Raising Goats for Beginners
This guide on raising goats for beginners will help you get ready before you bring your first goats to your homestead. Goats are amazing animals—super versatile and relatively easy to raise. Whether you’re interested in fresh milk, homemade cheese, or raising your own meat, they’ve got you covered.
Before you bring these energetic animals to your home, it’s important to get yourself and your setup ready so you feel confident and prepared for your first herd. With the right prep work, you’ll be setting yourself (and your goats) up for a successful and rewarding experience.
How to Raise Dairy Goats so you feel comfortable and confident from day one, no matter what stage of life you are in.
When I first dove into homesteading, my whole world revolved around growing our own food. I poured all my energy into our gardens, figuring out how to make them thrive and feed my family. Livestock wasn’t even on my radar at the time. It wasn’t until years later—when I felt ready for a new challenge—that I decided to take the leap. I’ll admit, starting something entirely new when you’re a little older can feel intimidating, but it’s also incredibly rewarding.
After doing my homework and weighing the options, goats became the clear winner. These little powerhouses are perfect for any homestead—big or small. Whether it’s their rich, creamy milk, tender meat, or even their fiber (if you go with a long-haired breed), they bring so much to the table.
Of course, like with anything new, there’s a learning curve. Preparing for goats and making sure they have everything they need to thrive can feel overwhelming at first. But trust me, with a bit of planning and patience, it all comes together.
This guide is here to help make that process easier. We’ll cover all the basics of goat care—everything from setting up a cozy home for them to nailing down their nutrition. We’ll also go over how to create a daily routine that keeps your herd happy and healthy.
By the end, you’ll feel ready to welcome these lively new additions to your homestead and start enjoying all the benefits they have to offer.
What are the benefits of raising goats?
Of all the animals we have raised on our homestead, goats are by far my favorite. A big part of that reason is because of all the benefits having goats can bring to a running homestead.
- Amazingly Delicious Milk
Goat milk isn’t just delicious; it’s also incredibly versatile. You can use it to make cheese, soap, lotion, fudge, and so much more. It’s a game-changer for anyone dreaming of making homemade and natural products. - Brush Control
Goats are your natural solution for keeping your property cleaned up. They’ll not only eat grass but any weeds, brambles, and even poison ivy, turning your overgrown spaces into well-maintained areas. - Companions
Goats are social and lovable animals that form strong bonds—not just with humans but with other animals too. They make perfect pasture mates for horses or other herd animals, giving them a sense of companionship and reducing stress. - Money Makers
Raising goats can be a great way to boost your homestead’s income. You can sell fresh milk, handmade products like soap or cheese, and even goat kids to other farmers or families in local 4H programs. - High-Quality Meat
Goat meat, known as chevon, is lean, flavorful, and a healthy protein option. Raising goats for meat can be a sustainable way to provide for your family or sell to customers in search of local, high-quality meat. - Luxurious Fiber
If you choose certain breeds, like Angoras or Cashmeres, your goats can give you beautiful, soft fiber. This material is highly sought after for making yarn, clothing, and other handmade goods.
What Goats Need to Thrive
Before you bring your new goats home, there are things you will want to have set up and ready for their arrival. Having as much as you can set up and prepared will give a smoother transition to your goats as they get to know their new home.
#1. Shelter
Goats need to have a space that is out of the rain, snow, and sun. Depending on where you live, you may only need a lean-to shelter, whereas others may need a full barn setup as we do. Having a space that is warm and dry is especially important if you plan to breed your goats in the future.
- Size: The shelter for your goats should be sturdy and well-ventilated, with enough room for everyone without being or feeling overcrowded. A good rule of thumb is to have about 12-16 square feet of space for each goat.
- Proper ventilation: Good airflow will prevent respiratory issues in your herd, whether that be a window or an air vent near the ceiling.
Why spend thousands on a new barn when a simple shed can do the job? Learn How to Convert a Shed into a Goat Barn today.
What is the different between ventilation and drafts?
Ventilation refers to the movement of fresh air within a space, while drafts refer to the unwanted flow of outside air that can cause discomfort or health issues for animals. It is important to have proper ventilation in your goat shelter to maintain a healthy and comfortable environment for your goats. This can be done with windows, doors, or vents placed throughout the shelter.
However, drafts should be avoided as they can cause issues such as respiratory infections in goats. This can be prevented by ensuring there are no gaps or openings that allow for excess air flow, especially during cold or windy weather.
#2. Food
Most goats will only need hay or pasture to survive, whereas other goats, such as young kids or breeding animals, may need grain as well.
- Pasture: Goats love to be out on pasture so they can spend the day eating grasses and weeds. A goat needs about 1/3 of an acre for grazing, so you can expect to house 3 goats on 1 acre of fenced in pasture. Remember, the more space, the better, and rotational grazing can help maintain the quality of the pasture.
SLCG Pro Tip: It is important to know that Goats also love to eat leaves, twigs, and bark. This means you will want to protect your trees if they are in your planned grazing area.
- Hay: During the off-season, your goat will need a diet of high-quality hay. Hay can play an important part in your goat’s nutrition, so you will want to find a source near to you that is affordable and easy to get bales of hay from. A goat will need about 2 pounds of hay a day in the winter, which is about 3-4 bales a month.
