“Can I have a goat in my apartment?”…
Is, believe it or not, one of the most common questions I get asked. The answer?
Um, probably not, unless by ‘apartment’, you mean ‘large backyard’.
When we lived in a small condo with an even smaller backyard, I desperately wanted a goat…or two. I had heard that goat’s milk was incredibly healthy and that goats were relatively easy to take care of.
Suddenly I was obsessed. I needed goats, chickens, and a farm. I didn’t need acres of land, I just needed whatever was required to have those animals.
About a year later, we stumbled across the most perfect ranch home on 1 acre. It was a total fixer-upper, but the land around it was amazing and the mature trees towered over 50 ft. high.
“Yep, we’re doing this!” we both said to each other.
So we did everything we could to make it happen…and well, here we are, 7 years later, living in exactly the place we want to be — on a farm, with goats!
How much space do you need to raise goats?
One of the first things I realized on our 1 acre was that, boy, did we have a lot of space. We could easily house 50 goats if we wanted to, but over the years we’ve never had more than 2-3 milking goats. Sometimes we’ll have up to 10 or more when spring hits and little babies pop out and start running around, but for the most part, we keep our goat numbers low. Goat numbers? I guess that’s a thing.
One goat requires at least 250 sq. ft of space.
Doesn’t seem like a lot, does it? What you have to remember though, is that goats are herd animals, so they prefer a buddy with them. One goat by itself will be VERY loud, trust me. You’ll have 24-7 bleating from a lone goat, while two are so happy, you’ll hardly know they’re there.
Two goats require at least 500 sq. ft. of space.
So, now you have two goats and you have a good space for them to live. They’ve got a hay feeder, fresh water, a shelter for rain, and maybe some shade for hot days. Life is good. But what about a pasture? Do goats need it? It’s a requirement?
Do goats need a pasture to graze in?
Goats are browsers, not grazers, which means that they don’t jump up and down in excitement over a yard of grass. They won’t really mow your lawn UNLESS you don’t feed them. Goats prefer alfalfa hay as their main dietary source, and while they’ll nibble at grass, they really won’t chomp at it unless it’s their only source of nutrition. Could you theoretically force your goats to eat grass? Yes. I’ve done this before. Your goats will cry out for a few days wondering where their precious rich alfalfa went, but they will realize grass is what’s for dinner and will start to (reluctantly) graze.
The only exception to this rule is if instead of mostly grass, you have an area with weeds, brush, and lots of variety of foliage. Goats LOVE variety, and so they are great at clearing an overgrown pasture, but once an area is just sporting grass, they tend to turn up their noses at it.
So, do goats NEED a pasture? Not in the sense that they’ll mow it down, but more in the sense that it’s nice to get out and explore a bit, you know?
When it comes to goats, the phrase, “the grass is greener on the other side” is COMPLETELY TRUE. Goats are escape artists, and in their desire for variety in their diet, will pretty much jump at the chance to escape their enclosure. It doesn’t mean they’re unhappy where they are, just that sometimes the neighbor’s yard looks like a much better situation for them — until they get there, then they’ll realize that life was much better on the OTHER side and they’ll be fighting to get back. It’s actually pretty hilarious. You’ll open a gate and a goat will slide through and run off, then she’ll come bounding back hoping you’ll please, please, for the love, let her back in.
Because we have a large backyard, we have ours separated into smaller areas. We have one large pasture, and smaller pastures for our goats to rotate in. This is called “pasture rotation” and works well with the goats’ need to always move to a “greener” spot.
Which animals can co-habitate with goats?
Goats get along with a variety of animals. They can be kept together with sheep, llamas, alpacas, horses, & cows. They also can be kept with chickens, ducks, geese, or ostriches — although, in this case, if you’re milking a goat to drink the milk, then understand that if she’s kept in very small quarters with fowl, the chances of her laying her udder in their feces is high. For this reason we keep our chickens out of the main goat area, but allow them to cohabitate when it’s time for the goats to visit in the large pasture. It’s the mix of fowl and a milking animal in a SMALL area that is the problem, so avoid that situation if at all possible.
Goats CANNOT be kept with pigs. Pigs are omnivores and can attack goats to eat them.
