Raising animals on your homestead is a great way to be more self-sufficient. Goats are an excellent choice, even for beginner homesteaders.
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
If you're thinking of adding goats to your farm, this guide is for you.
Benefits of Raising Goats
There are many reasons why you might want to raise goats. Goats can provide milk, meat, fiber, and even fertilizer for your homestead. They're also relatively easy to care for and take up less space than other livestock animals like cows.
Once you're comfortable with other homestead animals such as chicken, turkeys, rabbits, and even quail, adding goats makes sense. Especially when you're trying to take charge of your family's supply of food.
If you're interested in raising goats for milk, you'll be happy to know that goat's milk is very nutritious. It's higher in calcium and protein than cow's milk and easier to digest.
If you're into homesteading and survival, you know it's important to diversify your protein sources with homestead meats. Goat meat is lean and healthy and has a milder flavor than other red meats. Families planning a subsistence homestead often add a couple of goats to their barn.
Goats can also provide you with fiber. Use both their hair and their skin to make clothing and other textile products. Goat hair is usually made into yarn, while goat skin is tanned to make leather. So if you're hoping to make money from your homestead, consider adding goats.
Finally, goats can also be used to maintain your homestead. They provide a natural source of fertilizer for your garden or fields, as their manure is rich in nutrients. They also eat many types of vegetation, so they can help you keep your property clear of brush and weeds.
How to Raise Goats: Tips for Beginners
What Do Goats Eat?
Goats are browsers, meaning they prefer to eat leaves and vegetation rather than grass. They're also experts at finding food in places that other animals can't reach.
In addition to grazing on vegetation, you'll also need to provide your goats with hay or other materials to forage. This is especially important in the winter when there isn't as much green vegetation for them to eat.
You can buy organic goat feed, and give them the occasional homemade goat treats too.
You should also provide your goats with a source of fresh water at all times. A water bucket or trough is fine, but clean it out regularly to prevent algae and bacteria growth.
How Much Do Baby Goats Cost?
As with most homesteading projects, learning how to raise goats includes buying them to get started. Baby goats, or kids, are typically born in the spring. A healthy kid will weigh between 4 and 8 pounds at birth.
You can usually purchase kids from a local breeder or farm store. Prices will vary depending on the breed, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $250 for a healthy kid.
Types of Goats for Homesteading
Each goat breed has unique characteristics. When you're researching how to raise goats, look for tips on specific breeds.
For example, Alpine goats are known for their milk production, while Nubians are known for their long ears and tolerance for heat.
Oberhasli goats are a good choice for beginners because they're easy to handle and have a friendly temperament. However, they usually cost more.
Toggenburg goats are smaller than other breeds but hardy and can thrive in cold climates. They are also very productive dairy goats.
Pygmy goats are also popular but often kept as pets instead of for farm purposes. They're small and relatively tame. And pygmy goats make sense if you don't have a lot of extra space.
Nigerian dwarf goats are another small, good-natured breed popular among homesteaders. Although they're not very big, they can produce a lot of milk.
No matter which breed you choose, make sure to do your research and purchase your goats from a reputable source.
How to Care for Your Goats
Once you've chosen the right type of goat for your homestead, it's time to start thinking about care. Goats need shelter, food, water, and some basic medical care.
Tip: Learning how to raise goats can be a great homesteading and homeschooling project. Get your kids involved with everything from research, to building goat pens and picking baby goats too.
Shelter for Goats
Goats need a place to sleep and prefer to be off the ground. A simple three-sided shed will do, or if you have the space and resources, you can build a more elaborate barn.
Your goats' shelter should be large enough for them to move around comfortably and have plenty of ventilation to prevent the build-up of ammonia fumes.
The floor of your goats' shelter should be dry and clean, and you should bed it with straw or another type of bedding material. Goats need to have plenty of space to shelter themselves from the elements.
What about Goat Food?
