Some Questions About Goats

[LauraJean]

Hi everyone,

I tried to read through some similar posts first, but I have a few specific questions about goats. I'd love to get some, but I'm not sure I have the room.

1. How much room do they need? I have an acre of land, but the only place where there would be room for goats would be in the edge of the woods: small trees, scrub, leaves, no grass. Would that not be suitable? I know they like to munch on scrub, but is a grassy area required? Also, do they need to be moved to graze, or can they just be kept on one large enclosed area?

2. What kind of housing do they need? I can't afford an elaborate barn, but would something as simple as a large shed work? How much room per goat is required per goat (housing and outdoors), and what kind of housing is needed (I'm in NH, so we get bad winters)?

3. Do they need to be milked? I'm sure that's a stupid question (I know, there are no stupid questions), but I'm actually not interested in the milk, nor would I want to have to milk them daily. I was thinking more along the lines of them being backyard pets. Is milking required? And if so, how often?

4. What are there eating habits, is it expensive? What kind of food, hay, etc. would be needed?

5. What type of goat would be a small friendly breed? A larger friendly breed would be okay too I guess, but I'm just thinking smaller would be easier to handle.

If anyone could answer some of these questions for me I would appreciate it. I've always wanted goats, just not sure if it's a large challenge. I live alone and don't want to be overwhelmed if they are a lot to handle.

Thanks guys!

 

[glenolam]

There's an overwhelming amount of information on this site as well as others, so feel free to ask away and you'll get many options and opinions.

1. How much room do they need? I have an acre of land, but the only place where there would be room for goats would be in the edge of the woods: small trees, scrub, leaves, no grass. Would that not be suitable? I know they like to munch on scrub, but is a grassy area required? Also, do they need to be moved to graze, or can they just be kept on one large enclosed area?

That would be fine as long as you have 2 smaller breed goats, like pygmy or nigerians. They don't need a grassy area - my goats live literally in the woods and all they have to eat are trees, leaves, brush and hay.

2. What kind of housing do they need? I can't afford an elaborate barn, but would something as simple as a large shed work? How much room per goat is required per goat (housing and outdoors), and what kind of housing is needed (I'm in NH, so we get bad winters)?

A large shed would be perfect for a few small goats. You do what is best for you and what you can afford. If that's a few small dog houses than that's what it is! You'll just need to make sure their area is fenced really well - they are escape artists! Electric fencing is pretty much the choice for folks on this forum, but we all have differnt ways of applying it. I have 3 strands of electric that run inside field fencing. I think the amount of xx ft / goat really depends on how much of your yard you want to give up. Obviously, the more the better, so if all you can give them is a 10x10 area you may want to rethink goats as pets, but if you are willing to give them 1/4 acre (or something like that) then they'll have plenty of room to play.

3. Do they need to be milked? I'm sure that's a stupid question (I know, there are no stupid questions), but I'm actually not interested in the milk, nor would I want to have to milk them daily. I was thinking more along the lines of them being backyard pets. Is milking required? And if so, how often?

Does don't need to be milked unless you want to milk them. If you choose to get a doe who is in milk, she'll edry up on her own (you'll just need to keep your eye out for mastitis). If you get a doe and decide never to breed her, she'll *most likely* never come into milk (there are cases of precocois udder where they all of a sudden come into milk for no reason,but it's not too common). If all you're looking for is a brush eater/pet, then you should get wethers (neutered males). Wethers typically live longer lives and eat less than lactating does. DO NOT get an intact buck - they will stink to high heaven and when they are in rut they really won't be as nice as you'd like.

4. What are there eating habits, is it expensive? What kind of food, hay, etc. would be needed?

They would need good quality hay and water 24/7. Grain isn't always needed, but should be fed based on their condition. If you get a lactating doe, you'll need a dairy grain, if all you have are wethers, a simple goat feed and/or alfalfa pellets will be a good thing to have. Right now I have 7 goats and I go through a bale every 3 days. When I had 3 goats I went through a bale every week - week and a half.

5. What type of goat would be a small friendly breed? A larger friendly breed would be okay too I guess, but I'm just thinking smaller would be easier to handle.

Nigerian Dwarfs or Pygmys are your smaller breeds. Smaller would be easier for your land, IMO.

Good luck with everything as I said...ASK AWAY!

 

[LauraJean]

Thank you glenolam, for the thorough answer! Based on what you said, I think two wethers (pigmy or nigerians as you said) sounds about right for my needs. Is two okay? Enough to keep each other company but not too many for my abilities?