Can male & female goats be kept together?
This is another question that I get A LOT. Let me break it down for you…the only male that can be kept with females 24-7 are castrated males, called wethers. These male goats have had their testicles removed and are calmer and act exactly the same as a female in behavior. The only time a breeding male (called a buck) and a female (called a doe) can be kept together is during breeding time.
Here are a few different scenarios of goats that can be kept together:
- Does (females) & Does (females) = YES
- Does (females) & Wethers (castrated males) = YES
- Does (females) & Bucks (breeding males) = only during breeding time
- Pregnant Doe (female) & Bucks = NO
- Mother Doe with babies (females with babies) = should be kept by themselves until babies hit 4 weeks of age, and then, they can be put with other Does (females) & Wethers (castrated males).
Does with their babies should NEVER be put together with bucks because the bucks will VERY LIKELY kill the babies. The same goes with a pregnant doe. Once you are sure she’s pregnant, it’s time to keep her away from the buck. He will agitate her and bully her for the duration of her pregnancy because of the hormones she is producing during this time.
When can baby goats be kept together with adult goats?
Baby goats shouldn’t be put with any adult goats until at least 3-4 weeks of age. If you have a very calm adult doe (female) or wether, then you can try to put them together earlier, but for the most part, it’s best to wait until they are old enough to run away from a headbutt or an attack. Baby goats should NEVER be kept with a buck. The buck will be too aggressive and likely kill the babies.
What’s the perfect goat fencing setup for goats?
What’s the perfect goat fencing setup for goats?One of the funniest things about owning goats, (and something Kevin and I still laugh at) is the fact that your needs for different goat areas change — ALL. THE. TIME.
During the spring you might have 2-3 does that are giving birth, so you’ll need separate areas for each. During the fall you might have one doe that you’re milking and one that needs to be bred with a buck, so you’ll need to give them each their own spaces. At any time you might have one that is needing to be quarantined, maybe from a special diet or from recovery from an injury or worm overgrowth.
The point is, it’s a good idea to have a couple extra areas just in case you need to separate your goats.
The following are examples of different permanent & temporary goat setups we’ve had to create over the years.
1. This spring we took down our current goat fencing and let all the goats, sheep, & chickens be together in the pasture. We’re working on creating a better goat fencing area complete with pasture rotation in mind, so for the time being, everybody had full access to our large pasture. Problem was, our Nubian doe, Luna, was about to give birth, so we needed a separate area to house her and the babies. We set up some temporary fencing (hog panels & t-posts) and dubbed it the “baby goat nursery”. We set up chairs for friends & family who visit the baby goats, and we created a fun playground for the baby goat kiddies.
2. After Luna’s babies were all sold, it was time for our sheep to give birth. Because sheep ARE grazers and her diet is primarily this pasture, we had to keep our two milking goats separated from her so they wouldn’t harm the new lamb. So, we turned the “baby goat nursery” into the “milking goat oasis”. We set up a hay feeder, fresh water, made sure they had lots of shade, and higher ground to go to stay out of the flood irrigation that we receive from the local lake every two weeks. The two does, Luna & Penny, were extremely interested in that baby lamb. It was a good thing we kept them separated.
3. During the time with that Luna was in the “baby goat nursery” area with the baby goats, and our current goat fencing was all down, the animals lived in the pasture with access to an acre of fun. This is Penny taking a nap under the hay feeder with a chicken chillin’ right next to her.
4. One year we raised a boer goat for meat (he was a castrated male, called a wether), and in this situation, we we wanted him to get most of his nutrition from our summer bermuda grass. Like I said above, even though goats aren’t technically grazers, they can live off grass. So, he ate grass during the day from having access to our pasture. Tivia, our other Nubian goat at the time, was in our goat fencing during the evening so she could eat alfalfa, and spent her days grazing with Mr. Boer goat (we didn’t name him). They became great buddies, and she would frequently give him a boost to reach the leaves from our citrus trees.
5. One year our Nigerian goat, Lacey, gave birth to three adorable babies. Two of them became rather wild from being chase by some unsupervised kids, so we had to put them in a smaller goat area and tame them with bottlefeedings & hand feedings until it was time to sell them.
