The Basics of Goat Care and Raising Goats

Understanding the basics of goat care can help you maintain a healthy and happy animal. Here at Spencer’s Farm, we love our goats and believe every animal should be treated, humanely, with dignity and respect. There are hundreds of goat breeds and people raise their goats in different ways, but raising healthy and happy goats is a basic goal, here at Spencer’s Farm.

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Since there are hundreds of different goat breeds, do your research and decide what kind of goats you want to raise. There are milk goats, meat goats, show goats or pet goats? Deciding what kind of goats you want to raise will help you determine the best goat breeds for you.

Learn fast facts about Nigerian Dwarf goats, Fainting goats, Boer goats, Saanen goats and Alpine goats.

Here at Spencer’s Farm, our Alpine and Saanen dairy goats provide the milk used in making natural bath and natural body products. We provide the best goat care possible for healthy and happy animals.

Is the environment you live in beneficial for raising goats? Do you have a pasture in which they can roam and graze? Goats like to roam around and move freely about. Placing rocks or something for the goats to climb is also helpful to keep their hooves trimmed.

Is the climate you live in appropriate for raising goats? Goats are very adaptable and can thrive in most climates, except for deserts or tundras. They can be sensitive to extensive heat. They perform much better in shady or cooler conditions and can do well in cold environments. They do not like to get wet and are sensitive to drafts. They like to enter a barn or some kind of shelter during times of rain.

Do you have a fence around your property? Usually, a four-foot fence is minimum height to keep the animal from jumping over or some people use an underground electric fence. Make sure your goats can not get tangled up in the type of fence you provide.

Goats need a shed or small barn that is bedded well and draft free. The shed should have a pen that allows approximately five square feet of movement per goat. Goats should never be contained in a cramped environment. The floor should be dirt, concrete or covered with hay and always kept dry since goats can be prone to foot rot. Allow air to circulate throughout the area and have a door to keep them enclosed during Winter months.

A feeding trough should be large enough to hold hay and grain and placed so that the goats do not have to strain to reach their food. Always keep water nearby and accessible for goats. You may want automatic waterers or keep buckets of water around. Some goat owners feed twice a day and others only once. Learn what is best for your animal. Contrary to most belief, goats are choosy eaters, even more than dogs, cows or sheep. They will reject food that is dirty, smelly, wilted, or has been on the ground. Alfalfa hay, grain mixture and loose mineral mix is used to feed many goats, but check with your local goat breeder or veterinarian to help you decide the nutritional needs of your goats.



It is important to stay current with preventative health goat care. Check with your local veterinarian for vaccinations. De-worm your goats and check closely for lice. Make sure their food, water, and environment is kept clean to avoid the spread of bacteria.

Pay attention to any changes in your goat’s appearance or temperament. A healthy goat has clear and bright eyes. Cloudy eyes or tearing may indicate a pinkeye infection. Their coat should be smooth and shiny. A puffed up coat may indicate the goat isn’t feeling well and a dull coat may indicate parasites.

Make sure they maintain a healthy appetite, though its normal for a doe in labor to refuse to eat. They should have an alert attitude or temperament. A hunched back or droopy tail could indicate something is wrong. Check their bag for an overall healthy condition. Get to know your goat. Be aware of their daily routine so you will notice any changes in their appearance or behavior sooner than later. Using preventative goat care is always an important task.

Spend time with your goats. Approach them in a quiet calm manner. Pet them. Goats enjoy companionship. They do not like to be alone. It’s not a good idea to raise just one goat. Happy goats enjoy the companionship of other goats and people too!

Where can you find the right goats for you? A goat ranch, recommended breeder or local 4H groups are a few good places. Here at Spencer's Farm find Boer goats for sale!

Observe the condition of the animal. Does it look healthy and happy? Notice their temperament. Ask the owner if there are any problems. Can you get the medical history? Are the immunizations current? Are the goats registered goats? These are just a few things you can do when purchasing and raising goats.

Knowing the basics of goat care can help you maintain good lives for happy and healthy goats. Their personalities and habits can be interesting and amusing. Goats can be fun, enjoyable and affectionate animals. Raising goats can be challenging. Raising goats, the healthy and happy way, is a priority, here, at Spencer's Farm.

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