About fencing: I don't know much about electric fencing, but it sounds like it obviously needs electricity, lol. The spot I had in mind is a bit far from my house, so I wonder if that would be very expensive to install?

Do they dig under fencing? I was thinking of high wired fencing, but electric hadn't occurred to me. Will they just dig under it like a dog would? Because the area is woodsy, I would think it would be easy to dig out, since it isn't very level. I'll have to look into this more...

I'm not sure of the area size, but I would guess off hand that I could provide maybe an area about 25' x 25'?? That's a really rough estimate, but does that sound too small for them? I have another area behind my house that's also woodsy, and would be more narrow front to back, but longer, if that makes sense.

How about cleanup? Do you need to clean out their houses regularly? Do they go to the bathroom in the houses or typically outside? How is maintenance in regard to that?

Thanks so much for the help!!

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

There's a overview on some of the benefits/needs of Nigerian Dwarfs here: http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/2010/09/15/nigerian-dwarf-goats/
If you don't want milk you could get wethers (neutered male), instead of does or just not breed the does. Just don't get a buck.

 

[elevan]

Is two okay? Enough to keep each other company but not too many for my abilities?

Personally I would recommend 3. And it's because what if something happens to one?...then you've got a lonely goat on your hands. 3 small breeds (such as pygmies - which is what I have).

About fencing: I don't know much about electric fencing, but it sounds like it obviously needs electricity, lol. The spot I had in mind is a bit far from my house, so I wonder if that would be very expensive to install?

My goats don't dig under. What you need to worry about are DOGS digging under. I also don't use electric fencing. 5 foot high goat fencing for my pygmies is fine.

Do they dig under fencing? I was thinking of high wired fencing, but electric hadn't occurred to me. Will they just dig under it like a dog would? Because the area is woodsy, I would think it would be easy to dig out, since it isn't very level. I'll have to look into this more...

If you have unlevel area for your fencing where it won't press to the ground I would definitely use electric. The goats will rub against the fence and they will push under if there is a space. And again, I caution against leaving a way for a dog to get in. I lost one of my first pygmies to a dog who got under a dip under the fence. I fixed that problem real quick.

I'm not sure of the area size, but I would guess off hand that I could provide maybe an area about 25' x 25'?? That's a really rough estimate, but does that sound too small for them? I have another area behind my house that's also woodsy, and would be more narrow front to back, but longer, if that makes sense.

That area should be fine for a few small breed goats. As long as they have plenty of browse, a good shelter and something to climb/ play on.

How about cleanup? Do you need to clean out their houses regularly? Do they go to the bathroom in the houses or typically outside? How is maintenance in regard to that?

I clean out once a week and add fresh bedding. They do have a bad habit of coming into the barn just to pee or poo At least mine do :/

I highly recommend pygmies, but I guess I'm partial to them

Good luck!

 

[LauraJean]

Is two okay? Enough to keep each other company but not too many for my abilities?

Personally I would recommend 3. And it's because what if something happens to one?...then you've got a lonely goat on your hands. 3 small breeds (such as pygmies - which is what I have).

About fencing: I don't know much about electric fencing, but it sounds like it obviously needs electricity, lol. The spot I had in mind is a bit far from my house, so I wonder if that would be very expensive to install?

My goats don't dig under. What you need to worry about are DOGS digging under. I also don't use electric fencing. 5 foot high goat fencing for my pygmies is fine.

Do they dig under fencing? I was thinking of high wired fencing, but electric hadn't occurred to me. Will they just dig under it like a dog would? Because the area is woodsy, I would think it would be easy to dig out, since it isn't very level. I'll have to look into this more...

If you have unlevel area for your fencing where it won't press to the ground I would definitely use electric. The goats will rub against the fence and they will push under if there is a space. And again, I caution against leaving a way for a dog to get in. I lost one of my first pygmies to a dog who got under a dip under the fence. I fixed that problem real quick.

I'm not sure of the area size, but I would guess off hand that I could provide maybe an area about 25' x 25'?? That's a really rough estimate, but does that sound too small for them? I have another area behind my house that's also woodsy, and would be more narrow front to back, but longer, if that makes sense.

That area should be fine for a few small breed goats. As long as they have plenty of browse, a good shelter and something to climb/ play on.

How about cleanup? Do you need to clean out their houses regularly? Do they go to the bathroom in the houses or typically outside? How is maintenance in regard to that?

I clean out once a week and add fresh bedding. They do have a bad habit of coming into the barn just to pee or poo At least mine do :/

I highly recommend pygmies, but I guess I'm partial to them

Good luck!

