Lead a goat to water...

[Beester]

I just brought home my first pet goats (two wethers, adopted from a local petting zoo) and need lots of help. My biggest concern right now is that they are not drinking any water. I have tried different containers, keep refreshing it, leading them to the buckets, even tried adding some apple cider vinegar, etc. -- but as far as I can tell, neither of them have had a drop to drink since they arrived 3 days ago. Otherwise, they seem to be doing well (eating tons, very friendly, enjoying their shelter, etc.) Any ideas?

 

[jorey]

They r drinking or they wouldn't be with you anymore. Goats don't drink a ton of water like horses do. Just make sure they have fresh water and good hay and they'll be set. I was suprised at how little mine actually drank. Just plain water in a clean bucket or trough and your set. Relax and enjoy them. They r such clowns.

 

[tadpole98]

I second that, goats don't drink much. And, since they are not down and dying, they have been drinking.

 

[nok13]

they drink, but prefer clean water; in winter, u can give them a bucket of warmed up water, mine used to run up to me to drink (jerusalem weather is like deep fall in new england, i guess. some rain, nver gets below 0 centigrade, but dry. and windy. )
in summer heat some even liked to get a bucket of mildly salted water, along with their regular water. goats drink usually drink a few long drinks only during parts of the day. afterall, when in desert foraging, they have no access to water except in morning, and evening when returning home. it also depends on breeds. desert breeds need and use less water - when we had zaanaan swiss type goats, they drank much more water then our arab/nubian/local goats did.
i also found that they hated to drink from horse waterers, or cow waters, and preferred regualr old fashioned troughs or buckets. they also took apart the otehr floater waters, playing with the plastic parts.