GOATS

Would you like a goat for a pet? Think about several things before you answer. Make sure you know the facts about any pet before you take it home.

Do you think of goats as farm animals? Goats give milk, wool, and other products. They are valuable farm animals. But they can be great pets, too.

Think of goats in petting zoos. They are friendly and curious. People like to pet the goats and watch them play. Pet goats are liked for the same reasons. Some breeds, such as the dwarf or pygmy goats, are small enough to keep in a house with a yard. But goats have some special needs.

Goats are herd animals, so they like to live in groups. A pair of goats would please the right family. Goats can also live with horses. Rural areas are best suited for keeping goats. Goats need your time and attention. They need medical care.

Goats love you to brush their coats. They love when you touch their ears. A goat has sharp teeth, so remember to keep your hands out if its mouth. A vet must trim your goat’s hooves. A female goat is called a nanny goat. It is also called a doe. A male goat is called a billy goat. He is also called a buck. The baby goat is called a kid.

Goats are picky eaters. Goats love molasses, carrots, and seaweed meal. These are very good for them. Crushed oats, pony pellets, bran, chaff, horse mix, Lucerne hay, and crushed oats are also foods they that they will enjoy eating. Goats love to eat fresh roots from young trees most of all.

If you want to keep a goat for a pet, prepare for its needs. Then your goat will be happy and so will you.