Homesteaders should certainly consider raising goats. They can be used for meat, milk, and more. However, it is important that you have a good understanding of how to raise the goats properly and safely, and to provide them with a healthy environment. The following are some tips that can help you get started.
More than One
Even if you have a relatively small space, you should still have room for more than just one goat. Goats are herd animals, and they like to be social. Having several, at least, is a good option. It keeps them happy and it keeps them safe.
Think About Their Needs
Learn about goats to have a better idea of what they need. They will want to have easy access to water, and they need to have plenty of food for the entire herd. In addition, they need to have shelter. You don’t want to keep them out in a field all the time. They will need to have a barn or a shed that’s large enough for the entire herd.
Beware of Males in Rut
While goats tend to be stubborn, they are generally an easygoing lot. However, that can change when the males are in rut. At this point, the only thing they want to do is to get closer to the female goats. In some cases, they can become dangerous, so you will want to be cautious around them.
Your Fence Needs to Be Strong
Goats like to wander, and sometimes, they do not realize just how far away they might roam. If you want to keep your goats safe and sound, you need to have good and strong fences, and you need to check them regularly so you can make repairs. If you don’t, the stubborn goats might just break it down so they can see what’s over there!
Feed Them Well
Even though goats have a reputation of being able to eat anything, that’s not true. They still need to have a good overall diet if you expect them to be happy, healthy, and productive. It’s not a cartoon, so you can’t feed them tin cans and garbage! They need a healthy diet. Keep in mind that they tend to like to roam and graze.
Don’t Treat Them as Pets
This can be difficult for many people who are just getting into homesteading. They want to have happy and healthy animals, and they end up spending a lot of time with them and get attached. You need to remember that these are your livestock, they are not your pets.
It is important to remember that these are just some tips to help you get started with your goats. You will want to learn as much as possible about the proper ways to raise your herd so you can be successful. Also, make sure you start small and with just a few goats. As you gain more knowledge and become more comfortable with them, you can add more to the herd.
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