FAQ
Can I register a goat under 1 year old
Registration under 1 year - a temporary form of registration, at a year we can take accurate readings of height cannon and check for faults. A goat under a year will be put onto the system but will need inspected at 1 year to check the above points.
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I’m looking a goat as a pet will it be ok on its own or with my other pets
Goats are a herd animal, so should be kept with at least one other goat.
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Can I Keep my buck on his own
Female’s and Bucks can not live together and males should not be kept on their own, best to keep your male penned separately with another buck or a wethered male.
The only time a Buck should be running with a female is when looking to breed.
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What age can I bred a female
We recommend to breed females at 18 months, at this point the goat should be mature enough, however if you feel she is not ready, be it she is too small or for some other reason, wait until she is ready. This will also limit complications at birth.
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Can they eat anything
No they cannot eat anything, we recommend to feed them haylage and some hard feed. You can get pygmy meal from suppliers such as fancy feeds and Hyde’s.
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Are they good lawn mowers
Most find goats prefer to browse rather than graze.
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Is it better to buy males or Females
A Castrated male is your cheapest option when buying pygmy goats, they have no smell like a full buck and make an excellent pet. Not very many shows accommodate though for pet classes, therefore the chances of showing a castrated male are slim.
A full male pygmy goat would not make a great pet at all, great for breeding and showing.
A full male is hard to keep, they can be temperamental and are very smelly.
A female pygmy goat makes a great pet and also is great for the show ring and breeding. Some females may be a bit moody or loud when in heat.
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Are they expensive to keep
Yes and no. They need a well fenced paddock as well as an indoor area, be it a shed or a little house.
They also need hay/haylage and meal as well as regularly dosed for worms, lice, fluke and some people also vaccinate.
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If kept well looked after you are less likely to run into expensive vet bills
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How much feed do they need
Hay or Haylage should be available ad lib, every goat is different and will require different feeding , just before breeding season meal should be increased to ensure the animals are in the best condition for breeding.
Males in Rut during breeding season may go off their meal but its best to try and encourage eating as they will need it to stay in good health.
Pregnant females require more meal in the early stages of pregnancy but care should be take not to overfeed in the last 6-8 weeks so the kids don’t grow too large.
Wethers require very little meal if any. Its always best to feed any animal based on their body condition.
Yearly Vaccination Plan
If you decide to vaccinate, Lambivac is the only vaccination licensed for goats in the UK
Lambivac covers Clostridial Diseases, Pulpy Kidney and Tetanus.
However is does not cover Pasteurella diseases, if these are a problem in your area speak with your vet for an alternative
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How much space do they need
The more space you can provide them the better, they don’t do well in cramped spaces.
As a guide an 8foot by 6foot shed would house 2-3 comfortably
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Can males and females live together
A full male and female cannot live together, he would have her tortured and she would be used as a breeding machine. However wethers (castrated males) and females can live together.
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What Age do Kids become fertile and what age should I separate male and female kids
Male kids can be fertile as young as 8 weeks old, although rare enough they can impregnate females at this age.
Females can be fertile from 2 weeks old.
Entire Male kids should be separated from their mothers and female siblings no later than 10 weeks old.
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Can I register my goats when they are born
Yes, however they will only be temporarily registered until 1 year when we inspect them to ensure they are within the breed standard regulations.
Unless both parents are herdbook registered then they become pedigree and don’t require an inspection. It is however up to the breeder too ensure there are no faults.
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What age can I show my goats
Goats can be shown from 10 weeks old.
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How much is a pygmy goat
Wethers cost from £50-150 , Females £250-350 depending on quality and bucks can be anything from £100-500 again depending on quality.
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What minerals do pygmy goats need
Although many believe pygmy goats require the same minerals as sheep this is untrue. Goats need a good amount of copper in their diet and sheep are intolerant to copper. We give our goats red rockie mineral licks.
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What Shelter do Pygmy goats need
Goats don’t like rain or being cold, they should have a permanent garden shed type establishment or a very large dog shelter as a lean to in a paddock. This can keep them dry and warm and should be sufficient. Again the more space you can provide the better.
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How tall should my fencing be
It is recommended fencing is at least 4ft, but if you are unlucky you may acquire some goats who can jump over 6ft fences with ease.
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How do I tell if my goat is in heat and what is the gestation period
A female can be very vocal when in heat/season, she will flag her tail and there may be some discharge giving her tail a wet look.
Pygmy goats are pregnant for 145-155 days.