Miniature goats are increasingly popular as pets, which is no surprise given how adorable and friendly they are. Among these, Nigerian Dwarf goats stand out as a favored breed. They have a gentle nature that makes them particularly well-suited for children to raise. Many young children raise them for 4-H projects. However, goats are considered livestock, so you may need to check with your homeowner's association, local zoning laws, and any other applicable regulations before you decide to bring one home. Although these smaller breeds of goats can make great family pets, they can be harder to care for than traditional pets such as dogs or cats. This guide provides essential information on how to care for female Nigerian Dwarf goats, ensuring they thrive in their environment.
Social Needs: Companionship is Key
Goats cannot be kept alone. Your family pet dog or your horse will not suffice. Goats should always be kept in groups of 2 or more. You'll find that many breeders, myself included, will not send goats to single-goat homes. You must have a companion for your goat.
Nutritional Needs: Diet and Minerals
Providing your pygmy goat with an appropriate diet is the most important thing you can do to keep them in good health. Most health issues in goats are caused by an inappropriate diet. Goats should not be fed human food. Most of their diet should be composed of food they can forage, such as grass and hay. You should only give them minimal amounts of pellet feed or grain, since they can gain weight easily. Pellet feed and grain can also cause miniature goats to develop bladder stones, which can block their urethra and cause death if untreated. They also need access to a mineral block or loose mineral that's designed to complement their diet of grass and hay. Make sure they have plenty of fresh, clean water available at all times.
Goats need loose minerals. Minerals specifically formulated for goats are best. And remember, get a loose or granulated mineral and not a block. Goats, unlike cows or horses, do not salivate very much. As such, they do not produce enough saliva to lick off enough of their required minerals from a solid block. As such, always use a loose mineral. We use and recommend SweetLix brand minerals, but there are many others to choose from as well.
Nigerian Dwarfs are short. Specifically, Nigerian Dwarf goats need water they can reach. Low profile water troughs are best. A tall water trough will be difficult to reach for these short little critters. Always provide clean, fresh water. Don't let them go without water through the winter.
Read also: Must-Read African American Women's Fiction
Goats Need Hay. We feed our herd the best quality alfalfa and timothy we can find. Goats also do very well on teff hay or grain hay such as oat, rye or 3 way. We have found that 2-3 adult goats will eat about 1 flake per day with allowances for waste. And goats are very, very wasteful. They like to pick out the leaves, flowers, and seeds and leave most of the stems. Wasted hay makes excellent stall bedding, mulch for trees, and compost. Or group your goats with other animals who will eat the wasted stems. We like our PIGS for this job!
Housing and Shelter
Goats Need Shelter. Dog houses, dogloos, calf hutches, 3 pallets fixed together with a roof on top, small sheds, carports, lean-tos, and elaborate barns alike all work as shelter. Goats do not like to be wet and as such need protection from the rain and snow. Your accommodations don't have to be fancy, but your goats should be protected from the elements and drafts. Plan for at least 15 to 20 square feet of housing per goat. They'll love niches where they can climb, sleep, and jump. There should be sturdy fencing around their housing and exercise area, so they can come and go as they please.
Combo panels or Cattle Panels work well for goats. Keep in mind very young goat kids can get through the larger squares of a panel like this one. Use smaller spacing or cover the largest squares with mesh to prevent escaping. Sturdy fences are your best option. No Climb Horse Fence or Hog or Cattle panels work great for goats. Hotwire is also very effective for goats.
In general happy, healthy, well-fed Nigerian Dwarfs with a herd to keep them company are not escape artists. But that is only a general statement; there are always exceptions. Goats can go under, over, or through fences if they really think they need to! Lonely goats may attempt to escape for companionship, bucks may attempt to escape to get to nearby does in season, hungry goats may escape for food, and so on. The fencing will keep your goats safe from predators and protect them from toxic plants and other dangers.
Health and Wellness
Goats should only be wormed if a parasite issue is present. They should be vaccinated yearly with a CD&T vaccine that protects against overeating disease and tetanus. As part of their routine healthcare, you should also monitor them for evidence of gastrointestinal parasites that can cause diarrhea and anemia. Your veterinarian can put your goat on a preventative worm control regimen.Goats need their feet trimmed regularly, but in arid sandy Reno, Nevada they do not need them done as often as a wet or soft ground location.
Read also: Life and Heritage: African American Birthdays
Goats don't need grain if you're not breeding them or milking them. Dietary requirements for pregnant or lactating does is better covered in a future article. Grain in small amounts can always be offered for treats or training.
Goats should not be shaved if you can avoid doing so. We often shave our goats for shows. However, the coat serves to protect your goats from sunburn, bug bites, and cold temperatures.
Enrichment and Play
Pygmy goats love to play and exercise. Watching your goats have fun playing is very entertaining. You can encourage their play and provide healthy stimulation by giving them toys and equipment. Although you can design elaborate playgrounds, simple toys will do just as well. Old tires situated about 18 to 24 inches apart will provide a jumping challenge for your goats. Another fun toy is a teeter-totter made from a log and a 2" x 6" board. Just avoid using a board that's too long so your goats won't get caught underneath. You can also adapt the idea by setting up a balance board with two posts and a cross board. Your goats will have a blast walking across it. Natural materials can also be used for playground equipment for your goats.
Getting Nigerian Dwarf Goats for the first time can seem overwhelming. If you are familiar with clicker training, it’s a similar idea. First you whistle, then you use a spray bottle of water or hose. You can also use a spray bottle to help you move a group of goats somewhere you want them to go.
Potential Hazards: Toxic Plants and Substances
Despite widespread belief, goats can't eat just anything. Many plants are harmful to goats, so they shouldn't be unsupervised in areas where you can't control what plants they have access to. Well-fed goats are less likely to ingest poison since they aren't as hungry. A hungry goat will be less discriminating about what it eats, so ensuring your goat has plenty of healthy food is the first step in keeping it safe. Some plants and substances are toxic in small amounts, while others are toxic over time, with the consumption of large amounts.
Read also: History of Black Women in Law
Some possible toxins you should make sure your goat avoids include:
- All houseplants
- Flowering bulbs
- Landscaping plants
- Herbicides
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Rodent poison
- Creosote-treated wood
- Lead paint
Additional Tips for Goat Owners
Most new goat owners know that collars can be a problem for goats. If this has ever happened to you it’s totally scary! One minute you’re walking next to your goat, holding their collar. My goat Aurora did this several times and it always scared me. The saying goes that if a cat can get through your fence, so can your goat. Goats are so curious they frequently get their heads caught. Another common fence problem is that goats LOVE to rub against them. Holistic Goat Care had a genius recommendation for large scale goat farms. Give your goats an old street sweeper brush!
Because I am in a wet area, my goats needed quite a bit of bedding and indoor space to get out of the rain. One way to decrease the amount of bedding is to use raised slatted floors. This last tip is so simple, I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself. Common advise to new goat owners is to get yourself a goat mentor. Ideally we’d all have one, but sometimes yours moves away when you are just getting started. And even better, it has referenced books on some topics. I’m such a sucker for good references. If you’re thinking about getting goats, read Holistic Goat Care. And if you’ve had goats for a while, you’ll probably still finding something useful. This 37 page digital resource will help you get started breeding and milking your goats, give basic feeding tips, and help you monitor for common health issues.
