Intro to Pet Goats
What You Need to Know Before Bringing Home Your First Goats
If you've thought about getting a couple of pet goats, but weren't sure because you heard they were challenging to care for, this course answers these questions ...
- What type of equipment do you need to buy?
- What do goats eat? (No, they do not eat tin cans or garbage!)
- What's the difference between grass and alfalfa hay?
- Do goats need baking soda? (Hint: It depends!)
- Do goats need minerals?
- What type of housing do pet goats need?
- What type of fencing can keep goats in the pasture?!
- How can I avoid buying kids that don't take a bottle?
- How young can kids be weaned? In other words, when should I bring home my baby goats?
- ... and we busy a few myths about goats along the way!
Your Instructor
In 2002, Deborah and her family moved to 32 acres on a creek in the middle of nowhere to grow their own food organically. With the help of goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry, they produce 100% of their meat, eggs, and dairy products, as well as a large percentage of their vegetables, fruit, and herbs. Deborah is the author of six books, including Homegrown and Handmade, Ecothrifty, and Raising Goats Naturally, as well as her latest book, Goats Giving Birth. She also teaches sustainable agriculture courses online for the University of Massachusetts - Amherst. She has been teaching Raising Dairy Goats Sustainably since 2013 and Pastured Poultry since 2015.
Course Curriculum
-
StartBottle-Feeding Cheat Sheet (printable)
-
StartGoat kids' first bottle (6:19)
-
StartIf you want to buy bottle babies ... (5:54)
-
StartWhat Do Goats Eat?
-
StartWhat's the difference between grass and alfalfa hay?
-
StartDo Goats Need Baking Soda?
-
StartGoat Minerals: Why, What, and How
-
StartGoat Mineral Comparison Chart - April 2022