Keeping one goat

[Chicks 'n ducks]

I've always wanted goats. We wouldn't get any this year, but I have been thinking a lot about it. I just found out that our city only allows one goat on our size of property. I know that goats are herd animals, but would keeping one be at all feasible? I would raise it as a bottle baby and spend a lot of time with it. I won't get one if it would be miserable.
Thank you!

 

[AlleysChicks]

It needs someone at all times, even while sleeping. They don’t do too well by their selves.

 

[Ahavati]

They will not be a happy and healthy goat. They really do better with more than one. Maybe you can petition the city that they should at least up it to 2 goats. Lots of evidence in books and online that you can take to back up your request.

We have 5 currently and if one is left in a pen for whatever reason, they cry until the others are back.

 

[cassie]

The idiot who wrote the regulation about allowing only one goat knows nothing about goats. Nothing!! One goat is a very bad idea. It will be lonely, very unhappy and it will be noisy unless you can be in the barn with it 24/7.

 

[Chicks 'n ducks]

Thank you for all the replies. I've decided it would be selfish to keep just one. Do you think the city would notice if I had one over the limit? Noise isn't an issue as we live near a busy road. The area they would be in is hidden away. Oh, stupid regulations...

 

[cassie]

My motto is that it is always easier to ask forgiveness than permission. If no one sees the goats and complains, you don't have a problem. I will tell you this. Two goats that are content and fairly quiet are a lot sell likely to be noticed than one that is hollering at all hours because it is lonely.

 

[Kathryn173]

I had 1 goat on her own for 15 years and she was fine, there was sheep, cattle, horses etc. but she prefered the company of people and to play with the dog.

 

[cassie]

I had 1 goat on her own for 15 years and she was fine, there was sheep, cattle, horses etc. but she prefered the company of people and to play with the dog.

In all the years I bred goats I met one who was fine being alone. She was also not the sharpest knife in the drawer, either. The first time I got a goat I didn't know the importance of having more than one. We named her bouncing Genevieve because she bounced out of every pen we made. She also bleated incessantly, didn't eat very much, and lost weight even though she had plenty of good feed. Life was a lot better for all of us once I got another goat.