which goats are for me ?
Additional Information
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Goat Terminology
- Doe - A female goat
- Buck - A male goat
- Kids - Baby goats
- Doeling - Female goat less than a year old
- Buckling - Male goat less than a year old
- Wether - A castrated male goat
How many pet goats should I keep?
Goats are herd animals and need the company of at least one other goat to be happy and healthy. How many goats you keep will depend on your property size, how much time you can devote to your cloven hoofed buddies.
Will my council allow me to keep pet goats?
Most councils in Australia allow you to have pet goats provided you register your property with the state government and have sufficient space to keep them happy and healthy. Check with your local council to be certain of your area’s rules before you go ahead with your pet goat plans.
The most popular goat breeds to keep as pets are :
The Australian Miniature Goat Breed
- Size: About 50-60cm tall
- Temperament: Friendly, curious, intelligent
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Type: can be meat or dairy type looking
The Pygmy Goat Breed
- Size: About 50cm tall
- Temperament: Friendly and active
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Type: Meat type
- Coat: The full coat of straight, medium long hair
- Body is full-barrelled and well muscled
The Nigerian Dwarf Goat
- Breed Size: About 50-60cm tall
- Temperament: Gentle and lovable
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Type : Dairy
- coat is short to medium length, fine and straight
Minature Anglo Nubian Goat
- Breed size : About 60 and 70
- Temperament: Gentle and majestic
- Lifespan: 10-15 years
- Type: Dairy
- Coat: Short, fine and glossy
All of these goat breeds are small in stature and easy to maintain for Pets and Hobby breeds
What is the difference between bucks, does and wethers?
- Bucks are intact (not desexed) male goats and are not suitable for keeping as pets. They urinate on themselves and become unpredictable in breeding season.
- Does are female goats and make the perfect backyard pet as they are very docile and can be kept with other does and wethers.
- Wethers are desexed male goats. Desexing makes a male goat more docile and way less smelly. They will grow bigger than does, so keep that in mind if you choose a wether goat to keep as a pet.
How much care does a pet goat require?
Goat grooming depends on their coat type. Miniature goats can come in varieties such as Sheltie, Short and Full Cashmere, Angora or Short coat types. Goats with short coats require little to no grooming, but those with long coats require weekly brushing. All goats require regular hoof trimming just like you would trim a dog or cat claws.
BASIC NEEDS OF GOATS:
Additional Information
A COMPANION –
- Goats are herd animals and rarely do well without another a goat as a companion. Single goats will fret for the herd, will vocalise loudly and often try to escape in search of their herd. They will be sad, unhappy and a lonely goat is more prone to depression. For this reason, responsible goat breeders will not sell single goats to people who do not have at least one other goat already.
WEATHERPROOF SHELTER -
- Goats hate the rain and are susceptible to pneumonia. For this reason, waterproof housing is fundamental to their wellbeing. It also gives them shade on a hot sunny day and somewhere to escape in windy weather. Shelters don’t need to be huge or elaborate, just big enough for your goats to stand or lay comfortably when fully grown and provide shelter from the elements. Goats should be housed on dry ground, as wet sodden ground can cause great discomfort and also lead to hoof infections. Keep this in mind when planning your goat’s shelter.
FENCING –
- For most goat owners it is impractical to allow goats to roam freely. A good-sized yard with adequate fencing is a must. Goats are notorious for testing fencing so starting out with strong fencing will get you and your goats off to a good start. Some goats are ‘jumpers’ so 1200mm high fences are ideal for miniature goats but 900mm high fencing will be sufficient for most herds. A strand of electric wire will control most jumpers and is a cost-effective option. Because goats like to rub, climb and lean on fences, woven wire is a better option than welded wire. Barb-wire fencing is not suitable for goats. Predators are another consideration when planning fencing. Domestic dogs have been known to pack with other domestic dogs and kill goats, so dog proof fencing is essential.
WATER –
- Each goat can drink up to 4 litres of water per day. fresh clean water should always be on hand for your goats.
FEED -
- Most people believe goats can and will eat anything. This is simply not true. Goats are ruminants (meaning they have more than one stomach, goats actually have four stomachs) and have specific feed needs. In the wild, goats are browsers, which means they will browse vegetation until they find the food that they need or want. When browsing is not available to them it is important they are fed food that will not upset their delicate rumen or make them unwell.
As a general rule, goats do well eating a simple diet of oaten chaff, a goat blend or pasture hay. They also enjoy kitchen scraps of carrots, pumpkin, sweet potato but these foods should be given in moderation and only a few times per week. They also love sultanas and these make excellent treats and are great motivation when training.
