r/goats

I’m buying a parcel of land and am hoping to have a small herd of quality, pedigreed goats. I have several years of goat experience in my youth and showed Lamanchas, Nubians, and Nigerian Dwarfs for several years during 4h. I’m experienced (but not a pro) in their overall care, hoof trimming, kidding, ect.

I’d like goats to dabble in making cheese and soap, but don’t consume milk otherwise. I’d love goats that are great weed eaters in addition to quality hay and grain supplementation as needed. But importantly, I’d like to give back to my impoverished community and raise goats that kids are able to borrow as 4h projects and to get kids back into agriculture (at my own expense) so personality and quality are the most important factors for me.

Are there any breeds you suggest? I really didn’t love my Nigerian Dwarfs, but loved my bigger girls. But, maybe it was just their bloodlines that made them more difficult to deal with?

I’d love any advice on breeds and breeders to look into. I’m willing to travel pretty much anywhere in the Midwest to ensure quality bloodlines and the right animals. It’s been well over a decade since I’ve had goats but would love to dip my toes back into it.

I learned fishtail was evidence of copper deficiency, then I learned it may not be, and I can’t find any scientific papers about it. I am generally happy with my herd’s condition, their coats are shiny, and they have free access to loose minerals. Some of them did develop fishtail, and it was at the same time I believe that their mineral had been mis-formulated (the mix wasn’t as red as usual). My knee jerk reaction was they didn’t put enough copper in it, but again, I can’t find the science. Does anyone have any solid evidence for what does cause fishtail?

Hello! I have 2 alpine kids, 4 months old. When we brought them home about a month ago, they were both treated for coccidia. They were having diarrhea at the time (and coccidia showed up on the fecal) but then it improved after their treatment. A week ago they started having diarrhea again. We consulted with our vet and did a fecal and the fecal was normal. She said they could be having a flare up from when they had coccidia and they’re still healing from that. She suggested kaolin pectin so they’ve been getting that since Wednesday evening. Their poop has improved somewhat but it’s still diarrhea. Thoughts? Suggestions? The vet told us to check in after giving the kaolin pectin for a few days so I plan to call tomorrow but wanted to see if anyone in this group had thoughts. Maybe just continuing the kaolin pectin and they’ll eventually get back to normal? Thanks!

I'm a little bit traumatized from the events that happened with my baby goat and him injuring his leg pretty bad, so I would like to start a first aid collection for them, especially since the Vets closer to me will only do scheduled visits I have to drive almost 2 hours for emergency vets, and the mobile vet won't come to my house because they don't want to come up my driveway.

So what kind of medicines and materials and whatnot would you put in a first aid kit for goats? Currently I have fly spray which is kind of a necessity for everything almost in my opinion, I have blue knot spray, iodine, electrolytes, bandages, and Saline.

What else should I add? Of course I know if something is an emergency I still need to take them to the vet, but for things that I can do at home and like with what happened with my baby goat, I need something to be able to treat injuries until I can get a vet to accept them, because even the emergency there is not open on the day of certain holidays and they are not open past 10:00 p.m. and until 8:00 a.m.

So what should I add? I appreciate any information and advice you guys give me!

Also for those of you that seen my other posts about my baby goat he's doing great now, I'll make another post specifically about him tomorrow

I have 3 goats - strictly pets and supposed to be for brush control. I have fenced areas for them - I’ve created a newly fenced area they can get into and out of from the original side - this new area is loaded with brush, bushes etc for them to eat as I need it cleared but would rather they do it then hack it down. However they will NOT go to the new area. I convince them with treats staying on that side etc, but they prefer the dirt lot they have eaten down already? Is it just a comfort thing they want to stay where they know? Give it time? Or are they just… not that smart?

How do I get them to be the weed eaters I need them to be? They are down this section it’s time to move sections! I didn’t fully change it I just made more area with extra fencing - they still have their huge shed water etc but I’d think they’d WANT to go to the green side?

In my friend's compound that is located in the middle of a field, there are herds of goats that are being led right into the compound to harass the inhabitants.

A fence have been put up by the locals to prevent the goats from enetring the compound but another problem has risen.

The goats, which probably have lots of fleas, scratch their body on the fences with great intensity, which causes the fences to fall apart over time.

What ways do I have to prevent the goats from scratching on the fence without hurting them?

Thank you for the help

We bought a shed with an OSB floor. What I want to do is put kilz down then masonry water proofed over that. Is this overkill or what do you recommend for the floor protection.

We had two beautiful does for two years before we got a buck for them. We got a young buck and another same age doe so we were up to three ladies and a buck. The buck matured and did his duty and all the ladies gave birth to a total of baby goats. Since the births in late winter both the original does have died unexpectedly and from unknown causes months apart (babies were weened already in both cases). The last adult female is now also looking reclusive and down. It is said to never keep bucks with the heard and I'm wondering if maybe he is being too rough? Causing internal bleeding to the ladies maybe? We are running out of female goats honestly. (Baby boys have been castrated) should we off the buck and maybe save the does if that is what's going on? Could something else be causing the does to die?

Edit: Thank you all for your input, I've reassessed and not jumped to conclusions. I will be looking into potential parasites and assume the buck is innocent till proven guilty.

I've already called Riverview animal hospital, I believe necrosis has set up in my baby goat's leg he already had maggots on it which I washed off, it has a very bad smell, Riverview gave me an appointment for the 11th at 8:00 a.m. but ideally I need something sooner, if any of you have any recommendations that would be wonderful!