Pygmy goats
are miniature goats that stand as tall as 22 inches. Pygmy goats are hardy animals that need little maintenance aside from food, water, shelter and pasture. This type of goat makes an ideal family pet and helps maintain farm pastures by eating the bramble and brush that horses or cows do not eat. Properly caring for your pygmy goat requires planning ahead and having everything ready before you bring your goats home. From preparing the goat pen to maintaining vaccinations your pygmy goat will remain healthy and happy for years.
Instructions
Before Bringing Your Pygmy Home
1. Livestock require periodic vaccinations and de-worming treatments throughout the year. Find a veterinarian in your area that specializes in livestock. During the initial appointment, proper vaccinations are administered to your goat. Set up other veterinarian appointments at the initial appointment. This helps you plan ahead and be prepared for each appointment.
2. Spray for pests and rodents in the pen. Before setting up the pen, ensure that it is free of pests and rodents. Spray the proper insecticides and rodent killers in corners or areas prone to infestation.
3. Provide the goat with an over-sized dog house, barn or stable. Place plenty of clean hay or straw on the ground as bedding. Install low-to-the-ground troughs in the housing area. The troughs are for food and water.
4. Check the pen for drafty areas. Pygmy goats need warm, draft-free areas for sleeping and during colder months. Reinforce drafty areas by hanging thick blankets on the walls or by adding additional bedding.
5. Pygmy goats need ample pasture for grazing. Reinforce wide-slatted fencing with additional wood or chicken wire. This ensures that the pygmy goat does not escape. Set up the pasture in an area with plenty of pasture grasses. Provide low-to-the-ground feeding and water troughs.
Daily Care
6. Provide goat feed that does not contain urea. Place hay and goat feed in the feeding troughs. Provide plenty of fresh water several times a day.
7. Bathe your goat every couple of months. Tether the goat to the fence. Wet the goat down with water. Apply dog shampoo to the goat. Lather the shampoo and rinse with fresh water. Trim the goat's hooves after bathing. Pick up the front left hoof and clean out dirt and rock from the hoof with a hoof pick. Trim the sides of the hoof down to the white sole using your hoof shears. Fill a bucket with soap and water, dip a toothbrush in the water and scrub the hoof clean. Notice the lines that run in rings around the hoof. Cut the hoof following the parallel rings with a hoof knife. Cut off a little at a time until the pinkish sole appears. Repeat the process with other hooves.
8. Keep the pen thoroughly cleaned. Clean up old, dirty hay or straw and them replace with fresh bedding. Clean the food and water troughs. Spray out the troughs, wash them with mild soap and rinse the troughs thoroughly. Dry the troughs before putting in fresh feed. Clean the troughs at least once a week.
Tags: Pygmy goats, food water, drafty areas, fresh water, goat feed