Goat Care

Welcome to the World of Nigerian Dwarf Goats !

Nigerian Dwarf goat is a small breed of dairy goat, and should have the

graceful, refined, proportions of the dairy goat at about 1/3 the size.

They produce large amounts of milk for their size, and food consumption.

Unlike other domestic goats, they frequently will breed year round. Their

care mainly involves taking care of their food, shelter and hygiene.

 

The following measures can be included for taking care of your goats. The

care of your Nigerian is similar to the care of other goats. Good

management  (selection, nutrition, parasite control, health care, housing

and responsible breeding) is the foundation of your herd and this ill

determine the ultimate condition and conformation of your stock. Goats are

herd animals, so depend on the companionship of other goats. Two goats

make a herd. A single goat is a miserable goat, and will make you a

miserable goat owner.

Feeding

The daily diet must include protein-rich food like fresh green leafy

alfalfa. Having a goat mineral block for the goats is also a good practice

in goat care. As ruminants, they depend on a diet primarily of hay. Sweet

smelling, non dusty, hay is ideal. Goats also love browse like brushes,

blackberry, rabbit brush, weed, etc. The two essential vitamins required

by goats are Vitamin D. An adequate supply of fresh clean water should be

maintained for the goats. Be careful to avoid mold! Goats are very

susceptible to mold toxins. Avoid toxic plants!; Rhododendron, azalea,

yew (looks like spruce but no scent), laurel, loco weed, cherry... these can

kill in very small doses.

Never change the diet suddenly, always introduce new or extras in small

quantities. If your goat over eats or gets into something he shouldn't,

watch it carefully for signs of illness. Baking soda can be given to help

prevent bloat either in dry form if the goat will eat it or mixed with

water and given orally. If the goat develops diarrhea you can give it

liquid pepto bismol.

Do not let the goats suck on your fingers! Their back teeth are razor

sharp. Also this can introduce foreign bacteria into their systems that

can be harmful.

Shelter

Shelter is the other important aspect of goat care. The fencing should be

built tall enough to keep animals like dogs, or coyotes from straying into

the vicinity of the goats. Construct a pen with the fence so the goats can

move about freely. Barbed wire is not advisable for building a fence, as

there are high chances of the goats getting injured. The shelter should

provide a dry place to sleep. Dog house, open front barrels, or sheds all

work fine  to keep the goats dry.

Trimming and Worming

Hooves should have trimmed as needed, usually every 6 - 8 weeks; the bottom

of the hoof should be flat without edges curling under. Scissors type

garden pruning shears work well. You can also use a 6" door plane to rasp

the bottoms of their hooves.

Worming of goats can be done about three times annually. You can use a

small amount of Ivermectin (used for cattle and horses ) or Safeguard

wormer ( available for goats ).

General

Goats are sociable, playful creatures. They enjoy gentle attention; do not

play aggressively with them or they will become aggressive. They enjoy

climbing and jumping on rocks, stumps, and platforms made for their

pleasure ( and your entertainment).

When you bring your goat home, expect that they will be frightened and

nervous until they get used to their new home. It will probably be a bit

noisy, may act shy, and will need TLC and reassurance that their new home

is a safe, comfortable, happy place. It usually takes less than a week to

settle in.

A healthy goat appears contented, alert, has an appetite and chews its

cud. Its coat is smooth and glossy, skin is clean and pliable. One can

fell the ribs under the skin but bones do not appear to jut out. The

manure consists of formed, slightly moist pellets, with they urinate

should be passed without effort.

I guarantee my goats are healthy at the  time they leave here. Since I have

no control over what happens once they leave, I can not be held

responsible once they leave the premises. If you are not sure about the

health of your goat, call a vet. It is best to have one lined up before

you need one. Most vets don't care for goats, so you will need to check

around in order to find one in your area.