Do you have enough space for goats?
You don’t need acres of land to own goats. As long as you have an area that can have 500 sq. ft devoted to your goats (remember, you have to get two of them!) you should be fine. Just be sure to check with your local laws and regulations to make sure you are allowed goats in the first place.
Also, be prepared to need to separate your goats occasionally, because if there’s one thing that I know about owning goats, it’s that they’ll always surprise you — but they’re totally worth it:)
Hi DaNelle, I have read the blog and comments I didn’t see this covered, sorry if it was already previously asked and answered. I am planning on getting Nigerian Dwarf goats this coming spring. I know they need at least 250 sq ft of out door space per goat (I have just over an acre that I am alloying just for my goats) my question is, how much indoor space do you recommend per goat? I am planning on 3 different “homes” for my goats, one for Does, one for Bucks and one for my Kidding does. I just want to make sure I’m allotting enough indoor space for each goat.
Hi Felisha
This is how DaNelle houses her goats: https://www.weedemandreap.com/our-custom-goat-barn/
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am down in Tucson and am researching adding 2 goats to the family on our city lot. Do you recommend getting 2 babies and waiting for milk once they are old enough to breed or finding a in milk doe with baby?
Hi Crystal-
Either way works well. It just depends if you are needing milk now and if you want to raise up baby goats for breeding.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi there, I couldn’t find the end of the comments. But I bought a possibly pregnant doe in November who promptly lost her mucous plug 2 days later and was nesting, grunting, pacing, the works. She continued that way for about a week and then just stopped. Now, a little less than 2 months later, still nothing. Is this normal? I took her to the vet to get a blood test because the urine tests I gave her came up positive. She has yet to develop a full udder, and I’m not sure if she’s kidded before. Should I worry about anything?
Thanks,
Julia
Hi Julia-
The plug can come out weeks before the birth, but true signs of labor won’t happen until about 24-48 before the birth.
If you have recently gotten a blood test from the vet and it shows she is pregnant then you can assume your doe is pregnant. If you can talk to the previous owner and discuss when she might have been bred that would be helpful to know when the due date is. Otherwise just watch for signs of your doe moving along further into her pregnancy and then watch for signs of labor. This article can help with that: https://fiascofarm.com/goats/prenatalcare.html
Your very best option is to discuss possible due dates and your doe’s health with your vet.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
DaNelle or Bobbi,
My husband and I have recently purchased 11.33 acres, and I’m doing my research on raising different types of farm animals. I have a question about goats, as this isn’t addressed in your article. If you don’t want lonely goats, and if I decide to have a Buck and a couple of Does for future milking, would it be ok to put a whether in with the buck so he isn’t lonely? Or is he fine by himself? Would setting up his enclosure next to the does be good enough for company?
I did find your article very informative about keeping them separated at different times throughout the season.
I am thinking about Nigerian dwarfs for milking. My husband is lactose intolerant, and I read that they have better tasting milk that is also great for making cheese and yogurt.
My first goal is to get chickens next spring for eggs. And if I can talk my husband into it, I want to get a few Dexter cows. I have a total of 5 acres of pastureland, and then there is an old cattle pen from the previous owner behind my house that I am planning on fixing up and using for my goat pen.
Hi Renee-
Yes, you can put a wether in with a buck. You can also put the does close to your buck, just make sure they cannot breed through the fence.
Best of luck with everything!
-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi. We have 500 sq ft of land with rocks snd boulders. Its dry land until various types of weeds grow. We want to get 2 Nigerian Dwarfs. We want one for milk. My problem is, I don’t really have the room or even want to have to separate them at all. Will I have to, if one is a wether or we have another female?
Hi Tracy-
You can keep a doe and wether together. Wethers make great company!
If you plan to raise kids though your space will get cramped quickly. As was stated in the article, goats each need a minimum of 250 square feet.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi!
I’m an avid fan and have been watching all of your vlogs. Though I admit I liked the older episodes better because they had sheep and life was simpler then lols. But I still love the new episodes and the pond and the pigs too!
When will you have lambs again? I hope youll consider breeding sheep again as you only have very few episodes about them and sheep are my favorite farm animals ( along with goats).
