Do you need to know what kind of games goats love, what are the best foods to feed them, how to choose the most suitable shelter and many other details to take care of these animals? Keep reading this article! If you have any questions, post to the discussion page.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Create a Safe Environment
Step 1. Set up a good fence
The fence for the goat should be high enough to keep her from escaping, but also to keep predators out. A height of about one and a half meters should suffice.
Step 2. Create a suitable shelter
Goats can stay in small huts or in kennels for large dogs. It should be a ventilated but drafty space. The bed must be made of straw. The concrete floor costs a lot but is easy to maintain.
Method 2 of 3: Nutrition and Cleaning
Step 1. Feed her properly
A healthy diet for a goat consists of hay and feed based on oats, bran and barley. All food must be kept "raised" from the ground to avoid the proliferation of mold and contamination with insects. You can store it, for example, in waterproof bins, such as those used for garbage, because they will keep it clean and off the floor. If the food comes into contact with the floor it could lead to illnesses to the goat.
Step 2. Make sure the goat always has access to water and a block of salt that contains selenium
If you live in an area where the soil (and, therefore, the hay) is low in selenium, it's a good idea to ask your vet to prescribe supplements for the goat. Selenium and vitamin E are extremely important for muscle and tissue health and for reproduction.
During pregnancy, these substances are quite important for goats (especially in the last month before giving birth), because they not only help the correct development of the heart and muscles of the kids, but also prevent the development of complications for the mother
Step 3. Avoid foods that may be bad for the goat
Keep your goat away from ornamental plants, especially those of the Rhododendron genus. They can cause gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting and diarrhea, or even death if the goat gets enough and isn't treated by a veterinarian. If your neighbors are in the habit of offering food to the goat through the fence, make sure they don't let her eat this type of plant. It happens more often than you think!
Step 4. Wash and brush the goat often
A thorough grooming consists of a long bath and a good brushing.
If you have children, let them brush the goat. Check them out as they do it
Step 5. Check the clogs. If you do this once a month you won't need a lot of effort. If you don't want the hooves to bend, crack or become infected, take care of them once a month.
Method 3 of 3: Keep the Goat Healthy
Step 1. Get her to exercise
Let it climb a lot. Goats like to climb, so get them toys that allow them to do so. They can also enjoy games like the rocking seesaw, where their balance is tested when they move back and forth, just as if they were climbing.
Step 2. The goat must be dewormed
Most goats suffer from intestinal parasites (worms) and should be treated regularly. Common worms that attack goats are strongyles, hookworms, and a different species of parasites known as coccidia. Depending on the environment, parasites can cause many health problems, such as weight loss, a ruined coat, reproductive problems, or even death.
- Kids should be wormed between 6 and 8 weeks of age. There are commercially available products for this purpose. Always follow your vet's directions.
- Most deworming products are not effective against coccidia, which can be particularly harmful in kids, older goats, and those with immune system problems. For this type of parasite, there are many effective products but the best seems to be Corid. Signs of coccidiosis include: difficulty gaining weight, lethargy, loss of appetite (lack of appetite) and clumping dog-like stools.
- If you have any suspicions that your goat has a worm problem, contact your vet who will do fecal tests. This way he will be able to give you a definitive answer and recommend the right treatment.
Step 3. Get the goat the right vaccinations
All goats should be vaccinated once a year with a vaccine that also includes tetanus. Ask your vet for more information.
Kids must be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, then a booster must be made after another 4 weeks. Thereafter, the vaccine will be performed once a year
Step 4. Beware of abdominal bloating
Giving too much fresh vegetables can lead to bloating and goat death if left untreated.
Advice
- Make sure the fence latch is on the outside!
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If you choose to remove the goat's horns, it is best to do so when it is approximately one week old. Older goats should have this procedure done by the vet.
For more information on how to raise goats where you live, visit the Ministry of Agriculture website
- In case you DON'T know how to trim hooves, take the goat to a vet.
- Goats love to climb, so provide them with rocks or other structures they can jump on.
