FAQs

It is important to ensure your goats always have free access to lick blocks. There are specific goat lick blocks you can get, and they will access it as they need it. Livermol (as mentioned above) is also a great way to add extra vitmains to your goats diet.

Goats love branches cut from native trees, as well as some treats of cut up apples, carrots, pumpkin and even lemons if I have an excess. Even sultanas and weet-bix are very well appreciated by your goats! All of these things are treats, and should be only given occasionally (think of them like chocolate for people!)

Wethers and bucks do have different dietary requirements, and do not need the same amount of pellets as the does. If they get too much they can develop complications like urinary calculi, which at the very least would be an expensive vet trip, at worst would result in the death of your animal. It is sufficient to mostly give your males hay (but they do appreciate occasional treats and goat pellets!)

If you purchase a goat from me, your goat will have been vaccinated with Glanvac6 at 6 weeks of age, then a booster at 10 weeks. They are then vaccinated every 6 months after that. If you only have a couple of goats, it would be more economical to get some doses from your local vet, rather than buy an entire bottle.

Goats can be susceptible to worms. I use different drenches, and you will be advised which was most recently used for your goat. Goats do develop resistance to drenches, so avoid using the same one regularly. Also ensure they are only wormed when they need it. You can get worm counts done to see if your goats need worming. Your your vet should also be able to do this, or you can send away samples for testing. You can then determine when you need to drench your animal.

You can also check the colour of the inside of the eyelids of your goats. They should be bright pink, and if they are pale pink or white this is a sign of worms, and you should drench your animal. Worms tend to be worse in wet weather.

It is important that you are regularly checking your goats hooves to see if they need clipping. No, they don't grow as quickly as a humans nails, but still need regular care. Usually every couple of months (depending on the wear they are getting from walking around) they will need a trim. You will need trimming shears to do this. There are many videos online showing how to do this, or I can provide more information if you like, please just contact me.

While goats might eat lots of things, there are some foods that should never be fed to goats. These include dog or cat food, chicken grain or pellets, kale, holly trees and bushes, avocado, azaleas, milkweed, wild cherries, peach and palm leaves, nightshade vegetables, rhubarb leaves, chocolate, meat, dairy, and crotalaria.

Even the cleanest animals can get lice, it is no reflection on the conditions they are living in. Goats usually get the biting type, rather than the sucking type. Lice are easily dealt with- you can get pestene powder from a rural store, sprinkle over the body and rub in. Treat again in 10 days and clean out their bedding.