Who is Bobbi? does she appear in any episode too? Is she a family member? Thanks!
Hi Benj-
Thank you so much for watching and for the positive comments. As for raising sheep or lambs again, there are not current plans to do so, but it isn’t ruled out for the future. Weed ’em & Reap is forever changing!
Bobbi is (I am) an assistant that helps out answering online questions and comments about goats, etc. And no, not related or appearing on YouTube.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thanks for responding and more power!!!
Ahh such a great and comprehensive article!! I have two Nigerian Dwarf goats and I have to convince them to go out and run around half the time! They would rather climb around the barn and look out the front window to see what i’m up to inside the house!
Hi Samantha-
Lol! on the NDs wanting to climb in the barn and keep an eye on you in the house! Thank you for the kind words and for reading and posting. Happy Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Do goats need regular visits to the vets? I really want to foster goats, but since I’m to young to get a job I have to work out a plan and find all fees so I can hopefully convince my dad. We have an acre and a half, there will be no way I could get him to fence it all, but 500 ft could work. I also have two small dogs, I have never seen them attack other animals that wonder into our yard, but if I do get goats should I keep them apart just to be safe? We also have a wolf pack and coyotes that come and goes, should I get a wooden fence instead of a chain link? I live in MN, and we get a lot of snow, I planned already for a barn like structure, should it be heated or could I put in blankets?
Hi Bri-
Goats don’t need regular checkups from the vet but they do need almost daily evaluation by you and daily care and milking if you choose to milk them. Also you will need to trim their hooves. https://www.weedemandreap.com/trim-goat-hooves/
Be sure to worm your goats and give them proper supplements and minerals. You can find articles here on all those topics: https://www.weedemandreap.com/supplements-for-goats/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/goats-minerals-what-you-need-to-know/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-goat-dewormer/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/what-do-goats-eat/
Your spacing sounds fine for 2 goats, but anymore and they will be crowded. Also,don’t just get 1 because they get very lonely (and vocal). As long as they have shelter in the winter and are healthy and fed properly your goats will do fine in the cold.
As for the fence, make sure it is rather tall so nothing can get in. And wooden fence may be better so nothing can climb it.
Your dogs probably won’t be a problem. Just introduce the goats and dogs to one another slowly and watch their interactions. You will get a sense quickly if they will get along or not. I hope that helps. Best of luck and Happy Goating! Thank you-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi, I am new to the goat world, we are just getting into breeding and I am wondering if each doe needs her own space to have her kid(s) in? Would it be ok to keep a couple together in the stall that are due about the same time? can we put the moms together after a week with the kids and then after 3-4 weeks put them out with the population? I ask because we are going to be breeding 5 to start but hopefully next year we will be breeding 10-15 and to separate them could be a huge problem creating space in our small barn. We have 14 acres so once they are all ready to be out and about it will be fine but we are planning or renting the ‘stud’ for the first year or two and they will all be due around the same time. Thanks for the help!!
Hi Alexis-
It’s best to give kidding does their own space. Having them share a stall may cause problems. If you can separate them it would be best. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have had Nigerian Dwarfs for about 10 years. I only have about an acre fenced & electrified for them-to keep the escape artists in and predators out. Shed for them is 12′ x 8′. I keep herd small~10 or less. Biggest problem I have had is when buckling asked for has not been picked up when he gets randy! Herd sire has not hurt him but I dare not get near his ladies! That is when separation can become mandatory. I also have 12×8 area for grain & milking. I use dollar store large dog collars on most. Small on young kids. Herd sire needs stronger collar as he insists on helping me do everything including climb ladder so I have to chain him away from work area. When he was little, I put him & Dame on paracord zip lines. I won’t say my goats are spoilt but 1 of my does rode in truck seat to vet. She behaves better than my dog!
Hi DaNelle, I recently stumbled across your blog when my son had to create wild yeast for his science class and bake bread with it. I found all your information enlightening because it goes against what is conventionally taught. I borrowed “Nourishing Traditions” from our library to further my education. A couple months ago we took the steps to get chickens and just kind of jumped in (my husband’s boss was moving and asked if we wanted his chickens). My next step in the process is purchasing a goat. However, due to your city laws we can only have one goat. We are allotted so many points and since we already have chickens many of our points are in use. I don’t want to get rid of my chickens. I know many have asked but is there a way to get just one goat? We saw one the other day and the current owners don’t need five females. They stated that she should be fine on her own as I’ve read many of your post saying you need two. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Hi Mary-
Way to go on taking the leap! And I am glad you are liking the chickens.
