Raising Goats as Pets

We have all heard of goats being raised as dairy animals, however, have you ever thought about raising goats as pets? Besides making great livestock, goats make great pets and several people have found raising goats at home an interesting hobby. However, this hobby comes with its own challenges. Raising goats as pets is a challenging job and requires commitment on the part of the owner. If you are planning to get a goat as a pet, make sure you have gathered information about what you are getting into. Woolgathering will only leave you stumped! So let's take a look at the different points to be kept in mind while planning to raise goats as pets.

Raising Goats as Pets

Before heading into the question, 'how to raise goats as pets', it is very important to ask yourself, 'why you want to raise goats as pet'. Answering this question will help you to decide the type of goat you want to raise. People often feel goats are natural alternatives to lawnmowers. If you are one of them, it's high time you change your mindset. Goats prefer bush and trees over grass. So they will chew up all your flowering plants and trees before clearing the grass off the lawn. To chew specifically grass, sheep is a better choice, although they aren't as affectionate as goats

Wild or Tame Goats?

While choosing goats, make sure the goat is touchable before you actually take them home. If you think you can tame the goat after taking him home, you are in for a surprise! Taming wild goats are next to impossible tasks, so skip the frustration stage by getting a friendly goat. Moreover, get a goat that has been disbudded. Though goats look really adorable when they're 3 months old, their horns will eventually grow out and when the goat realizes he has horns he will use it in unpleasant ways. Horns can be quite dangerous for you, your family and other animals in the vicinity. Moreover, the horns can even get stuck in fences, nets, etc. and strangle the goat.

Doe, Buck or Wether?

Does are loving and respond to their names when called. They supply milk and are also great companions. Does make lovely pets, however, are expensive as compared to bucks and wethers. Bucks or intact males are not recommended for people who are first time goat buyers. The simple reason being, bucks are breeding animals and not companions. Being intact males, they constantly seek the companionship of a doe and become lonely and agitated in situations otherwise. Neutered males or wethers are the best option if one wants a goat for a pet companion and not milk purposes. Wethers never get aggressive and do not develop a smell. They do not think about sex all the time like bucks and remain 'kid-like' and affectionate all their lives. They will respond to you when you call their names and will even shower you with their affection. Moreover, wethers are cheaper to buy and maintain than bucks and does, which makes them even more appropriate for getting as a pet.

How Many Goats to Get?

Goats being social animals tend to get very lonesome without companionship of their own kind. Single goats end up being very lonely, thus, it's important to start off with at least two goats. Having said that, first timers should not head out and pick up one buck and one doe. To avoid breeding issues, it's best to get two does, two wethers or one doe with a wether.

Choosing the Goat Type

There are several types of goat breeds for you to choose from. Each breed has its own good points and it depends on personal choice which breed of goat to get. Just make sure you follow the above mentioned pointers while choosing them, such as friendly, debudded, doe-wether combination, etc. There are the Nubians (least naturally healthy and proud temperament), Oberhaslis, LaManchas (wonderful temperament), pygmy goats (docile, small and faithful companions), Nigerian dwarf goat, etc.

Read more on:

• Pygmy Goats as Pets
• Pygmy Goat Care

Raising goats as pets and raising goats for profit are two different things. While getting goats as pets, one can buy the dairy goats, however, it's not necessary to milk them. Moreover, as with any other pet, goats also need to have a physical examination carried out by a veterinarian once a year and need to be vaccinated. Watch out for attacks by stray dogs and other animals, as goats are fairly vulnerable to attacks. Goats will supply you with lovely milk, however, don't get a goat for the sole purpose of getting free milk. Get them if you love them and want to take care of them and the milk supplies, cleared plantation, etc. will all be additional benefits you receive for caring for these endearing animals.