Goats are addictive! You have been warned! As someone pointed out to me in my last post goats are not everyone's cup of tea. I have no idea what he was talking about but then my love of goats probably borders on obsession! While cats and dogs give you love back goats are loveable plus they give you amazing milk. And with that milk you can make soaps, cheeses, yoghurt. The list is endless. But I'm saving those fun recipes for a future post. If you are still brave enough, continue reading. Although if you missed out, you may want to go back to my previous and introductory Lesson 1
@buckaroo/for-the-love-of-goats-lesson-1
WATER: The goats I am writing about are milk goats which means fresh water is vital. We clean the water troughs daily, especially if the birds are messing in their water. Goats also prefer warm water to cold. On cold winter mornings I throw a couple buckets of boiling water into their iced up water troughs. Every couple weeks I alternatively dose the goats water with probiotics or a good soluble mineral supplement or raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar or aloe ferrox. Some people believe apple cider vinegar helps with pregnancy and strong babies, I know it is high in minerals so I like giving it to them. At least once a month I do a couple days of probiotics in their water, especially before and after I deworm them, or before they go to the buck in mating season. On kidding I always give the mother a bucket of honey water with salt, molasses, minerals and a big shot of probiotics. They love it. Aloe ferrox in water for a couple days is an excellent dewormer. And despite being extremely bitter you will be amazed at how much the goats enjoy eating aloe! We have it growing all over the country side so I pick a number of big leaves at a time. The goats fish it out of the water as fast I put it in! Interestingly enough if they are clear of worms they generally won't touch the aloe.
FOOD: Goats love diversity. If you have trees, wild vegetation, mixed pasture (grapevines or goat-friendly fruit trees) for them to graze so much better. The bulk of their diet should be dried roughage. Before the drought we cut and baled lucerne in summer, oats and barley in winter. And the girls would get baled food before going out to roam for the day. You will notice a decided increase or decrease in milk yield depending on the amount of fresh green in their diet. Rotating grazing is the best way to control parasite build up as well as ensuring a healthy pasture. Get to know what food is legal and illegal for goats, particularly in your area. I cannot over emphasise how important this is. Poisoned plants cause the most terrible death. Other than that a selection is a sure way to a happy and healthy flock.
Goats love treats, and they love fruit. Most of our fruit and veggie peelings go to the goats (Especially onion or garlic, raisins and citrus) Any part of a potato, tomato or pepper is bad for them. If you have fresh grazing for them it is important that they have dry food first. Goats will bloat just as quickly as a sheep on fresh green. Protein is also very important in a goat diet but get to know the quantity. In the last two months of pregnancy and throughout lactation they need far more protein (corn - nonGMO, sunflower seeds, oats etc) Young growing kids also need higher quantities of protein. Buck only really need during rutting season. Protein can cause urinary tract infection in buck but when they are with the girls they need that extra energy. You want to keep the buck away from the does most of the time. There's a number of reasons for this which I will address in the next post. But don't forget that the boys love and deserve treats as much as their harem.
The best gardening service is a goat! As long as you know what vegetation is safe for them you can freely release them into overgrown areas. Alternatively when pruning or gardening toss the excess to the expectant goats. I make my own blend of grains as well as sprouted barley for my girls to enjoy while I milk. They will fight each other for this green goat chocolate as well as tasty little treats.
FIRST AID: Prevention being better than cure applies to animals as well as humans. Except for freak accidents, if you have a healthy goat you shouldn't have illness. I have found my biggest challenge is with parasites and a compromised rumen. The theory is that about 80% of a goats problem starts in the rumen. "Feed the rumen - not the goat". If the rumen stops working you inevitably have a dead goat. A goat may become constipated, as with humans, though it is rare. Enema's are easy and gives almost instant results. There are a few essentials that I always have in my animal first aid (Rescue, charcoal, milk of magnesia, olive oil, colloidal silver, apple cider vinegar, tumeric, cayenne, bicarb, probiotics, senna leaves, cloves and if you use them; homeopathic remedies - the South African Blue Box, I have found invaluable in treating our livestock)
There are also a few herbs that I always have in abundance in my gardens (such as wormwood, comfrey, olive leaf, garlic) as well as dried herbs in the kitchen. These I make up into a strong kombucha (which they love to drink) or a free feed. If they need it they don't have to be asked but will eat from your hand. Goats are amazing creatures, and will self medicate if given the option. Regularly (and always when I suspect worm buildup) I will offer them branches of olive leaf, wormwood, handfuls of cloves and garlic. Aloe ferrox chopped up is also a hit with the girls! Because of the compromised environment we live in (and super bugs) some times the natural treatments do not work. It is often a fine line between natural health and medical. Do not delay in treating medically if you have to or you risk the life of your goat. Also in my first aid is a good anti-biotic, injectable iron and multimin (with copper and selenium). As well as masticure (or the equivelent). Although it was developed for mastitis I use it for eye infections, with wonderful results. We also have a good medical dewormer, but never use it unless you know you have a big worm problem. Every 3 to 4 months we send samples to the vet to do a worm count.
There are so many reasons why people keep goats or should keep goats. But it is important to get to understand and prepare before taking the plunge. They are wonderful pets, who give so much in return. It may seem labour intensive but it really is worth it. Don't make the beginners mistakes I did. Learn from mine and make sure you are prepared. Life with goats is an adventure! But I love my goats. I can't imagine my homesteading life without them.