As for owning just one goat, you can, but they tend to get lonely and VERY vocal. If you give it a go with just one goat, know it will be super needy and may annoy the neighbors if it does decide to vocalize its loneliness.
Here is an article DaNelle wrote on how to work with your areas laws and ordinances. https://www.weedemandreap.com/hoa-approved-backyard-farm/
One idea that may work for you, is claiming your goats as pets.
Be sure to look into your city laws and see if they apply to standard size goats, or if it includes mention of dwarf or pygmy varieties. Perhaps if you got 2 Nigerian Dwarfs or Pygmy Goats it would only count as one larger breed goat. Also, do your city laws permit trading points with any of the neighbors or somehow earning additional points? That may be a stretch but it’s worth a try. I hope this helps. Best of luck and Happy Goating (hopefully)! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi DaNelle,
Thank you for your valuable information. Do you have a link to agricultural laws regarding space needed for different farm animals?
I ask because I am involved with an educational farm and I believe the goats and sheep are kept inside for long periods of time while there is plenty of outdoor space. The farmer’s main experience lies in production dairy (cattle) farms. As the sole vegetarian on the premises, my pleas are looked at as bleeding-heart. Do I have any legal ground to stand on in asking them to be put outside more? Some of them were brought into the indoor pens when they were getting ready to give birth. The babies are over 1 month old now.
Thank you in advance for any information you might be able to share!
Hi Mary-
Your best option for finding pertinent Animal Welfare rules, regulations, and statutes would be to go to the USDA’s AWIC site:https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/about-awic
On a state by state basis you can try to look at the USDA’s State and Local page: https://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/state-and-local
You can also try your state’s Department of Agriculture or your County Extension Office. These more local offices often have the best information for your area.
I hope this helps. Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
hi DaNelle the goats are afraid of coyote? we have seen some coyotes in the fields. thanks!
Jack
Hi Jack-
Yes, goats will be afraid of coyotes and even the neighbor’s dogs sometimes. Goats will be wary of any predatory animal, even if the coyotes, neighbor’s dog, or whatever isn’t actually coming for them. I have coyotes too, and I just make sure my fences are properly secured, tall enough, and the wire size is appropriate to keep goats in and any predators out. I have never had a problem with coyotes but I have always had dogs and they seem to keep them away. Thanks for the post and Happy (and safe) Goating! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
hi DaNelle thanks for valuble info! just wondering if I put the goats in our large pasture how can i get them back to the small fenced area? are they easy to catch? thanks!
Jack
Hi Jack-
That’s great your goats will have a large pasture to roam and forage in! Lots of space equals happy goats! And great you are planning ahead for those times when you need them to come in. Some goats are no problem with calling them in and catching. I’ve had a few does that were like dogs. But then, there are those that are just plain pains in the backside and won’t let you catch them for anything. The best method I have is I set up a small paneled area within my pasture that I can close in. It’s just 3-5 large movable panels that have been covered with a small gauge wire to keep the goats from getting out that are hooked to my main fence with one of the panels remaining mobile so I can use it as a gate. I routinely feed my goats in this area and also keep their water tank in there. They are used to going in there so this is an area they like and it doesn’t stress them out. So when I need to catch them for worming, medical treatment, or selling, I simple call them in for feeding, and while they eat, I close them in. I catch who I need and let the rest go. This is the method that has worked best for me when I have to handle my ornery or my super skittish goats.
I hope this information helps! Thank you for reading and posting! Best of luck and Happy Goating! -Bobbi
This article has been a huge help!
We have about an acre of land. If we were to get two does for milking (and potentially breeding), I understand the buck should be kept away. However, do the bucks need to be socialized with another goat, as we would the does, or is it okay to leave him on his own 250sqft?
Thank you!
