Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the questions we are asked most often!
Looking after your goat
To help you keep your goat happy and healthy we have produced this frequently asked questions sheet. If you should have any further questions, do not hesitate to give us a call or send us an e-mail.
- Where should my goat be kept?
- Your goat should be kept in a field with adequate grazing and shelter. The field should have secure fencing and ideally, a play area with platforms to jump up and down from. The shelter needs to give protection from extreme temperatures, the wind and rain. It should contain a thick layer of clean straw, which needs to be changed regularly and the whole area disinfected.
- What should I feed my goat on?
- Feed your goat on the specially prepared dry cereal available from any feed store. In the winter, your goat will need additional feed and hay. Small treats of fresh fruit and vegetables will be popular. Clean, fresh water must always be available. Your goat should also have access to a mineral block. Apart from ivy which goats love, most evergreen plants are poisonous and should not be fed. Rhododendron is particularly dangerous and goats must not have access to this plant.
- What other facts should I bear in mind when keeping my goat?
- Goats naturally live in large groups, so will need a companion. Two castrated males are good together. Goats are sociable animals, so even if they have a companion, they will welcome a daily visit. Hoof trimming every four to six weeks will be a necessity as will worming.
- How long will my goat live?
- Assuming they are well looked after, goats will live 14 years or more and will reward you with years of fun.
- Will my goat produce milk?
- Most female goats (nannies) only produce milk after giving birth to kids in the spring. However some will occasionally produce milk without giving birth. In the autumn female goats will show signs of oestrus every 19-21 days by bleating and wagging their tails and seeking out a billy (male goat). The kids should arrive five months after a successful mating.