If you are planning on raising and taking care of goats, you can’t just take care of one. Goats are considered to be “herd” animals. This means that you will need to have at least another goat. Goats do not thrive well if they don't have the company of other goats.
You will also need a pasture so that they can have room to roam around. Goats need to have plenty of space. In order for them to live comfortably, they will need to reside in a rural area, such as a farm.
Goats are normally not allowed to live within city limits. Usually the local governments frown upon allowing them to dwell in urban areas. Since they are considered to be agricultural, they will need to stay away.
You have to be committed to raising and taking care of the goats. They are like children and they need attention. You will also need to have a back-up in the event you have to temporarily go away. If you can’t find anyone, then you may not be able to raise and take care of the goats.
Goats will need to be treated by a veterinarian. They are prone to getting different diseases and illnesses. The goats will have to get vaccinations and preventative treatment to keep worms and parasites away.
If you need to find a veterinarian for your goats, you can check with the Caprine Veterinary Resources guide. This online guide will provide you with a listing of veterinarians in different states.
When you are purchasing goats to raise, get them from a breeder who has a good track record of taking care of them. You will want to talk to them to see how they have been taking care of the goats.
General Information About Raising Goats
You will have to put forth the effort if you want to raise goats. There is plenty that you will need to know before you take on the task of a whole new world. For most people, this is the first time raising goats and they don’t know what to do.
As mentioned earlier, you will need more than one goat. Having just one will not work because they are used to being around other goats. To keep them from roaming around, you will need a pen to hold them. Get a mesh fence that is about four feet. It will be high enough where the goat can get over the fence, nor will they get their head caught inside.
A buck is a male goat. There are three female goats (does) for one buck. Goats usually have no more than two kids every year. The kid is another name for a baby goat. There will be more female goats as the buck has relations with the female goats.
When a female goat is in heat, they will wag their tail and stay close to the buck if there is one nearby. The female goat makes more noise. During this time, they are not very hungry and they have a decreased production in milk.
The female goats are usually sexually active and fertile between September and March. They can be fertile up to three days. If the female goat has not mated with a buck by then, they will be fertile for three weeks. After they have mated, they can keep milk for no more than three years.
When a female goat is with child, their pregnancy (gestation) lasts about five months or 150 days.
Monday, December 21, 2009
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