As mentioned earlier, goats are browsers and prefer to eat leaves and other vegetation. Of course, they'll also graze on grass, but the grass shouldn't make up their entire diet.
In addition to grazing, you should also provide your goats with other greens. This is especially important in the winter when there isn't as much green vegetation for them to eat.
You can purchase hay from a local farm store or grow your own. If you choose to grow your own, make sure to plant grasses and other plants known to be suitable for goats.
Water
Goats need a constant source of fresh water. A water bucket or trough is fine, but it should be cleaned regularly to prevent algae growth.
Medical Care
Goats need basic medical care, and you should have a vet check them at least once a year. You should also have a first-aid kit on hand in case of injuries.
Some common health problems goats experience include parasites, pneumonia, and foot rot.
You can prevent some of these problems by ensuring that your goats have clean and dry shelter and a balanced diet.
You should also quarantine new goats for at least 30 days to ensure they don't have any diseases or parasites.
Vaccinations are another consideration; you should talk to your vet about what's best for your goats.
FAQs About Adding Goats to Your Homestead
How Much Space Do Goats Need?
Goats need a lot of space to roam and should have at least 200 square feet per goat to pasture.
Just ensure that the pasture is big enough for all the animals and that there's plenty of vegetation for them to eat.
You should also provide your goats with a sheltered area to stay dry. This area should be at least 50 square feet per goat.
Fencing is essential because it will keep your goats from escaping and getting into trouble, as well as help protect them from predators.
How Many Goats Should I Start With?
As a beginner, you should start with two or three goats. This will allow you to learn how to care for them and see if goat farming is right for you.
They are social herd animals, so you don't want to start with just one. Two or three goats is a good start because they'll have companionship but still be simple to care for as a beginner.
You can always add more goats to your herd later on, but it's best to start small.
How to Make Money Raising Goats
Raising goats can also help your homestead become more financially self-reliant. You can make money from goats, including selling milk, meat, and fiber.
You can also make and sell your own goods from those materials. Goat's milk soap, cheese, yarn, and other crafted goods are a few options.
How Do I Increase Milk Production in my Goats?
As you may know, goats produce milk for their young. However, farmers can also milk goats to get milk for human consumption. So, if you plan on selling goat's milk, you'll need to know how to increase milk production.
Several ways to do this include:
- Feeding your goats a high-quality diet
- Providing them with plenty of water
- Milking them regularly
Feeding your goats a diet of alfalfa and other protein-rich green foods will help increase milk production.
It would be best if you also milked your goats twice daily, once in the morning and once at night. Make sure they have plenty of water to drink, as well.
What Should I Feed My Pygmy Goats?
Feeding pygmy goats is similar to feeding other types of goats. However, they need a diet that consists of hay and fresh vegetation.
You can purchase hay from a local farm store or grow your own. If you choose to grow your own, make sure to plant grasses and other plants that are safe for goats.
Are Goats Expensive to Raise?
Raising goats is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to other farm animals.
To start, you'll need to purchase some basic supplies, such as hay, straw, and fencing. Most of these items can be found online or at a local farm store.
They need shelter, which you can build with inexpensive materials. A simple shed is sufficient.
You'll also need food, fresh water, water containers, and some medical supplies, all of which can be found at a farm supply store.
Additional Tips for Raising Goats
In addition to the information above, there are a few other things you should keep in mind if you're thinking about raising goats on your homestead or in your backyard.
First, goats are social creatures, so having at least two of them is important. They'll be much happier with a friend.
Second, goats are curious creatures, and they like to explore. Ensure your fence is tall and secure enough to keep them from escaping.
Third, goats do not tolerate getting wet, so if it's raining, ensure they have a dry place. If you live in an area with harsh winters, as we do, you'll need to provide them with a warm shelter.
Finally, goats need a lot of exercise. They love to run and play, so remember to give them plenty of space to do so.
Raising goats can be a fun and rewarding experience. By following the tips above, you'll be well on your way to goat-raising success.