is hypocalcemia in goats?
And with all that said, I hope you are one step further in your goat ownership journey. It’s a fun journey, isn’t it?
I’m filling you up with things to read in your quest for goat knowledge, I bet you would also enjoy reading these as well: 5 Goat Lessons I Learned the Hard Way, Goats for Dummies Cheat Sheet, Fun and Profit in Goats
- 20 Truths of Raising Goats
- Transporting Goats: Precautions & Prevention
- Top Ten Mistakes Goat Owners Make and How to Avoid Them
- The Truth About “Fainting” Goats
- Stress in Goats: Prevent it, and Stop it
- Preventative Care: Raising a Better Goat
- The Pitfalls of Excessive Protein in Goat Nutrition
- A Guide to the Top Four Essentials to Optimal Goat Nutrition
- Avoiding Mistakes When Purchasing Goat Breeding Stock
- Pedigrees, Registries, and Genetics in Goat Breeding
- Exploring Organic and Natural Practices for Goats
- Extra-Label and Off-Label Medications for Goats
- Needles and Syringes for Goats
- Mowing Goat Pastures Will Help Your Goats
- Abscesses in Goats: Identification, Types, and Effective Treatment
- Newborn and Young Goat Kid Health Challenges
- Tips for Newborns and Young Kids Up to One Year
- Newborn Checklist for Healthy Goat Kids
- Multivalent Vaccines for Goats
- Lumps on a Goat’s Face, Jaw or Neck: What Could it Be?
- Milk Neck (Milk Goiters) in Goats
- Three Types of Goats: Meat, Dairy, and Fiber
- 13 Marketing Tips: Goat Product Sales Directly from the Farm
- Effective Goat Management: Navigating Success and Pitfalls
- Maximizing Goat Auctions
- Long Stem Fiber is Essential for Goats
- When to Consider Euthanasia for a Sick Goat
- Livestock Guardian Dogs for Goats
- WHY Goats Eat Broadleaves and WHY It’s Better for Them
- Goat Sickness: Sometimes an “Easy” Fix
- Considering Goats: Here’s What You Need to Know
- Giving Injections to Goats: A Comprehensive Guide
- Vital Recovery: Hydrating a Sick Goat
- How Many Goats Per Acre?
- Sick or Injured Goat: Answer these questions before asking for help
- Horns on Goats: Pros, Cons, and Purpose
- Heat Stress and Heat Stroke in Goats
- Analyzing Hay and Forage for Goats
- Can Baby Goats Have Minerals?
- Dietary Needs of Goats–The Realistic Realities
- Caring for Geriatric Goats
- Heredity and Environment in Dairy Goat Development
- Why Goats do Best on Weeds and Leaves (and not grass)
- 5 Basics of Raising Goats
- Find Your Vet for Goats NOW!
- Your Guide to Setting up Fencing & Pens for Goats
- Feeding Goats Properly: Understand the Terms
- A Guide to Diverse Goat Markets
- Goat Diseases: Prevention, Control and Management
- Disbudding and Dehorning Goats
- 15 Tips: Deworming Basics for Goats
- A Guide to Vaccinating and Deworming Goats
- Determine the Hay, Forage & Feed to Give Your Goats
- Determine Your Goat Market
- Age of a Goat: A Guide to Accurate Age Determination
- Goat Owners: Choosing Goals and Mentors Wisely
- Natural vs Chemical Deworming in Goats: Pros and Cons
- Buck Housing and Management
- Breeding Your Goats for Optimal Milk Production
- Getting the Best Breeding Results for Your Goat Herd
- Biosecurity on Your Property When You Own Goats
- How Much Does a Goat Cost? And How Much Does a Baby Goat Cost?
- B-Vitamins (Thiamine and B12) are Essential for Goats!
- Goat Health: Understanding Toxoids and Anti-Toxins
- What is a Baby Goat Called?
- What is a Wether Goat? Yup! You need one! Here’s why…
- The Best Milking Stand Ever!
- How to Prevent Ticks on Goats and What to Do If They Get One
- Staph Infections in Goats: How to Treat and Are They Contagious?
- Anemia in Goats: Causes & What You Can Do
- Preserving Goat Adaptability: The Role in Survival & Thriving
- 15 Common Goat Kid Problems: A Comprehensive Guide
- Understanding Founder in Goats: An Awful Hoof Condition
- Understanding CAE in Goats: Prevention, Management, & Treatment
- Lutalyse for Goats
- What is Hypocalcemia in Goats?
- Your Water Source is Affecting Your Goat Herd’s Health
- The Importance of an Emergency Plan to Save Your Animals
- Goat Coughing: Normal or Sick? What You Need to Know!
- Training New Goats to Milk
- Benefits of Raw Milk That YOU Need!
- How to Milk a Goat [7 Easy Steps]
- Easy DIY Goat Mineral Feeder
- 5 Goat Sicknesses and Diseases You NEED to Know About
- CL in Goats | Treatment Plan | All the Facts: Caseous Lymphadenitis
- Goat Binder for Health, Care, and Organization
- Homemade Milk Filters Using a Bed Skirt
- Copper Bolus for Goats: Your Complete Copper Guide!
- How to Build a Pallet Milking Stand
- Are copper boluses safe for pregnant goats?
- Astounding Benefits of Goat Milk!
- Goat Heat Cycle: Is My Goat in Heat?
- Goats in Winter: Care even in Negative Temperatures!
- The [#1 Thing] to Know to Prevent Pregnancy Toxemia in Goats
- Goat Bloat: The Airtight Truth
- DIY, Easy, Free Goat House
- CDT Vaccine for Goats: Necessary or Not?
- Fencing for Goats and Small Livestock: 5 Great Options!
- Goat Gestation Calculator + Scary Pregnancy Problems to Watch For
- 11 Goat Labor Signs You NEED to Know
Line
Monday 21st of March 2022
Hi, we have two , 11 months old pet goats ( mixed breed ) which are eating a complete gaot meal now ( bLUE SEAL cAPRINE cHALLENGER 16% ) & have to decrease & stop feeding it , too rich, getting to fat ( had problems before ) so I'm looking for a good mineral/vitamins free to give free choice & that's what is available here, in Qc : would it be good ?
Shurgain : 15-5 , 15% Calcium, 5% phosphore & others mins & vits, they say that's good for goats ? G
Delci Plouffe
Friday 25th of March 2022
Here is an idea of what you're looking for:
Salt needs to be 14-20% The calcium to phosphorus ratio need to be 2:1 or up to 4:1 Copper between 1800-2500 Zinc 3000-5000 ppm And it should also have cobalt and selenium
I hope you can find something like this!