got a new goat, totally new to goat keeping!

[johari]

I got a three year old wethered buck from a friend of mine yesterday. He's a Saanan and is sweet as pie. I was just wondering if there were any websites you could recommend for me to look at.

Last night he kept wanting to come in the house. Poor thing. But today he seems content outside. We've also been spending most of the day out there with him.

 

[happyhens1972]

One goat on its own will be a very unhappy goat indeed. He really needs another wethered friend or a doe to keep him company. There is a fantastic goat forum called 'The Goat Spot'....I am a member and highly recommend it, it is definitely the equivalent to this site when it comes to tips, help and advice...only on all things caprine

 

[johari]

I can really only have one goat. But we're out in the yard with him most of the time, and we have other animals to keep him company.

One goat on its own will be a very unhappy goat indeed. He really needs another wethered friend or a doe to keep him company. There is a fantastic goat forum called 'The Goat Spot'....I am a member and highly recommend it, it is definitely the equivalent to this site when it comes to tips, help and advice...only on all things caprine

 

[H Diamond]

What kind of other animals? Are they penned with him?

 

[Stacykins]

Unless the other animals the goat is with are herd animals, like sheep, they don't work as proper companions. Poultry, pigs, dogs, etc. do not work as proper companions for a herd animal.

If you can't keep two herd animals, then you shouldn't keep any herd animals. It cruel for the goat. Nearly all herd animals who are forced to live alone stress when kept alone. You keep saying that you spend a lot of time with the goat, and that is great. What happens when you get busy, or lose interest, and he spends more time alone? It isn't fair for him live like that.

The cost of keeping two goats is not prohibitive, nor is it an excuse to keep an aforementioned herd animal singly.

 

[happyhens1972]

Come on over to The Goat Spot forum! They are a fantastic bunch and you will really understand the need for your wee man to have a goaty companion. I know it sounds like we've all come down on you in your time of excitement and it probably feels harsh but we truly only have your boy's interest at heart....and yours too. If your goat is lonely for his own kind, he will be physically stressed as well as emotionally and will be more likely to have health problems that will worry you and cost you to fix.

In the same way that there would be no substitute for human company for you, there will be no substitute for goaty company for him.

Anyway, enough of that...have you got any piccies to share? We would love to see him

 

[PioneerPrincess]

Agreed. A single goat is a lonely goat; you must have at least two goats because they are herd animals and need each other. That is probably why he was wanting to come inside with you because he didn't want to be out all by himself. One site I'd recommend and have gleaned a lot from is Fias Co. Also, BYC's sister site, Backyard Herds (BYH) is very informative with lots of knowledgeable folks ready to lend a helping hand . : )