New to goats? 

When we bought our first goats we knew nothing, but through trial and a few errors we have learned a lot along the way. Everyone has their own way of doing things for their own reasons but I thought I would share ours with you along with some resources in hopes that you have the best experience possible with your new goats. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but might be a good place to start for those of you who are new to goats.

Nutrition 

We feed our goats local Grass and Alfalfa hay. The better the hay you feed your goats the healthier they will be, don’t believe the old notion that they will eat tin cans. They may nibble on them but ultimately they will need something with protein and carbs. In the summer months when browse is available we slowly transition them from hay to browse. Goats are ruminants which means their stomachs are fermentation machines, we want to make any changes slowly so we don’t throw them off kilter and risk a condition called bloat. 


Basics you need 

Veterinarian’s Number-we use Kulshan Vet. 

Shelter- protection from wind, rain and predators. 

Fencing-we have had the most success with welded wire cattle panels. 

Bedding Material- we use pine shavings, straw or hay waste. 

Collars -we like the dog collars from the dollar store. Be sure they break away to avoid strangulation.

Health 
These are all great things to have on hand:

Thermometer- rectal style digital thermometer will be a fast way to tell you if your goat is sick. 

Probios- helps to restore good bacteria to upset stomachs. This is the first thing we go to when a goat is feeling off. 

Penicillin- this is a good emergency, over the counter drug to fight infections.

Vitamin B or Thiamine- used to treat Goat Polio

Baking Soda- used for Floppy Kid syndrome and bloat

Nutridrench- a good quick source of oral vitamins and minerals

Molasses- used to treat anemia and Ketosis, another boost for weaknesses.

Activated Charcoal- for poisoning



Bucks and wethers 

Bucks and wethers are susceptible to urinary stones and there is much debate about how to manage this. We choose to feed our bucks and wethers Ammonium Chloride (AC), this is contained in the Manna Pro minerals as well as the Noble Goat grower food that we use. This can also be managed with diet, I would advise you to research it and choose for yourself. 

Vaccinations 

CD&T- your kid has been vaccinated with CD&T and will need a booster in 1 year. 

De-Worming 

Ivomec Plus- is what we use. I would encourage you to look into the different de-worming methods that are used today, keep in mind that the goat industry is facing difficulties with parasite resistance to many medications. Consider having a fecal sample done before and after de-worming to know how effective your medication is. 


Supplements
When we are unsure of the quality of our hay we supplement with Alfalfa pellets or Chaff Hay. We find both to be appealing to the goats and consistent in nutrition.

Here in the Pacific Northwest we are a Selenium and Copper deficient area, so we choose a loose mineral that have these things. Currently we are using Manna Pro and like it. An additional supplement of Copper Bolus and Bo-Se can help with these deficiencies as well.  Top dressing feed with Black Oil Sunflower Seeds in the spring adds an extra bit of Selenium and Vitamin E as well as some added fat which tends to shine up their spring coats.  

Our young kids and lactating does are also fed Noble Goat grain. Lactating does get Noble Goat Dairy which is unmedicated and the kids get a grower which is medicated to help control coccidia. Coccidia thrive in our wet climate and are particularly hard on young kids under the age of 6 months at which time they become somewhat immune. Coccidia attack the intestinal track and can cause long term damage if left unchecked. The easiest way to know if your kid has coccidia is by taking a fecal sample to your vet for analysis. Kids are most susceptible about 3 weeks after weaning and the first sign is scours or loose stools. If a 4 month old develops scours we always treat for coccidia. 

* We have switched our grain to Elenbaas Pro Show Goat and Dairy Goat, it's a great local product that we've been really happy with.

*Don’t forget to trim their hooves on a regular basis. 

Resources and Links 

Here are a couple links that I have found helpful. 


www.fiascofarm.com This site is very helpful and has information on just about anything you would ever want to know. 

www.noodlevilleadventures.blogspot.com This blog has a great tutorial on drawing blood for testing as well as some great information on copper deficiencies. 

Facebook group Goatwisdom. The pinned posts on the group are a wealth of information and there are veteran goat people willing to answer any of your questions. 

www.adga.org The American Dairy Goat Association has charts that can assist you in learning conformation and body condition. 

Morning Chores has an interesting article about The Life Cycle of Goat Internal Parasites

The Thrifty Homesteader has some great information on Bloat

This is a great image to aid in determining body condition. Its an image from Lifetime Wool and it is referencing sheep but I find it helpful in making that assessment.

Here is an image from The American Goat Society with the dairy goat anatomy.

Being familiar with FAMACHA is a really helpful tool.