Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

Hey Goatgirl! I bet you can help me!

I'm assuming by your name that you probably have goats! If you do, I was wondering if you think owning a goat (maybe a pygmy goat) as a pet would be a good thing. As you can tell, I love all kinds of animals, and once me and my hubby get a house, we want to have chickens and goats. But we would have a couple goats just to keep as pets. What do you think? Do they make a good pet? Are they a lot of work? We'd really want to get a couple pygmies.
4 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
We have a pygmy goat.  She is 105 pounds, she's not fat, just a larger breed, she's all white, with 8 inch horns.  She expects to go for walks with us every day.

We have a 1/2 mile loop where we take our walks with her.  We unhook her leash and we start running as fast as we can and she chases.  We have areas along our fence where we reward her with half a Ritz cracker when she rubs on one spot of the fence (also helps her rid her of her winter coat).  Then we sprint to the back corner of our property on the north 40 and she chases, then she gets another half cracker.  Then we sprint to "cracker corner" where she is again rewarded.  If we didn't take her for walks every day, she'd "butt us back to the Stoneage".   As we run with her, she runs between me and my husband and we laugh and pat and scratch her back as we run. She loves it!!   Goats also need to have their nails trimmed occasionally.  Running is a good way to naturally trim them.

She has a "condo" with solar lights, carpeted with a window and a covered porch.  Her condo sits about 18" above the ground.  She also has her "throne" which is a lounge chair within easy reach on her leash.    She is very demonstrative and I have bruises on my legs all the time to prove it.  I use Cesar Milans style of behaviorial techniques to keep her in line..  We feed her hay, alphafa pellets and a molassas treat.  Occasionally a Ritz cracker with crunchy peanut butter is a super treat.  She also likes the sour cream and chedder potato chips.  She pee's all the time, then she poopers which is easy to clean up, much easier than a dog..

We keep "Billie" on a leash because if we don't then she circles the house looking for us. . . crying.  Her leash is her security "blanket".  When it's windy, or really, really cold, she goes into her condo and sits there watching us through her window.   I didn't know this before but goats need tetinus shots every year or two.   Go figure!  We found this out from the vet, the hard way.  She had eaten "alien plants", well , that's what we call them, and they made her sick.  She needed  antibiotics to get better.  Fun to adminster.  I had to get her into a head/hornlock while my husband squrted the medicine into her mouth.  Which she rather liked the taste.

These goats are not as labor intensive as dogs.  Sometimes we are gone for a couple days, and she'll patiently wait for us.  She doesn't eat all her food at once, like a dog does, but will expect a visit, and a substantial brushing, when we get back.  Her fur gets about 3" thick in the winter, so she does need our help her shed her coat.  We tell her she is very "girlie".  We love her.

The shop from where we bought her said that if we put another goat with her, after the 3 years we've had her by herself, it will drastically change her personallity. . . for the worst.  So we decided to keep her alone.  She loves to stare out into the dark desert night while llounging on her "throne".  She will also eat everything, so keep your goat away from patio furnature, wood siding, important plants,  newspaper, clothing, grass, etc.  Since goats have 4 stomachs, they burp a lot.

So be prepared to include these type goats as a family member.  you won't regret it.

God save America!  :-) Margaret
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks to both of you! That info helped a lot! It will probably be at least another year before we can even seriously think about getting any kind of goat. But those pygmies sure sound adorable. Thanks again!!!
Helpful - 0
98010 tn?1305899735
Hi Aruba,  Sorry it took me a few days to get back to you.  We do have goats, but they are boer goats (larger, meat goats).  So I don't have any personal experience with pygmies other then what I have been told by others.  From what I have heard, pygmies do like to jump onto things and are good at escaping, so good fencing is a must.  Even our larger boer goats will get out if given the chance.  The easiest way to get the goats back into your yard is with food.  No matter where our goats wander off to they will always come back for food.  BeeKeeper gave you a great response about pygmy goats, definitely more info. then I have on them.  Good luck with the goats if/when you get them.  
Helpful - 0
202665 tn?1248806733
The Pygmy Goat is hardy, alert and animated, good-natured and gregarious; a docile, responsive pet, a cooperative provider of milk, and an ecologically effective browser. The Pygmy goat is an asset in a wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates.

Pygmy goats are precocious breeders, bearing one to four young every nine to twelve months after a five month gestation period. Does are usually bred for the first time at about twelve to eighteen months, although they may conceive as early as two months if care is not taken to separate them early from bucklings. Newborn kids will nurse almost immediately, begin eating grain and roughage within a week, and are weaned by three months of age.

Feeding and housing requirements for Pygmy goats are modest: a draft free 8' x 10' shed furnished with elevated sleeping and feeding places will accommodate four adult animals. An attached outside enclosure with at least 4' high fencing will provide the fresh air and exercise these active, fun-loving goats need. They are very sociable and are happier in a herd atmosphere or with another goat as a friend.  A basic diet of roughage in the form of legume and grass hay, bark, brush, and dry leaves [may need] to be supplemented.

They love to climb and jump on anything from your car to you...so have a good fence.  Good Luck!
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Horses & Large Animals Community

Popular Resources
Members of our Pet Communities share their Halloween pet photos.
Has your pet ever swallowed your prescription medicine? Vet tech Thomas Dock explores the top 10 meds that harm pets and what you can do to prevent a tragedy from happening.
Like to travel but hate to leave your pooch at home? Dr. Carol Osborne talks tips on how (and where!) to take a trip with your pampered pet
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.