Raising goats? Everything you need to know.
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.
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
• Rumenmovements (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 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: 90 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 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?
The [#1 Thing] to Know to Prevent Pregnancy Toxemia in Goats
Read MoreDIY, Easy, Free Goat House
Read MoreCDT Vaccine for Goats: Necessary or Not?
Read MoreFencing for Goats and Small Livestock: 5 Great Options!
Read MoreGoat Gestation Calculator + Scary Pregnancy Problems to Watch For
Read More11 Goat Labor Signs You NEED to Know
Read MoreFree Goat Shelter Plans [For 3-6 Goats!]
Read MoreHay Cost Calculator for Goats: How Much Hay Do I Need?
Read MoreWhat You Need BEFORE Bringing Home Your First Goat
Read MorePallet Fence: Great for small livestock
Read MoreWhat I Wish I Had Known Before Owning Goats
Read MoreYour Complete Goat Mineral Guide
Read MoreEasy Homemade Goat’s Milk Chocolate Pudding! 😋
Read MoreWhat Do Goats Eat? Your Goat Nutrition Guide!
Read More13 Reasons YOU Need A Goat
Read MoreHow to Trim Goat Hooves
Read MoreGoats in Winter: Care even in Negative Temperatures!
Read MoreKidding Kit: A Complete List for Goat Birth
Read MoreKetosis in Goats: What is It and How to Prevent It?
Read MoreWhat is Hypocalcemia in Goats?
Read MoreGoat Pneumonia: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment Plan
Read MoreGoat Weight: 4 EASY Ways to Weigh
Read MoreGoat Feeder Using Pallet Boards
Read MoreBasic Goat Health Information
Read MoreHow to Tattoo a Goat (Step-by-Step with Pictures & Video)
Read MoreGoat Pen: The Pen Setup You Need for Your Goats
Read MoreSpring Goat Checklist: Get Your Goats in Tip-Top Shape for the Year
Read MoreGoat Coughing: Normal or Sick? What You Need to Know!
Read MoreGoat Lice: Effective Natural and Chemical Treatments
Read MoreHow Long Do Goats Live? Your Guide to a Goat’s Lifespan
Read MoreIs Goat Cheese Dairy? | Does Goat Cheese Have Lactose?
Read MoreGoat’s Milk for Dogs | What REALLY are the health benefits?
Read MoreHow to convince your parents to get goats
Read MoreHow Much Does a Goat Cost? And How Much Does a Baby Goat Cost?
Read MoreTop Goat Breeding and Pregnancy Tips That Will Help You Immensely!
Read More7 Ways to Prepare for MILKING GOATS!!
Read More5 Goat Sicknesses and Diseases You NEED to Know About
Read MoreCL in Goats | Treatment Plan | All the Facts: Caseous Lymphadenitis
Read MoreRaw Milk Safety: Is goat milk safe for babies and kids?
Read MoreAre copper boluses safe for pregnant goats?
Read MoreGoat Bloat: The Airtight Truth
Read MoreTraining New Goats to Milk
Read MoreCopper Bolus for Goats: Your Complete Copper Guide!
Read MoreGoat Heat Cycle: Is My Goat in Heat?
Read MoreYour Water Source is Affecting Your Goat Herd’s Health
Read MoreFREE Course: 5 Tips to Raising Goats for Profit
Read MoreAwesome Tools, Resources and Recommendations for Your Homestead
Read MoreThe Importance of an Emergency Plan to Save Your Animals
Read MoreEasy DIY Goat Mineral Feeder
Read More27 [More] Goat Gifts You Will Absolutely Love…Really!
Read MoreHow to Milk a Goat [7 Easy Steps]
Read MoreSimple Strip Cup for Milking: A Homestead Hack
Read MoreHomemade Milk Filters Using a Bed Skirt
Read MoreBenefits of Raw Milk That YOU Need!
Read MoreAstounding Benefits of Goat Milk!
Read MoreHow to Build a Pallet Milking Stand
Read More2015 Baby Announcement–NO Kidding!
Read More
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