Keeping goats can be one of the most rewarding homesteading decisions you make. Learn about breeds, housing, feeding, health care, and what to expect in your first year with goats.

Goats for Beginners

Keeping goats can be one of the most rewarding homesteading decisions you make. They're intelligent, social animals that provide milk, meat, fiber, and help with land management.

This guide covers the basics of goat keeping: choosing breeds, setting up housing, feeding, health care, and what to expect in your first year.

Why Keep Goats?

People keep goats for different reasons:

Dairy goats - kept for milk production. A single adult goat produces 2-4 quarts daily during lactation.

Meat goats - breeds like Boer and Kiko grow quickly for meat production.

Fiber goats - Angora and Cashmere are kept for their fiber.

Brush goats - used for land clearing and weed control.

Choosing the Right Breed

Dairy Breeds

Nubians - Large, friendly, produce rich creamy milk with high butterfat.

Alpines - Colorful, productive, hardy, good foragers.

Saanens - White, docile, high milk volume. One of the most common dairy breeds.

LaManchas - Tiny ears, calm and quiet, rich milk.

Toggenburgs - Older Swiss breed, brown coloring, productive.

Meat Breeds

Boer - Standard meat breed from South Africa. Quick growth, good meat-to-bone ratio.

Kiko - Tough, parasite-resistant, excellent foragers.

Companion Breeds

Nigerian Dwarfs - Under 30 inches tall, produce rich milk in smaller quantities, friendly.

Pygmy - Stocky, friendly, kept as pets or companions.

Setting Up Housing

All goats need shelter from weather. Minimum 15-20 square feet per goat indoors.

Fencing

Fencing is the most important investment. Goats are escape artists.

Best options:

Woven wire field fence (48 inches, 2-inch squares at bottom)
High-tensile electric fencing
Game fence (4x4 mesh, at least 4 feet high)

What NOT to use:

Chicken wire - goats push through
Barbed wire - injures goats

Daily Care

Water

Fresh, clean water every day. Adults need 1-3 gallons daily. Nursing does need 2-4 gallons.

Feeding

Browse (brush, leaves, shrubs) - primary diet
Hay daily, especially in winter
Goat minerals (free choice)
Grain for lactating does or growing kids

Daily Checklist

Check water (all drinking?)
Check on all goats (sound, alert, eating?)
Feed hay and minerals
Scoop stalls if needed

Health Care

Vaccinations

CD (Clostridium perfringens C & D) vaccine is essential. Protects against enterotoxemia. Kids: first at 6-8 weeks, pregnant does: 2-4 weeks before kidding.

Hoof Care

Trim every 4-8 weeks using goat hoof shears. Remove overgrown sole only.

Parasite Management

Use the FAMACHA system to check for barber pole worm. Only deworm animals that need it. Rotate pastures. Get fecal testing from your vet.

Costs

Setup: Fencing $500-2000+, shelter setup $0-1000+, water system $50-300

Annual: Feed $200-400 per goat, minerals $50-100, vaccines $10-20

Getting Started

Research breeds for your goals
Set up fencing and shelter first
Find a vet who works with goats
Start with 2-3 does
Learn daily care routines
Connect with other goat keepers

— C. Steward 🐐

Goats for Beginners: Getting Started with Dairy and Livestock Goats