Your mention of dogs raised a concern I hadn't thought of. Dogs will harm a goat?? What about other predators? I have Fort Knox for a chicken coop because I was determined that I wouldn't lose them to predators. I've seen some attempts at digging under the coop, but because I lined the entire bottom with hardware cloth, they have never been able to get in. I don't have dogs, but there are occasional dogs that get loose from my neighbors. I spent a small fortune building such a secure coop, not sure I could afford that again for goats.

 

[ksalvagno]

Dogs can be even worse than coyotes when it comes to predators for chickens or goats. Goats are very exciting for dogs because they run. You would want something that would keep the dogs out.

 

[freemotion]

I'd go with wire fencing (woven, not welded) with 2x4" spaces, four feet high, and run an additional electric wire on top. Dogs will climb over fences, too, and this top wire will prevent that. If you see attempts to dig under the fence, you can also run a wire on the outside of the fence down low, a few inches from the ground. Bait it with a bit of raw bacon, which will stick to the wire if you fold it over the wire, guaranteed to shock a predator.

Set the bottom wire up in a way that you can disconnect it easily when the snow comes and buries it, grounding out your fence.

Since your area is wooded and neighbors dogs get loose, I would not go with just electric fencing. Dogs that are not specifically trained to it (like coyotes!) will often run through it when shocked for the first time....and get trapped IN your pasture. Being brushy and wooded, it will be a constant battle to keep the fence from grounding out. A small, hornless goat will be a very tempting morsel for a dog, wild or domestic.

I had two goats for years. When one died suddenly, I ran out and bought another....these two have been as close as sisters for several years now, inseparable.

As for cleaning, I use the deep litter method in the New England winters. After a certain point (a couple of weeks ago this year) I stop cleaning the barn and start piling up the bedding, adding more on top of the poo and pee so they always have a clean, dry place to sleep. I do have to clean just in front of the door to my communal stall, since that door stays open 24/7, and they go over to the door to poo and pee at night and in bad weather and anytime they don't feel like lifting their princess tails outside! So it gets too icky and gets cleaned maybe once a month, more if there is a lot of rain, adding to the mess and keeping them in.

The deep bedding keeps them off the frozen ground, and if you can get it deep enough, it will compost and create some heat. It is a good method for NH. It takes some getting used to if you are one to clean-clean-clean your barn, but it really is better for them, warmer......it is a big job to clean it all out in the spring, but oh, the compost!!!!

 

[glenolam]

I'm doing the same as free this winter - I've begun letting the waste hay pile up for the winter. It's now probably 2 feet deep, but I had 10 goats in there for a few weeks, now I'm down to 7 and soon I'll be down to 5. With this year's kidding happening earlier in the year (February - March) I'll need the extra warmth. My goat kids were born in April this year so it was realtively warmer BUT they could easily fit under the walls where the barn stood higher than the ground.

The whole predator issue depends on your area. I luckily haven't had any problems with predators getting into my goat pen, but that's not to say they haven't tried. We have tons of dogs in our area (pet dogs) but none of them are (we think) vicious enough to go after our goats.

Don't let something like that detour you, though - it's just something to think about when fencing in their area.

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I would get 3 as well....and I do not have electric fencing. We ran 6 ft fencing. But with a small breed goat...4 to 5 ft would be fine. I have toggenbergs which is a large dairy breed and never had issues with escape. Thankfully!! My Toggies are very friendly and gentle. I think they'd rather run to me than away from me...and they are spoiled so I dont think they wanna ever leave!!

I would get pygmys or a small breed for certain if your keeping them as pets. And if you can, get babies so you can bottle feed them. A bottled fed goat is sooo responsive to humans and they make very good pets..they just become loves and will sit on your lap etc. But I dont know when your planning to get em? And I dont know if you want them sitting on your lap???

But they need yearly vacinations and clean water 24/7 with hay and grain depending on condition. They are naturally browers not pasture animals..which means, trees, shubs etc..not lawn mowers!! But look on your property and see what is growing. They cannot eat anything and there are some things that are posion to them and will kill them. So look that up and look around to see whats growing.

You will also need to trim their hoofs regularly. Important to do and learn.
You will also want to keep supplies on hand for illness etc...there is a thread here if you go into search about supplies and things to keep on hand.

But have fun! They are beautiful animals..and we just love em!! I take one of mine on hikes and pack her..and she sleeps in the woods with us overnight sometimes!! They are funny and curious animals!! You would enjoy them!!!