Article disclaimer, Nicole Zaagman is not a veterinary technician or veterinarian. Please always obtain expert advice and services regarding your specific needs in care of livestock and goat pregnancy from a licensed veterinary professional. Nicole encourages all farms to establish a VCPR (Veterinary Client Patient Relationship) prior to caring for or purchasing any pets or livestock.
When I began raising pygmy goats many years ago, goats in general were, let's say, unpopular. It seems over the last few years, the popularity of goats have skyrocketed! I attribute this to the power of the internet and social media. Viewers see a cute, bouncy baby goat and instantly fall in love! I can't blame them, what's not to love??? They are adorable! What the average person may not realize is, goats are considered a livestock animal. They are not a pet, like a cat or a dog. You have to work with Veterinarians who are specifically trained and specialize in large animal medicine to treat them and wherever you live needs to be zoned properly to be able to own them.
I want to say this in the kindest way possible as this has been a regular occurrence. Since starting Parkside Farm, I’ve had several individuals reach out to me asking if I’ll take in animals at my farm. Requests have ranged from cows, horses, goats, sheep, chickens. Some of these individuals getting in trouble for having animals in the city. Please, please I implore you, don’t get livestock animals, especially goats, if you are not zoned agricultural or if you don’t have the resources and adequate space to house them. It will just lead to a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved.
Check out my FREE Mini Training - Pygmy Goat Class & Virtual Tour. For further education, I also offer the full, in-depth training available to take in person at Parkside Farm and online version.
I share this a lot in my educational visits, not to get goats unless you know you are in the right zoning and have done research and study on how to properly care for them. I do not have the capacity or desire to take on animals or board anything from a biosecurity, resources and space standpoint at my farm. In all my education, my desire is to help others make informed decisions when it comes to pygmy goat ownership. Livestock animals are fun and make wonderful pets, however, please rescue and purchase livestock responsibly. Goats require specific care and nutrition which can be a learning curve, thus me creating this educational post. So let's dive in to some advice, shall we?
Make sure you can commit to raising goats and the unique needs they have. The average goat lifespan in my experience and research is anywhere between 10 and 15 years. Just like other animals, sometimes it can be less and sometimes it can be more. Purchasing a pygmy goat is an important decision and they do best with a friend. At minimum, I recommend purchasing two goats because they are herd animals and like to be with their own species. Taking care of them every day requires time commitment as well. Taking time to feed them, provide fresh water and clean out pens weekly can take up many hours per week and physical labor.
Pygmy goats also need space to run and enrichment such as items to climb and play on, like the maple log in the photo above. Goats are ruminants meaning they have a four chambered stomach like a cow and need long stem forage, quality hay and pasture to graze. While some farms offer goats for rent to clear brush, don't think you can get some goats to keep your lawn mowed. They typically do not eat down to the dirt like other livestock animals do. Goats prefer to browse and nibble off the tops of grass, eat leaves and brush. Goats can be quite picky and I have found the common saying, "goats will eat everything" to be a misconception.
If you'd like to learn more about must have items for care and medical needs, warning signs for illness and disease and ideas for housing, pastures and equipment make sure to check out my free and in depth trainings linked above and below.
Make sure you are legally able to house and raise goats on your property. As mentioned above, you need to make sure you are zoned properly to own goats. If you are in a very rural or country setting, the chances of being zoned correctly increase. If you are in a more densely populated area, it would be wise to check with your local municipality or township ordinances and zoning maps to determine what zoning the land you own is categorized as. If you are within a city neighborhood, the likelihood of being able to legally own goats is slim and I would not purchase goats.
When it comes to housing, goats do require some basic needs to be met. Depending on the breed of goat you select, will determine what size and strength of outdoor fencing is required. Larger breeds would obviously need taller, stronger fencing. I recommend 6 foot chain link panels and 48 in rolled field fencing and cattle panels at minimum for pygmy goats. Goats indoor housing should be a four sided structure with the ability to lock animals up at night to protect from predators. Indoor housing also needs to be draft free and weather proof such as a barn, shed or garage.
Take time to learn how to best care for them nutritionally and physically. I applaud you for reading this article to learn as much as you can to best care for goats. I touched on goat eating habits above but specifically, goats will need a good quality hay free from mold, debris and foreign objects. Optional textured grain can be purchased and fed in moderation. Loose minerals are incredibly important, zinc and copper are essential for their immunity and coat health. Treats should be given in moderation. The majority of a goats diet should be long stem forage (pasture and hay).
I can't even begin to get into all the items you will need to have on hand for your medicine cabinet as well. For starters, having digital thermometers, syringes, needles, vitamin B complex, parasite treatments and a Veterinary Client Patient Relationship (VCPR) with a farm veterinarian is an absolute must. If you'd like to learn more about must have items for care and medical needs, warning signs for illness and disease and ideas for housing, pastures and equipment make sure to check out my free and in depth trainings linked above and below.
If you're looking to purchase a registered Pygmy Goat in your area, please check out the vetted Pygmy Goat breeder list that can be found at this Facebook group: Pygmy Goats USA. If you are located in or around Michigan you can check out this Facebook group: Ohio Registered Pygmy Goats for Consideration. Lastly, if you would like to learn more about pygmy goat care, please sign up to take my FREE Mini Training - Pygmy Goat Class & Virtual Tour. I also offer the full, in-depth training in person at Parkside Farm and online version if you'd like to dive deep into learning how to properly care for goats and see my farm's setup. Happy goating!
Nicole Zaagman lives in Byron Center, Michigan with her husband and her furry and feathered family members. Nicole is an accomplished, Christian entrepreneur and children's author, passionate about helping women succeed in life and business through coaching. She travels the state of Michigan visiting senior centers, libraries, family celebrations, community festivals and special events with her pygmy goats through the Jump for JOY Program®. Nicole owns and manages Parkside Farm, an agritourism destination in Byron Center, Michigan. Nicole is an AGvocate and ally for agriculture and farm education and encourages families to connect with and support local farms.
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