Housing
Even though the goat is an outdoors animal, they require a good shelter from the harsher elements, just like any animal does. It's not unheard of for them to be kept in the house, but as a rule, they don't tend to allow themselves to be cooped up for too long.
Because of this, it's important to provide a well fenced paddock for your goat. They don't like to be cooped up, but it's necessary for their own safety, so they'll need about an acre of land each to keep them happy, edged by a good strong fence that they can't escape through.
Feeding
What deters many people from keeping a goat as a pet is the fact that they could be fine on minute, and at death's door the next. Much of this is due to poor feeding of the animals.
As with any grazing or Browsing animal, they should have some kind of food available at all times. Hay and Grass should be well within reach, as should fresh, clean water. Grains should be kept well outside the reach of the Goat, as although they are happy to gorge themselves on Grains, they can become very ill from too much. 1lb or less per day is enough.
There are, of course, commercial goat feeds available, and most of these can be fed according to the manufacturers instructions. If you do keep horses or cattle, along with your goats, don't get the feeds mixed up as horse or cattle feed can both make a goat ill.
Although treats should be kept to a minimum, as they can easily become obese, variety is important in the Goat's diet. Molasses, vegetable scraps, fresh fruit, or even hedge prunings, vines and fruit bushes, dock leaves, thistles, and roadside gatherings of bracken and ferns will bring a little variety to the animal.
Please note that the information contained in this article is in no way conclusive and further research will be required before you bring a pet into your home.
