Kid Care Sheet
This sheet is intended to be a reference for weaned baby goats
Visit this page here for additional information about long-term goat care requirements.
Feeding:
Housing:
Grooming:
Companionship:
Bringing your new pet home:
Taming your baby goat:
Good luck with your new baby goat(s)! If you have any questions before or after you bring your goat(s) home, feel free to email me at [email protected]
I’m happy to answer any of your goat-related questions!
****The above texts are based on what I have learned through experience in goat-keeping. Please note that this is only meant to be a guide highlighting the very basic essentials of goat care. There is still much more to know about goat care. Please, please, please do your research!
This sheet is intended to be a reference for weaned baby goats
Visit this page here for additional information about long-term goat care requirements.
Feeding:
- Make sure to provide your new baby with plenty of fresh water and hay at all times! A quality feed designed for goats can be fed once or twice daily. It should be okay to feed up to a cup per baby; however, please note that feeding too much grain to male goats can cause urinary calculi, which can be life threatening! Monitor your goat's weight and adjust its feed accordingly. Goats will also require minerals that are specifically designed for their species. Goats are browsers and enjoy munching on brush, so providing them with a space to do so is an added bonus. Please do your research on the subject and be sure to feed your baby correctly as it grows.
Housing:
- I personally believe that goats are happiest when allowed to roam in a closed pasture, but that isn’t always a possibility. Just be sure to provide your baby with enough space to play and have an area where it can be safe from the weather. Goats WILL test fences, so make sure that your fence is goat proof before releasing your baby into the enclosure!
- NEVER tie goats. Goats are very prone to tragic and unnecessary accidents when tied that can easily be prevented by not tying! Also, I don’t recommend leaving a goat in a square-wire fence because it is extremely easy for goats to get their horns stuck in the wire and become overheated and stressed. The BEST fencing solution that I have found has been electric fencing. Three or fours strands of electric wire work nicely.
Grooming:
- Goats need to have their hooves trimmed every few months. It is crucial to do this so that the goat can walk properly. Do your research and invest in a pair of good hoof clippers (tractor supply has these) or strong scissors.
- Goats are especially prone to lice in the fall and winter. Don’t worry, goat lice can not spread to people or other animals, but they can be a pesky problem in goats. If not treated, goats can become anemic and sick. Check your goat for lice if it shows any signs of itching and scratching. Diatomaceous earth can treat goat lice and resolve this issue very quickly. Supplementing your goats’ water with apple cider vinegar can also help to deter lice and other nasties from your goats.
Companionship:
- Goats are herd animals, so they need to have companions. It is best to have at least two goats together (do not keep unaltered males and females together unless you plan on responsibly breeding). If having more than one goat is not possible, you can try housing your baby goat with another species of animal, but monitor them very closely to make sure they are compatible.
Bringing your new pet home:
- Chances are, your new baby goat is going to be very shy and wary of people at first. This is perfectly normal. It will not be familiar with you or the environment. It will probably cry loudly for a few days because it will miss its old surroundings. It is best to give your new baby a few days to acclimate to its environment and settle in. Do not physically handle it very much during these days. It needs to become acquainted with its environment before it can get used to your touch. It is also wise for you to spend time in its enclosure so it can get used to you. Don’t approach it or try to pet it yet. Simply sit or move around quietly in the cage for a few days. Once it becomes comfortable with you, it can begin to be handled more often.
- If you are planning to integrate the new baby into your herd, do this by first housing it in a separate enclosure with one of your more gentle goats. Once the two have bonded, they can be released into the larger herd. Having a friend will make the baby's transition into the herd much easier.
Taming your baby goat:
- It is easier to tame goats when they are confined to a smaller enclosure. It is wise to keep your new baby in a smaller pen until it becomes friendly with you. Once it is tame, it can be released into a larger pen, but until then, keep it confined.
- Do not approach the goat. Let it approach you, instead. Doing this helps your new baby view you as harmless rather than a predator. If your goat approaches you, don’t try to pet it. Simply let it sniff you and become acquainted with you. After a few days of this, you can try offering your baby a treat when it approaches you. Treats such as a handful of sweet feed, raisins, crackers, and bread are all good choices to use. Baby goats also seem to appreciate leafy twigs from trees such as oaks and pecans.
- Once you are able to feed your baby from your hand, you can start to try to pet it. Go slow with this and don’t rush it. Sudden scary movements can hinder the process. Be gentle and try to touch areas that goats enjoy having touched. These areas include under the chin, behind the ears, and along the back. DO NOT rub your goat’s forehead. Rubbing a goat’s forehead teaches it that it is okay to touch you with it. This can lead to bad behaviors such as butting and rubbing with its head. Your goat can become disrespectful if not handled properly.
- Always let your baby watch you feed it during the taming process. You need to be associated with food in the baby’s mind. To do this, do not let the baby have free-choice food (this only applies to grain; baby goats must have free-choice hay). Feed it frequently with small feedings and stay near the food until the baby is finished eating. This will ensure that your goat realizes that you are the source of its nourishment, the same way its mother was. After your goat has been tamed, slowly switch to once or twice a day feedings with the grain.
Good luck with your new baby goat(s)! If you have any questions before or after you bring your goat(s) home, feel free to email me at [email protected]
I’m happy to answer any of your goat-related questions!
****The above texts are based on what I have learned through experience in goat-keeping. Please note that this is only meant to be a guide highlighting the very basic essentials of goat care. There is still much more to know about goat care. Please, please, please do your research!