Have you decided to adopt some Nigerian Dwarf goats? These guys are not only fun and cute, they’re also great milk producers. They are also quite rugged, and can adapt to many different climates. Understanding the specific needs of these animals is crucial for their well-being. This article provides detailed guidance on how to care for Nigerian Dwarf goats, ensuring they thrive in your backyard or farm.
Essential Considerations Before Getting Goats
Before bringing Nigerian Dwarf goats home, it's essential to consider several factors to ensure they thrive in their new environment.
- Companionship: Goats are herd animals and should always be kept in groups of two or more. Many breeders will not send goats to single-goat homes. A family pet dog or a horse will not suffice as a companion.
- Sex Matters: A male and female will be fine until they reach maturity, then you may need to separate them. Two females can be happy with each other.
You must have a companion for your goat.
Housing and Shelter
Providing adequate shelter is crucial for the health and well-being of Nigerian Dwarf goats. Goats hate mud and like to be dry when it rains, so keep that in mind when you do the shelter.
- Shelter Options: 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.
- Protection from Elements: Goats do not like to be wet and as such need protection from the rain and snow.
- Space Requirements: As for shelters, you’ll need 20 square feet for each 2 goats.
- Location: You’ll need to make sure your goats have free access to both shaded and sunny areas.
Consider raising the shelter on a pallet or something similar to keep it dry. I know several people in Alabama that have a three sided roofed shelter made from pallets and the goats love it. 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.
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Fencing and Enclosure
Secure fencing is essential to keep your goats safe and prevent escapes. Goats are escape artists, and are constantly testing their limits.
- Fencing Materials: Combo panels or Cattle Panels work well for goats. No Climb Horse Fence or Hog or Cattle panels work great for goats. Hotwire is also very effective for goats.
- Fence Height and Strength: A tall, sturdy fence that they can't jump over, crawl under, or squeeze through is very important, and can be costly.
- Young Goat Considerations: 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.
In general happy, healthy, well-fed Nigerian Dwarfs with a herd to keep them company are not escape artists. Also, inspect your land and remove any toxic plants, such as ivy and laurel.
Nutrition and Feeding
Proper nutrition is vital for the health and well-being of Nigerian Dwarf goats. What you need to keep in mind is that goats are ruminants and are designed to ferment fiber in the chambers of their stomach.
- Hay: Hay should be 90% of the diet year round. A mixed grass hay with clover or some alfalfa would be fine. Plain mixed grass hay would also be fine. 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.
- Pasture: If they have good enough grass they will be fine over the summer. They’ll be fine with hay in the winter and grass in the summer.
- Grain: Sometimes goat wethers can have problems getting stones in their bladder if you feed them to much grain or feed with a lot of grain products in it. That is another reason to not feed them too much grain. Goats are not really meant to eat a lot of grain. So technically goats don't need grain. Grain in small amounts can always be offered for treats or training.
- Water: Always provide clean, fresh water. Don't let them go without water through the winter. Just like any other animal, your goats will require plenty of fresh water. You may want to set out extra water stations in hot weather, to prevent dehydration.
- Minerals and Salt: Goats need loose minerals. Minerals specifically formulated for goats are best. You can use a mineral supplement that is special for goats or you can use a a multi species one for cattle goats and horses. You will need a salt block holder. Provide a good plain white salt block. My goats hit that salt block a couple times a day.
Table: Sample Diet for Nigerian Dwarf Goats
| Feed Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hay | 3-5 pounds per day | Alfalfa or mixed grass hay |
| Grain | Small amounts for treats | Avoid overfeeding to prevent health issues |
| Water | Ad libitum | Ensure fresh water is always available |
| Minerals | Ad libitum | Loose minerals formulated for goats |
| Salt Block | Ad libitum | Plain white salt block |
Health and Veterinary Care
Regular veterinary care is essential for maintaining the health of your Nigerian Dwarf goats. Also...Goats should only be wormed if a parasite issue is present.
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- Routine Check-ups: Your goats will need regular veterinary care. In addition to vaccinations, worming, and tetanus shots, they will need thorough exams.
- Hoof Trimming: You may also need to get Billy’s hooves trimmed. Also, have someone experienced show you how to trim their hooves.
- Parasite Control: Do some research on worms in goats so you know what to look for. If goats are in a small area and are eating off the ground they have a very high likelyhood of getting a high worm load.
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Additional Tips for Goat Care
- Training: Goats can be stubborn. However, it may be helpful for you to know that they hate getting wet. A squirt bottle or hose can be a handy training aid. 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.
- Collar Safety: Most new goat owners know that collars can be a problem for goats. Collars can actually be dangerous for goats. For one thing, they can easily get stuck on things. Also, because of the way goats are built, it’s easy for collars to cut off blood flow.
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