He is usually fine, if he can see the girls from his paddock, but a friend (like a wether) is nice:)
Sorry, I don’t think my initial message went through.
My yard is right at 400 sq ft. Could I have 2 goats? It’s very weedy and I have no gate so I can’t get a lawn mower back there so I thought 2 cute little natural mowers might be fun to have. However, I live in Phoenix, AZ and IT. IS. HOT. All of summer and the beginning of fall can be brutal (100 degrees +). I do have a tarp shading my 16×16 ft patio and due to our latitude, some of the backyard/near the back of the house never receives direct sunlight. I could also get a kiddie swimming pool for them. Is this feasible or do I not have enough space?
I think that would be good if you stuck with the mini goats (Nigerians or Pygmies) Goats don’t like water, so the kiddie pool won’t help them, but as long as they have shade and water to drink, they will be fine in this heat:)
Also… I have a next door neighbor who is 69 yrs old and sleeps with her door open. Would noise be an issue with 2 goats?
It shouldn’t if they have hay & water to drink. However, they will be loud for the first week or two you bring them home because it’s unfamiliar to them.
DaNelle, I have 2 x female pygmy goats. One is a year old and pregnant. The other is 6 months old. The pregnant one keeps bullying/butting the smaller goat. This happens especially at feeding times and when the smaller goat tries to share her kennel. So now I went and got another kennel. Is this behaviour normal? Should I substitue one of the goats for another?
Thanks
Hi Ismail,
It is common with goats to have a herd order. Usually the dominant one will eat first. It’s normal during feeding time or when you’re letting them out of an area. The only cause for concern is if it’s happening constantly and the submissive one is getting hurt.
Hi Danielle, thank you for the useful information. I reposted your blog on my Facebook farm page. I recently moved from the U.S. to Nicaragua, and am starting my own 1.75 acre Permaculture and Organic Farm. Question: What size is the larger grazing pasture that you talked about? I’m trying to decide the amount of space to allow for this, which will be used to rotate a few different types of animals as you do. I will use your recommendation of 250 sq ft per goat for their immediate home.
Sorry for the typo with your name.
It’s a 50 ft. by 50 ft square. This will be more for a rotational housing, but the rotation will help pasture grow back each time.
I have an acre and a half, but it’s all forest. Can I still keep goats in that space? Also, for the life of me I can’t find any goat breeders. Where did you get your goats?
Yep! Should work fine! Just check out craigslist, you should be able to find breeders in your area.
Hi DaNelle,
Interesting read. We have 10 acres (just found out most of it is protected wetlands and can’t do much with alot of it.) We have four rescued wethers. I noticed you said to feed them alfalfa, however male goats should not have alfalfa or much grain due to Urinary Calculi…very painful way for the goat to die. While at the vet picking up antibiotics for lung infection spoke with another goat mom, her wethers kept getting into her horses alfalfa, both of them ended up with burst bladders. Orchard or timothy is what is the prefered hay to feed the males.
April
Hi, Danelle!
We live on 2 acres in Texas. We are planning to get chickens and goats. Most of the land in the back (we don’t want our goats to be in the front area) is trees here and there except for a 600 sq foot area. Can goats live under a few trees? I know they’d enjoy the shade from the sweltering summers, but I wouldn’t want them to use leverage against a tree and scale the fence! Like this article says, 2 goats need 500. But, we are thinking of getting 3 goats, and since they’ll have babies every spring, do we need to extend space for extra areas?
Also, I’ve noticed you have collars on your goats (like the plastic break-off one on Penny and the chain on Luna). Is that just for leading them to milking and different areas? Wouldn’t the metal chain type get caught on things?
Thanks!
Hi Elise,
Yep, it should work fine, our goats do well around trees. You may have to put a barrier around the trunk so they don’t strip the bark though:) Yes, you’ll need more space when they have babies. We like the collars for leading and they don’t get caught on things.
Thanks!
Hi DaNelle,
I am a first time goat owner and found your blog after googling for a bit. I have to admit my anxiety is through the roof that something will happen to our new baby goat. At night we are keeping her in a horse stall with iron bars to keep predators away and her safe. During the day, she will be in an attached side horse pasture while our horse is in the larger pasture.
