Goat Care

Goat Care

Our kids are weaned after they are 8 weeks old and are dam raised.  They are wormed at weaning and receive their CDT (4 weeks of age) vaccination to avoid Tetnus and Enterotoxemia.  The second booster is given about 4 weeks later.  A lump may appear at the injection site (behind right front leg).  This is nothing to worry about and will go away.

At 3 weeks of age they also receive their coccidiosis preventative (Baycox/Toltrazuril), which we then administer every 3 weeks.    

Our kids are disbudded within the first week of life (within the first couple days for bucks).  We also have polled goats (naturally hornless).  Scurs are very common with bucks but break off and can be trimmed.

Hoof trimming is done every 6 -12 weeks depending on the goat.  We will trim your goat's hooves before they leave our farm.  

We feed our doelings about a cup of grain daily.  We feed them Kent Home Fresh 16 Goat Grow & Finish 20R which is a medicated feed that contain Deccoquinate.  It's a preventative low dose medication to help prevent high levels of coccidia in the gut.  They also receive prairie hay and alfalfa.  

Wethers and bucks are fed a cup of Kent Home Fresh 16 Goat Grow & Finish 20R or Purina Grower daily as well.  This grain also contains ammonium chloride which is the most important ingredient in ensuring urinary tract health and preventing urinary calculi.  

Our male kids can be banded after 8 weeks if a wether is desired.  The band takes about 3-6 weeks to fall off.  Goats are herd animals and cannot live without other goats.  Wethers are great companions and pets.   Bucks are for breeding and are stinky. 

ADGA registered kids will be tattooed at 8 weeks.

Our goats receive free-choice loose minerals (Sweetlix Meat Maker).  Water is fresh and cleaned daily.

We stagger our breeding so that each doe and her kids can have one-on-one attention.  All of our goats are handled daily and are treated as pets as well as supply us with milk.

Companionship - Goats are herd animals.  They generally do not do well alone.  You need a minimum of two goats.  "An only goat is a lonely goat."

The two largest concerns for your goat kids are going to be coccidia and pneumonia.  Pneumonia is opportunistic, flaring up when your goat kids are stressed from extreme temperature or diet changed. Coccidia is always present in their gut in low numbers, but can easily get out of control in moist and dirty environments.  Watch the weather for unexpected sudden drops in temperature. Provide a dry stall or shelter and regularly remove manure and place dry, clean bedding.

Worrisome signs include: kids who suddenly go off feed.  Fever or low temp (rectal thermometer is a must)! Normal goat temp is between 101.5 and 103.5 degrees.  Snotty nose or wet persistent cough. Diarrhea that doesn’t clear up.  Lethargy or listlessness. 

It will take some time for your goat to adjust to his/her new home and to get use to you.  Be patient and enjoy this fun time.