Thinking about goats?
Ten things to know before you bring them home.
Our top ten for anyone considering Nigerian Dwarfs — and a look inside the first-aid kit we keep for those little (and occasionally big) medical adventures.
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You can’t just have one.
Once you meet them, you won’t want just one anyway! Spend a few minutes in a goat pen and you’ll see they are very social animals. They love to snuggle, play and lounge together, and do best with at least one buddy.
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You don’t need a large farm.
A small pen, a sturdy shelter, secure 4–5′ fencing, and maybe a few wooden spools or an old picnic table to climb on, and you’ll have a great space for a happy herd. Oh, and a well-latching gate!
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They won’t eat you out of house and home.
Being small (60–80 lbs), Nigerian Dwarfs have equally small appetites. You don’t need a tractor to move heavy bales, or a lot of space to store hay.
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They are little milk-making machines.
Small stature does not mean small production. Nigerian Dwarfs are powerhouse milkers, often producing 2 quarts or more a day. Their milk is high in butterfat, so it’s ideal not only for drinking but for yogurt, cheese, ice cream and so much more.
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They are easy to handle.
Always perfectly behaved? No. But with a dog leash, a little patience and maybe an animal cookie or two, you’ll have an entourage before you know it. Trip to the vet? A wire dog kennel in the back of the SUV and off you go.
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They are fairly low maintenance.
Not no maintenance — but with good quality hay, clean water, goat-specific minerals and regular hoof trims, they (and you) should do well. Buy a solid goat-raising book, read it, and keep it handy for when questions come up. And find a livestock vet now: far better to plan ahead than scramble in an emergency.
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If you want milk, you’ll need a buck.
It seems obvious, but not everyone thinks about it before getting goats. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of fresh milk — but to keep a doe in milk, eventually you’ll need to breed her again.
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They aren’t a short-term commitment.
With good care, Nigerian Dwarfs live 12–15 years. And since you’re almost guaranteed to fall head over heels and treat them like royalty, plan for many years of goat-rearing fun.
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Find a farm sitter.
Farm life takes a bit more planning. Ask a neighbor or friend to stop by once or twice a day to add fresh hay, refill buckets and give a few head scratches. Coming home to a happy, healthy herd makes it worth the effort.
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You’ll have a new set of friends.
Nigerian Dwarfs have big personalities that will make you smile, laugh, snap pictures, and generally brighten your day.
The first-aid kit
The must-haves we keep on hand. Put yours together before you need it.
Basic first-aid equipment
- Thermometer
- A normal goat temperature is 101.5–103.5°F. A digital one is quick and easy — keep two, in case one’s battery is low.
- Stethoscope
- For listening to lungs and rumen, and checking heartbeats.
- Gloves
- Disposable, for assessing wounds, applying topical medication, giving shots, or just keeping yourself clean when your goat isn’t.
- Scissors
- For cutting bandages and gauze, and trimming around wounds.
- Small trimmer
- Handy for quick shaves of small areas.
Other necessary items
- Needles and syringes
- Generally 20 or 22 gauge for SubQ or IM medications. Syringes, big and small, are handy for plenty of non-shot jobs too.
- Hoof trimmers
- For trimming hooves every month or two.
- Drenching gun
- For dosing supplements, medications or electrolytes. Watch a video first to be sure you’re using it correctly.
- Scale and sling
- A small scale is handy for weighing kids and feed, and checking milk production. The sling keeps squirmy goats, small and big, contained while you weigh.
Supplements and medications
- Probios
- Keeps the rumen happy in times of stress, feed changes, moves and the like.
- Activated charcoal
- A lifesaver when a goat eats something toxic.
- Herbal dewormers
- Land of Havilah, Fir Meadows, Molly’s Herbals. I mix ¼ cup with a pound of kelp and free-feed it.
- Electrolytes
- A powder or homemade mix helps with dehydration in hot weather or bouts of scours.
Wound cleaning
- Chlorhexidine
- For cleaning wounds and preventing infection.
- Vetericyn wound care spray
- Good for cuts, abrasions, skin irritations and more.
- Saline solution
- For flushing eyes or open wounds.
- NuStock
- Contains sulfur to help with deep wounds, cuts and skin abrasions. Also great for hair loss, mites, and most other skin issues.
What works for our herd, not veterinary advice — your livestock vet has the final word.
Ready to meet the herd?
Goat feed and Thorvin kelp are in the Feed Store, too.