4-6
per Acre
SIZE
60-200 lbs
Depending on breed
FEED REQUIREMENTS
2-4%
Body Weight of Dry Feed/Day
Depending on age, condition, and feed quality
LIFESPAN
10-15 Years
Approximately
Choosing the Breed
| Goal | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Milk for family | Nubian, Kinder, Nigerian Dwarf |
| Meat | Boer, Kinder |
| Pets | Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf |
| Brush clearing | Myotonic (fainting) |
Getting Started Checklist
1. Check your local rules
- Zoning allows goats
- HOA won’t have a meltdown
- Any limits on number or bucks
2. Land math
- Plan 4–6 goats per acre (less is easier)
- Rotation = healthier goats + grass that survives
- Shade and dry ground matter more than pretty pasture
3. Fencing
- Woven wire or 4×4 goat fence (minimum)
- Electric offset if you value your sanity
- Fence height: 4–5 feet
4. Shelter
- Dry, draft-free, well-ventilated
- 15–20 sq ft per goat
- Doesn’t need to be fancy—needs to be dry
5. Feed & water setup
- Quality hay or browse source
- Loose goat minerals (with copper)
- Clean water, always
- Grain only if needed
6. Health basics
- Find a large-animal vet before you need one
- Learn FAMACHA scoring
- Have dewormer, thermometer, and hoof trimmers
7. Daily & routine care
- Daily: water, quick health check
- Weekly: fence walk (goats are plotting!)
- Every 4–6 weeks: hoof trims
- Seasonal: parasite control
How to Buy Healthy Goats
A free goat is the most expensive goat. Here’s how to spot a good one:
1. Eyes (first thing to check)
- Bright, clear, alert
- No crust, cloudiness, or goop
- Pull the lower eyelid:
- Nice pink/red = good
- Pale or white = parasites 🚩
2. Body condition
- Ribs not sticking out, spine not sharp
- Should feel firm, not bony or bloated
- Potbellied + skinny = parasite hotel
3. Coat
- Shiny, smooth, clean
- No bald patches, lice, dandruff, or rough hair
4. Nose & breathing
- Nose clean and dry
- Breathing quiet and easy
- No coughing, wheezing, or snot bubbles
5. Mouth & jaw
- Even bite (no underbite/overbite)
- No lumps under the jaw
- “Bottle jaw” = parasite red flag
6. Feet & legs
- Walks easily, no limping
- Hooves not curled or rotten
- Legs straight and strong
7. Poop (yes, look at it)
- Firm pellets
- Not clumped, runny, or splattered
8. Udder or testicles (awkward but necessary)
Does: Udder soft, even, no hard lumps
Bucks: Two testicles, same size
9. Behavior
- Curious, alert, social
- Eating normally
- Not standing alone hunched up
10. Seller questions (don’t skip this)
- What do they eat?
- Deworming schedule?
- Any recent illnesses?
- How old is this goat?
🚩 Walk Away If You See:
- Pale eyelids
- Chronic coughing
- Diarrhea
- Swollen jaw
- Extremely cheap “urgent rehoming”
Ready to get started?