What can't goats eat?

[Frozen Feathers]

Copper is really important IMO. The women who I bought my Nigerians off from swears by it. Her goats are healthy, their coats are shiny and they have great skin. When purchasing a supplement (mineral block) make sure you don't get one that can be given to sheep. Sheep can't have copper and goats need it, so you have to find something made specifically for goats.

All goats should have their feet trimmed. It's easy to do, well as long as you work with your goat and they are used to being handled. Not trimming their feet can cause problems like foot rot.

 

[mlheran]

Goats: Small-scale Herding for Pleasure And Profit , Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows , and Storey's Guide to Raising Dairy Goats: Breeds, Care, Dairying are just a few books with great info about goat care -everything from nutritional needs to proper maintenence and shelter requirements. And yes, they do need shelter, that is often over-looked!

There are lots of great online resources too. Fias Co Farm is a great learning site (though it focuses mainly on dairy), and you can get a lot of fun leads by googling "pygmy goat" -especially when searching under images!

 

[TransplantedTexan]

http://fiascofarm.com/goats/buck-wether-info.htm

Wow, there is a very convincing info on this page as to why one should not get a buck as a pet. Or possibly at all unless they need to breed.

 

[jeaucamom]

Yes, I had found Fias Co and read their info and many other sites as well and I have one of the books. I was just looking for first hand info.

And we have a great goat shed all ready for them.

And we plan on getting 2 does. No breeding allowed

 

[Crunchie]

I think you've gotten a lot of good info already, but I wanted to mention about females vs. males--Yes, obviously you don't want a buck if you don't plan on breeding (and even if you were planning on breeding, there's often bucks from breeders you can "borrow" for stud service) but maybe consider buying a wether (nuetered male) along with a doe. Wethers make great pets! And breeders often have a hard time finding homes for them. You can probably get a doe + wether a lot cheaper than 2 does. Some breeders will either give you a wether when you purchase a doe or will sell you a wether for a very discounted price. We have Nigerians, and even though we planned on breeding we just started out with one doe--we of course needed a companion for her so the breeder sold us her wethered twin brother very cheaply. We have a few more goats now, but our chunky little wether is still a much-loved pet!

 

[Blisschick]

We bought a couple of pygmy goats a few years ago to help with the brush problem and discovered they are very picky eaters. What a horse or cow will eat, they won't. They do like trees and shrubs, but only certain ones, and won't eat a lot different weeds. I think next time, we'll opt for a pony.

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
*WARNING SOAPBOX MESSAGE*

If this is true, I would advise you to get two wethers instead of two does. Wethers make the best pets, cost less to buy than does, and do not have hormonal issues! A doe, whether you breed her or not will have "goat pms" and also heat cycles. Again I repeat, wethers (castrated males) produce no sexual hormones, do not have "off" days and generally make better pets. We do not have any wethers because they are worthless to us (don't produce anything), but I wish there were more people getting wethers as pets since most of mine end up on someone's dinnertable. Seems like everyone getting a pet wants a female or two, when truth be told males of most species make better pets.
Our male bunnies are friendlier and nicer than our females, our male cat is friendlier than any female cat I've ever had, geldings make more even tempered horses than mares, our wethers (we keep them for a few months) are always friendlier than the does. It always amazes me how all people, and no matter the specie, always think females are going to be better pets. It's just not the way nature works.

 

[jeaucamom]

I couldn't agree more. All three of my dogs are males, and I have to say my son has been way easier to raise than my girls

I even like my roo better than most of my hens. That being said, I would definitely consider wethers. We are getting them from my kids fathers who works on a ranch and they have an abundance of goats so they will be giving us a few. I think all they have available is does. I'm not sure of the age or breeding status, so I don't know if they will be milk producers.

 

[Chatychick]

I raise goats and I agree wethers do make better pets if you dont intend to breed them. I have some that are so sweet and they dont smell like the bucks do and the does are really cranky when they are in heat and its just easier to have the wethers. The minerals I use are the putina 4 seasons loose minerals for mine and I get the loose salt too it is easier for the goats.
The wethers all you have to do is give them oats and alfafa pellets in the winter when there isnt much to nibble on and hay lots and lots of hay is the best for wethers. thats mainly all I give my wethers is hay, Because if you feed them too much feed they tend to gain weight really fast so its just best to give them hay. Mine are in a separate pen from the does and that way I can maintain their weight better and they dont eat the does feed. My bucks can get really cranky when in rut. So if you want them as pets get wethers. Thats just my opinion
Also please keep away from flowers they are very poisonious to them and they love to eat them.

 

[picklespickles]

fiasco farms is a great site. they have the best info on goat cologne, nanny squatting and the rest. a very neat site.