While we supervise, the two seem to be okay together, however something odd happened today. Our horse went to stomp at her (he does this fake out thing where he puts a leg forward and stomps like he is going to run) and he did take a step. She ran a few steps and laid down. I happened to be there and screamed at him to stop, which he did. It just really scared me that she laid down verses running farther away.
Do you know why this is? I can’t find a reason on google yet and it just really worries me that this is her defense mechanism, because it really won’t work. She is three months old and our first goat.
I am also worried she will run away – we have about a four foot fence. Should we be concerned? The stress of having a little baby goat is definitely getting to me and I just don’t want her to get hurt. I just purchased a Tile tracker and also the Whisper GPS tracker – she will literally be wearing two trackers. We are near a somewhat busy road – have you found goats to be smart enough to stay away from cars if they do get out?
Sorry for all of the questions – I literally can’t sleep I am so worried over her.
Hi Sam,
I wouldn’t keep a baby goat with a horse, she really needs another baby goat for comfort and for somebody to play with that’s her size. I’m not surprised she laid down, it’s probably not something to worry about though. The best thing you can do is put her in a place she can’t escape from and give her a playmate. She will be happy as a peach. Part of owning animals is knowing that something always could happen to them, you just have to do your best to take care of them:)
My neighbor just got a sweet adult done. Of course she made lots of noise the first day. Not a problem. Now her cries are so woeful. It makes me cry. So here are some questions, the answers my help me decide if I can approach them with friendly suggestions for the happiness of their goat.
As heard animals, do they have to or should they have a buddy? If not a goat, is there a small alternative?
Has anyone heard of walking a goat with a dog harness?
If you wanted to have a goat visit vegetation out of yard, can you stake out a goat?
Think that’s it for now.
Hi Vicky,
Yes, goats are herd animals and MUST have a companion of a sheep or goat in order to be happy. If not, they’ll cry day & night and maybe even stop eating. A dog, chicken, goose or duck won’t be a sufficient companion. I’m sure you can walk a goat with a leash, though we’ve never tried it. I wouldn’t recommend staking a goat because they can get caught up in the rope and may get injured.
Hi DaNelle! I’m new to your blog. I am absolutely loving your blog and so inspired I am thinking of starting my own backyard farm. We have around 1.5 acre of land but 50% or less of it is woodlands. I am really interested in getting a pair of ewes (sheep) and a pair of pygmy goats. The four of them are going to be pets as my husband is a strict vegan and won’t allow me to keep them for meat. I was just wondering how much land would I need for all four of them??
That sounds so fun! You wouldn’t need much land for them at all! 250 sq. ft. per animal, so that’d be 1000 sq.ft at least:)
Hi !!!!! So cool to read your blog ! I currently have 1 female boer, 1 female Nigerian, and 1 female dwarf pygmy and am getting another one to keep her company as the boer and Nigerian have bonded and exclude her. My question has nothing to do with that LOL. I want to know how you use the plastic chain as a collar? I see it all the time and wonder if I should use them on my goats too. I haven’t trimmed hooves yet as they all came trimmed up but its getting to be time so please fill me in if you can , and thanks you blog is really fun. Susan L
Hi Susan, people like to use them because they are light and they will break if caught on a fence:) You can get long sections at any hardware store or here: https://amzn.to/2aLVq7q
Thank you for your reply. Except for my Nigerian goat they are all super friendly and docile. The Nigerian, however, can be a bit nasty and she butts me when I am feeding. Do you have any tips on working with goats to help facilitate more friendly behavior or is this just the temperment of the particular goat? PS I love your blog and learned so much from your answers. Thanks!!
Susan
Sometimes it’s just the temperament they have:)
It’s good to get a fresh way of lokoing at it.
Hi DaNelle! I’m new to your blog. I admire what you have accomplished on a smaller parcel. Ours is not much more than an acre so your experiences are really helpful to read! Have you experimented with fodder? I’ve done a bit for my chickens and hear it can work well for goats also.
Hi Holly! I totally have tried fodder, but it grows best in cooler temps (55-75). We are just too darn hot here in AZ so we only have about 2 months in those temps. Not really worth it for me, but I do have a friend that has a fodder system with an AC unit. It is possible:)