I have two goats that I take care of, or rather they take care of me. Rocky is about 5 years old and Sunshine is about 10 months old. Time certainly flies and you can certainly see that when you notice how fast a kid goat grows. He still loves to be picked up, but now I am going to have to do weight training in order to continue to lift him. He gets so excited to get a higher view.
Rocky and Sunshine are both wethers, castrated male goats. This blog post reflects my direct experience with these goats and what I have learned to do and not to do. There is always more to learning. These pages are based on my opinions and experience. You will notice that there is so much information on the web regarding goats and so much contradiction. I will tell you what I have learned so that you can benefit, but be prepared to see very opposite views on other blogs.
Since I am a strict vegan for animals sake, this blog is not about how to get anything out of a goat. I am also not one to offer any medical advice. This is simply my way of sharing the wonders of the goat world and what I have discovered that might help others along the way.
Meet my goats: Rocky and Sunshine (they took Rocky's horns off at an early age. I will talk about that on another blog post.)
Rocky and Sunshine came to my life at different times, but both of them needed a mom, so I became Mama Goat. Rocky's mom got out of their enclosure and was chased by dogs, had a heart attack and died. Sunshine was rejected by his mom and the herd. Though Rocky bullies Sunshine often and they compete for dominance, they also play, love each other and give one another great companionship. Since they are herd animals, they love to be with each other.
However, if you don't have a second goat for company, many other animals work well for companionship. If you have enough time, you can keep a goat around you full time and then you become the other herd mate. If you do not
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have that kind of time to devote to a goat as a herd member, then the right companion is crucial. I've met someone recently whose goat is paired up with a spirited goose. I've heard of ones with small dogs (who were used to being with the goat from a young age). I've seen them with sheep, llamas, pigs etc. My preference is to have them with animals that you know for sure are kind and won't turn on the goat. Someone wanted to put their goats with their pit bull. They nearly lost the goats to the dog that was out for blood. Be very careful, many dog lovers will assure you that their dog is the most loving, gentle creature on the face of this earth. However, in the presence of a goat who is a prey animal, a dog, who is a predator, may act totally different than how they do with humans. Some dog breeds that are normally docile, will turn on anyone without notice. An innocent golden retriever mauled a human baby and created terrible trauma for years. Bottom line, either you change your life and center it around the goat becoming its main companion, or find an animal, or preferably another compatible goat, that befriends your goat lovingly. Remember, these are herd animals so, the more time you spend with them, the more you become part of the herd
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