| Keeping goats is going to require some time and | | | | payment. Anyone who takes good care of their |
| money so don't ever just buy a goat on a whim and | | | | goats will be able to tell you all about its medical |
| bring it home. Goats take planning. For instance, you | | | | history and temperament. More and more people are |
| should have everything set up for keeping goats | | | | making bad decisions about getting a goat, and after |
| before you bring one home. Today, many people | | | | deciding that the upkeep or care is too great, leave |
| keep goats for pets. Goats are very intelligent and | | | | them at animal shelters. So, check with your local |
| friendly and make great pets. However, it is not | | | | animal shelter and you might find a nice pet goat to |
| something about which to make a spontaneous | | | | adopt. |
| decision. | | | | Keeping goats requires that they have a nice dry |
| There are many breeds of goats, so the first thing | | | | shelter, plenty of grain and hay, a fenced in area with |
| you need to do is to ask yourself why you want a | | | | room to roam around, and frequent vet checkups. |
| goat. Is it for companionship? Or because you want | | | | Make sure that your goat pen is secure, not only to |
| to have your own source of goat's milk? It may | | | | keep the goats from getting out, but other animals |
| even be because you want to eat goat meat, which | | | | from getting in. You should also know that goats are |
| is sometimes served in restaurants as an exotic | | | | pack animals and do not do well living alone. The best |
| meat. It is said to taste like a cross between beef | | | | option is to have two goats but if that's not possible, |
| and venison. | | | | another pasture animal is a must, whether it be a |
| Make sure that you do a little research on keeping | | | | donkey, a horse, or even a calf or cow. |
| goats before getting one, whether you look up their | | | | If you should enjoy your goats so much that you |
| care online, buy a goat book or borrow one from the | | | | decide you want to breed goats, that too should be |
| library. You should always make sure that you are | | | | well planned out. Goats, both male and female, come |
| getting a healthy goat that has been well taken care | | | | into season in the fall and breed usually between |
| of and is friendly towards people. Often kids raise a | | | | September and December. If you do decide to get a |
| goat as a 4-H project and then want to sell it. You | | | | buck of your own, he must have his own housing |
| can also find a goat farm in just about any location | | | | away from the does. You can always rent a buck for |
| who breeds goats to sell. | | | | breeding or use artificial insemination. |
| Make sure you examine the goat before buying it, | | | | Whatever your purpose in keeping goats, get as |
| and if you have any doubts about its health, either | | | | much information as possible, and have their pen and |
| don't buy it, or have a vet examine it prior to | | | | housing prepared before bringing them home. |