PET GOATS
Pet Goats
We recommend buying pets locally if you can, especially if they are bottle babies. If you can pick up your new pets in person you can get a raft of great information from their breeders about feeding, health care and general husbandry. Plus, the breeder will not be too far away if you have any issues.
You need at least two goats for every situation, including pets. Miniature goats get along well with many other animals including dogs, alpacas, donkeys, chooks, horses and other animals, but goats are a herd animal and require other goatee company to live happy and healthy stress-free lives. Chickens, ducks and geese etc can cause health problems if allowed to access the goat feed dishes and vice versa, so do your research about keeping different types of animals together.
Wethers (de-sexed males) are most often recommended for pet homes. They are super friendly and loveable, without the hormones. Also, they are generally the least expensive option compared to does. Do not buy bucks (intact male) for pets – they are not suitable as pets and no reputable breeder would ever recommend or sell you a buck as a pet.
Goats have a pecking order, much like chickens. Even if you only have two goats, one will likely be the boss. They may butt or mount each other to assert their dominance, but this is normal goat behaviour.
BABIES
Breeders will offer babies only in pairs unless you already have another miniature goat of a similar age. Bottle babies are usually available from 4-6 weeks of age and require bottle feeding for several months. Weaned babies are usually available from around 12 weeks of age. Some of the benefits of bottle babies – you will get to know them really well through bottle feeding, they will be weaned on your property to the food you intend them to have, you can set the rules nice and early in relation to their areas, and behaviour. Weaned babies are more independent and less labour intensive during those first few months you have them. They will generally quickly adapt to their new living situation.
Buying babies goats is similar to buying a puppy. They will need additional care, attention and training while they are young. We don’t recommend putting them out in a large paddock or scrub situation until they are older.