If I want a goat for a pet, should I get a doe or a wethered male?

[SkyWarrior]

I vote for two wethers. They're cheaper than does and many people will actually GIVE them to you. And they're mild and friendly.

 

[SarahFair]

I would vote a doe and a wether..

 

[ksalvagno]

The problem with mixing the horse and the goat is that you have to be sure that the horse and the goat will accept each other. Whether it will work or not will depend on the individual goat and horse. If you do chose the combination, I would be sure and get a full size goat and not a mini goat. Also make sure that you are getting a gelding mini horse and do not put an intact male in with the goats.

 

[Fluffygal]

Just got rid of an aggressive wether.
There are good boys and bad boys the same as there are good girls and bad girls.
I would get either or if you want pets. Also get them dehorned as they can get rowdy in play.

I started off with horned goats, due to Rufus going bad on me I think dehorned is better.
He did not get me on purpose as he was trying to hurt the girls. I just happened to be in the way. He is gone now and my girls are very relaxed and much more playful now.

 

[GoatCrazyLady]

I have 3 wethers & all are sweet as can be. Very fun loving. Never had a doe so I can't really compare.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I am head over heels for my does...but for a new goat friend I would recommend 2 wethers.....One of my does is just coming out of heat and she is pretty loud! I don't actually mind the noise, but husbands, parents, neighbors, etc, might There is also nothing cuter than 2 baby goat buddies playing hide and seek or chasing each other through hell and highwater all over the yard....even though the beast on their tails is all in their head! And jumping over the roosters on purpose just to make em all flustered is more fun when they have a goat buddy to teach it to!

Ditto on the price tag thing....AND males always seem to get the best color patterns right when you are so ready to keep a girl from that batch.....so you should be able to find some stellar colored wethers much cheaper than a doe. At least with NDs...spots, blue eyes...

About the horse thing, it could work, but some folks have trouble with goats butting and playing rough and goat-like with horses. That doesn't always go over very well.

 

[SarahFair]

If I was you I would buy 2 bottle siblings.
I did this and they were the closest things I have ever seen.
...did not leave each others side. They even softened the stone heart of my SO when hed look out the window and they would be spooning with their necks intertwined.


I say get them as bottle babies so they bond to you.
These two would RUN for me as soon as they heard my voice. If I sat down in the pasture they would curl up next to me..
They were both males. I wethered one and kept one as my buck

 

[willowgem]

I have two Pygmy wethers, they are the sweetest little things
Mine are strictly pets, I didn't go with does because of them going into heat so often.

My vote is for two wethers!