My husband and I decided to grow our animal family by adding goats. The goats are more my husband's project as I am loaded with my own projects, yet I still love and help them. So, here's what we've learned and studied so far when it comes to adding goats to your farm or stead.
Social - Goats are very social, so it is best to have two goats at the very least.
Lovey - Goats love scratches and cuddles. They might even try to give you a hug, or at least that is what it seems like. Haha...either way, plan for cuddle time. This may not be true of all breeds and I'm assuming different with bucks.
Smart - Goats are pretty smart, so be prepared to make sure your fences and gates are latched and secured well. When I was growing up, I had sheep, and I can say that our goats are much smarter than the sheep I had.
Noise - Some breeds can be pretty darn loud. Our La Manchas are not too bad. They start to "maa" when they see us, and a little after we leave, but eventually they quiet down.
Milk, Meat, Fiber - Some goat breeds can fit more than one category, but there are breeds that are better for meat or dairy. You will want to research the breeds that are best suited for your needs. There are also some breeds suited for fiber production (their coats).
Dairy: Alpine, La Manchas, Nigerian Dwarf, Toggenburg
Meat: Boer, Spanish, Kiko, Rangeland
Fiber: Angora
Registration - There is, at least for dairy, registering. Our kids have been tattooed and registered, which is something we looked for when purchasing. It helped weed out any goats that may not come from good pedigree. Here's the dairy association - ADGA. I will say that their registration can be very slow and customer service non existent.
Grazing - Not all breeds are best for grazing. So, don't go on Craigslist and buy the first goat you see. Boer, Pygmy, and Alpines are goats that are great for grazing. With our La Manchas, I have noticed when walking them that they are sample eaters and prefer shrubs. I've never seen them full on graze, so I don't think our girls would be fit for grazing.
If you have a ton of poison oak or tree/shrubbery on your property, goats are great for that. Just thinking though, I would probably not use goats for meat and milk that have eaten poison oak, but I could be wrong on that.
Trees - Goats will destroy trees. So if there is a tree you love, keep the tree fenced away. Goats can climb trees and will not only enjoy the leaves, but the bark as well. They love oak trees
Fencing - Number one priority for the paddock is fencing. You will want to invest in strong fencing to keep these rascals not only fenced in, but predators out. When thinking of your paddock, go with something strong like oil pipe fencing or chain link. Along with that, hot wire fencing is important to add along the paddock. Currently, we just have hot wire mesh only as we are still working on the permanent fencing and haven't had a problem.
Shelter - Goats do not enjoy rain. Some animals aren't phased by rain, but goats really do not like rain, so you will want to plan a good shelter for the goats. You can do a DIY pallet shelter, but that is not going to last long. I would say you want something more like a shed, playhouse, or barn where the goats can retreat and feel safe. Just make sure that there is some ventilation in whatever you create for them.
Platforms - Goats prefer to sleep up high, so consider adding platforms to your shelter as well as things for them to lay or stand on outside in the paddock.
Vet - Make sure to start out with a good, reputable vet and have your goats checked within the first month to get going in the right direction with their health.
Feed - Your vet will direct you on what to feed your goats as they may have different needs at different stages of life and season. Alfalfa is a well known feed and it is high in protein. It comes in bale or pellet forms. Forage is another common hay for goats, which will have more "greens" for them. One thing to note is that you should factor feed into their expense as bales right now are anywhere between $25-$35 and going up. In the Paso Robles area, we like buying from Premier Ag. They are well priced and will load for you.
You can also look at Farm Supply (multiple locations), Templeton Feed & Grain, Atascadero Hay & Feed, and Rohrer Hay in Creston. Prices will vary by location, so shop around and check the quality.
Treats - Goats can enjoy some treats such as specifically made goat treats, leafy greens, and even black oil sunflower seeds. Our goats go crazy for black oil sunflower seeds and kale.
Waterer and Feeder - You will need a waterer and feeder. There are feed bags and hay holders that can be drilled into the wall. You do not need to drop a couple hundred on stand alone feeders. There are also little feeders for minerals and treats that can be hooked to a fence or hay feeder with carabiners. As far as a waterer, you can get an automatic waterer or get a clean bucket. Whatever you choose for water, it will need to be cleaned.
Minerals - Super important, goats need minerals and copper. There's an UltraCruz shop in Paso Robles (3600 Dry Creek Rd. Paso Robles, CA 93446) that carries a lot of items for horses and other animals like goats and chickens. Also check out Farm Supply.
Baking Soda - This is a great thing for goat digestion and yes, they will eat it.
Deworming - Natural vs. Traditional Dewormers is up to you. There's a lot of thoughts both ways. Here's a natural dewormer I'm aware of. An example of a traditional dewormer would be like ivermectin.
Medical Box Ready (we do medical boxes for all our animals)
Hopefully, I've covered enough and not missed too many items as I am newer to goat keeping. It is an overview to help you budget and see if goats are a great fit for your life. Goats are definitely a step up from owning chickens and dogs, but they are very rewarding and a lot of fun.
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