- Grain: Some goats may also need access to grain each day. This includes any goats that are breeding, kidding, growing, milking, or needing to put on weight.
#3. Water
Water is essential for any livestock, especially dairy goats. Be sure your goats have access to fresh water at all times in a few different locations in their shelter and out in the pasture.
Milifun Goat Waterer, Sheep Water Bowls Livestock Water Bowl with Copper Valve, Automatic Horse Waterer Farm Automatic Waterer for Livestock.
Little Giant® Flat Rubber Bucket | Rubber Water Bucket for Horses | Flat Back Bucket | 18 QuartsBUYYAH 11 Gallon Automatic Water Trough, Horse Drinking Water Tank with Adjustable Stand, Automatic Water Dispenser with Float Valve, Easy to Assemble, Feeding Goat, Sheep, Horse, Chicken in Farm
If you only have a few goats, use a tire with a bowl in the middle for water in a pasture. For larger herds, you may want to invest in a water trough.
#4. Minerals
Not all areas and pastures are created equal, and where you live may be deficient in minerals that can affect a goat. To help, you will want to have a mineral block or a container of loose minerals that can provide essential nutrients, especially if your pasture is lacking.
Goats are amazing animals and will only eat the minerals if their bodies crave them. If you see you are always refilling your supply, then you know your area is lacking in key nutrients.
Purina | Goat Mineral Supplement Block for All Types and Lifestages | 33 Pound (33 lb.) BlockManna Pro Goat Mineral Supplement – Made with Vitamins & Minerals to Support Growth & Development – Contains Ammonium Chloride – Microbial Blend for Digestion – 8 lbsLBH Market Little Giant Mineral Feeder 3.5 Qt with Fasteners for Goats and Horses
Understanding Goat Basics
To raise goats successfully, you should familiarize yourself with some common goat terms and their meanings. Here is a very short list to get you started.
- Does – Female goats who have given birth or are capable of giving birth.
- Doeling – A female goat under one year of age.
- Wethers – Castrated male goats.
- Bucks – Intact (not castrated) male goats.
- Buckling – A male goat under one year of age.
SLCg Pro Top: Stock your library with goat books that you can turn to when you have a question about your herd’s care. Yes, the internet is fine, but not always reliable. Books give you more accurate information that you can count on.
Storey’s Guide to Raising Dairy Goats, 4th Edition: Breeds, Care, Dairying, MarketingThe Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals: Choose the Best Breeds for Small-Space Farming, Produce Your Own Grass-Fed Meat, Gather Fresh … Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Cattle, & BeesRaising Goats Naturally, 2nd Edition: The Complete Guide to Milk, Meat, and More
Healthcare tips for a healthy herd
Keeping your goats healthy is an important part of raising a thriving herd. Here are some essentials:
- Vaccinations: Work with a local veterinarian to determine the necessary vaccinations for your area.
- Quarantine: Introduce new goats to your herd with caution, placing them in quarantine for at least 3 weeks to monitor for illnesses before adding them to the main herd.
- Parasite control: Regular deworming is crucial, and you should also practice pasture management to prevent overexposure to parasites.
Read more on setting up a Goat Worming Schedule here.
Tips to raise healthy goats
- Regular checkups: Inspect your goats daily for signs of illness or injury. You can do this when you are out feeding your herd. Touch your goats so you can feel for changes in their body condition. A goat’s fur can mask weight loss better than you may realize.
- Records: Keep detailed health and production records for each goat. This is especially important for breeders and dairy goats.
- Clean consistently: There are a few areas you will want to keep clean with your goats. First is their living areas – Clean their living areas regularly and manage their waste to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria. Next is their water bowls – Each week, wash all water bowls to ensure they get the freshest water.
Establishing a Daily Care Routine
Caring for goats is a hands-on commitment. Knowing what is expected before you invest in your first goats will help you to be better prepared. Here’s what a typical day of caring for a dairy goat:
Morning:
- Give fresh water and hay to any goats that are not in milk.
- Replenish any mineral containers.
- For goats in milk, start your milk morning routine. Feed and milk each milker until you have done them all.
- Once done, if weather permits, release your herd out to pasture.
- Spot clean any areas and replace bedding if needed.
Afternoon:
- If it’s a hot day, replenish waterers.
- If it’s a cold day, check and replace any water that may be frozen.
- Look over your goats to ensure everyone is there and being an active member of the herd. Remember, a quiet goat that is standing off on their own is a sick goat, and investigation may be needed.
Evening:
- Spot clean any areas and replace bedding if needed.
- Call the herd back to their shelter.
- For goats in milk, start your milk evening routine. Feed and milk each milker until you have done them all.
- Replenish hay if needed.
- Replenish water if needed.
- Lock the herd down for the night.
It’s true that goats require daily chores by having a routine you will be able to get things done in a short amount of time.
Raising goats can be fulfilling and fun. Whether you’re looking to fill the quiet of an empty nest with a few dairy goats or you want to grow your homestead, goats can be a wonderful addition. Even though goats have a chore list you will need to do each day, the rewards they give, make all the work worth it.
Keep this Raising Goats for Beginners guide close by so you can get your homestead and your schedule ready for your new additions.
More Goat Care Resources:
