- Feeding. Feeding adequate quality feeds to your goats is very important. A regular diet of pygmy goats must include protein enriched foods such as grains, fresh greens and oats.
- Shelter. Goat shelter constructed with raised wooden platforms is best for the pygmy goats. ...
- Fencing. As we know ‘goats are good escape artists’. Pygmy goats are not an exception. ...
- Hoof Trimming. Proper pygmy goat care also include regular hoof trimming. Usually goats with untrimmed hooves are prone to develop lameness, splayed toes or foot rot.
- Worming & Vaccination. Timely worming will help to keep your goats healthy and productive. And it’s an important part of pygmy goat care.
How much food does a pygmy goat need?
Pygmy goat requires very little feed compared to other goats. Pygmies love grazing, a small patch of land with full of grass, will keep them happy and content. Hay can be considered during the winter season and during night munching. Alfalfa hay is high in calcium, which is essential when goats are kidding and producing milk.
What should you not feed goats?
You should never feed your goats these items:
- Avocado
- Azaleas
- Chocolate
- Plants with oxalates such as kale
- Any nightshade vegetable
- Holly trees or bushes
- Lilacs
- Lily of the valley
- Milkweed
- Rhubarb leaves
What kind of hay is best for pygmy goats?
- Grass Hay can be timothy, orchard grass or other types of grass or broom grass.
- Legume includes alfalfa, clover, or soy.
- Cereal Grain includes oat and barley.
How to raise and care for pygmy goats?
Pygmy goats care: Top tips
- Because they’re so tiny, pygmy goats don’t need as much space as larger breeds. ...
- Pygmy goats should be kept in a ventilated, sturdy space built for their size.
- They need a good amount of freshwater daily to keep them healthy. ...
- If you want to breed your pygmy goat, the ideal time to wait is 18 months after they’re born.
How much should you feed pygmy goats?
To care for pygmy goats, allow each goat to graze on about ¼ of an acre of land, including grass, brush, and forbs. If you don't have enough pasture, feed each goat 1-2 pounds of alfalfa hay per day.
What should pygmy goats not eat?
But, just like other animals, goats shouldn't consume things like garlic, onion, chocolate or any source of caffeine, to name a few. Although most goats wouldn't eat leftover meat scraps, they shouldn't be offered them either. Citrus fruits should also be avoided, as they can really upset the rumen.
How often do you need to feed pygmy goats?
To build an affectionate relationship with your pygmy goat, it would be better to welcome it with a handful of grains two to three times a day. It would also be appropriate to offer fruits and vegetables as treats. It is beneficial to feed them goat mix not more than twice a day for better growth.
What grains do pygmy goats eat?
Any of the grains such as corn, oats, barley or milo are good energy sources. These grains do not need to be ground because goats will chew them sufficiently for proper digestion. Rolled grains are usually more palatable than ground grains.
Can pygmy goats eat carrots?
Absolutely! Carrots are great treats for goats, but while every part of the carrot is safe for goats to eat, it should only be in moderation.
What are good snacks for goats?
Tasty Treats Goats also enjoy munching on healthy fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, pears, peaches, bananas, grapes, carrots, lettuce, celery, pumpkin, squash, and spinach. Before feeding fruits and veggies, make sure that all pieces are small enough to prevent choking.
Do pygmy goats need a salt block?
Pygmy goats, as well as all other breeds of goats have specific nutritional needs that include copper, selenium, iron, manganese and other trace minerals. While salt blocks may be the only mineral combination for some goat owners, a loose salt and mineral combination is really better than a salt block.
What is the best hay for pygmy goats?
Alfalfa hay is also popular for feeding goats and has more protein, vitamins, and minerals than grass hays, typically. It can be a good choice for feeding milking goats as it has more protein, energy and calcium.
How many flakes of hay does a goat need?
Goats require about two pounds of chaffhaye for every 100 pounds of body weight. A 50-pound bag of chaffhaye equals about one 90-pound hay bale. Goats also can be fed grain or grain pellets.
Can you feed pygmy goats corn?
Corn is safe for goats in small amounts. While corn is relatively low in protein (8% CP), it does contain a certain amount of calcium, which, in excess, can contribute to the onset of urinary calculi in bucks.
How do you feed goats cheaply?
Hay. Hay is another important source of goat nutrition, especially in winter seasons. Feed your goats mold free qualified grasses based hay. You can also feed your goats weedy hay because it is very cheap and contain a large amount of necessary nutrition.
Is sweet feed good for goats?
They also prefer a mix of whole oats and pellets rather than just pellet feed. Because goats love sweet feed, it can be used as a training tool. It helps them stay still on the stanchion during milking, shearing, hoof trimming and health checkups. It also encourages them to come when they are called.
Can pygmy goats eat grapes?
Grapes are safe for goats to eat and will not harm goats. Not only are grapes safe for goats to eat, but they also provide them with a healthy and nutritious sweet treat that goats love.
Do pygmy goats need a salt block?
Pygmy goats, as well as all other breeds of goats have specific nutritional needs that include copper, selenium, iron, manganese and other trace minerals. While salt blocks may be the only mineral combination for some goat owners, a loose salt and mineral combination is really better than a salt block.
Is peanut hay good for goats?
Goats. Just like horses and cattle, Perennial Peanut Hay is a great alternative compared to alfalfa. Farmers have noticed a greater feed consumption as well as a greater weight gain and feed efficiency when they switched to perennial peanut. Its high Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) makes it a great option for pastures.
Do you need to milk pygmy goats?
Pygmy: Pygmy goats aren't usually considered dairy goats, but they can be milked. Most of them are raised as pets or 4-H projects, but a small minority of breeders raise them for milk. The Pygmies raised for milk tend to look more like Nigerians in body shape.
What do you need to keep goats clean?
You’ll need a hard brush and a curry comb to keep your goats clean and well-groomed. You will also need a bathing mitt, hoof trimmer, and a comb for longer hair areas like tails and beards. Your goat may need a coat if they are ill or if the weather is exceptionally cold, but otherwise should not need one.
What are pygmy goats?
Pygmy goats are descendants of West African Dwarf goats. They were brought to the US between the 1930s to 1960s and people began breeding them as companion animals. Through this breeding of West African goats, the American Pygmy and Nigerian Dwarf were born. American Pygmies are stocky, sturdy goats in miniature, while Nigerian Dwarf goats are more like miniature dairy goats. In some areas, American Pygmies and Nigerian Dwarfs are considered to be the same breed of goat, falling under the umbrella of Pygmy Goats.
How much does it cost to buy a pygmy goat?
Purchasing a Pygmy goat can range anywhere from free to $500. If you’re acquiring a wethered male, you may be able to get it for free or extremely low cost. High quality and champion goats from breeding lines can easily cost hundreds of dollars.
How long do pygmy goats live?
Pygmy goats are exceptionally fun and interesting companions, but they do require a lot of time and care. They can live up to 15 years, which means they are a long-term commitment. They are also a large cost investment up front and require regular monetary investments, so this should be a serious consideration before you bring goats home. Check about the legalities of owning goats in your area as well. If you do decide to bring home Pygmy goats, make sure you are getting them from a safe, reliable breeder so you get healthy goats.
What is the difference between Nigerian dwarf goats and American pygmies?
In some areas, American Pygmies and Nigerian Dwarfs are considered to be the same breed of goat, falling under the umbrella of Pygmy Goats. Male Pygmy goats stand between 17-22 inches at the withers while females stand between ...
How tall should a goat fence be?
Fences for Pygmy goats should be tall enough that they cannot jump it, usually 5 feet or more. The frame of the fence should be well-braced and sturdy, so it isn’t easily knocked or blown over. The fencing used should be something the goats cannot squeeze through or get a foothold in, so fencing options like no-climb horse fencing or thick chicken wire will work well. Kids can squeeze out of very small spaces, so the fencing should be installed inside the frame and needs to be pulled taut on installation so they cannot slip underneath it.
How do goats get diarrhea?
It is transmitted via contact with feces, milk, or other body secretions. Some goats will carry this disease without symptoms for months or years, so when one positive goat is found in your herd, it’s likely there are others. The symptoms are non-descript and mimic those of other diseases, including weight loss, diarrhea, and weakness. This disease has no cure and is fatal.
What do pygmy goats eat?
A regular diet of pygmy goats must include protein enriched foods such as grains, fresh greens and oats. You can fulfill the carbohydrate needs of your goats by feeding them whole and rolled grains. For fulfilling necessary minerals and vitamins demand, you can feed your goats corn, oats, sweet feed and goat ration.
What is the basic care of a pygmy goat?
However, here we are trying to discuss more about pygmy goat care. Basic pygmy goat care includes feeding, shelter, fencing, trimming and worming. Read more about every steps of pygmy goat care below.
What color are pygmy goats?
You can find them in white caramel, medium caramel and dark red caramel. Some pygmy goats can also be silver-light gray agouti, medium gray agouti, dark gray agouti, black with frosted points, solid black, and brown agouti. Usually female pygmy goats have lighter color than the males. However, here we are trying to discuss more about pygmy goat ...
Why are pygmy goats so popular?
They are very popular as pet goats than livestock animals, mainly for their calm and friendly nature. They are easily adaptable to all climates around the world. They produce high amount of milk, compared to their body size and food consumption. Table of Contents. Pygmy Goat Care. Feeding. Shelter. Fencing.
How big of a shed do pygmy goats need?
And without raised platforms, they are prone to acute hoof disorder. Pygmy goats are smaller in size, so they require less space for living. Generally an 8″*6″ shed will be suitable enough for housing two adult pygmy goats. Keep good ventilation system in the shed.
What is the best shelter for a pygmy goat?
Goat shelter constructed with raised wooden platforms is best for the pygmy goats. Usually pygmy goats like standing on higher grounds for a view-from-top experience, but they are not great jumpers. They don’t like sleeping on the ground, they like living and sleeping on a dry place and raised platform.
What is the best flooring for goats?
Most of the expert goat producer suggest clay as the best flooring system. A concrete flooring may be cold and damp during winter, while a wooden flooring is prone to rotting. On the other hand, a clay flooring would not only provide the goats a natural ground, it would also help dissipate urine odor.
How long does a pygmy goat produce milk?
Unlike dairy goats that will come into heat annually, and produce milk for 1-2 years, Pygmy goats produce milk for only a relatively short 3-6 month period of time. This makes their polyestrous nature favorable.
How much milk does a pygmy cow produce?
Pygmy does produce 1-2 quarts of milk per day when lactating, and their milk ranges from 4.5% to a staggering 11% butterfat. However, they produce milk for only a short 120-180 days.
What is a pygmy goat?
The Pygmy Goat is a small, hardy, adaptable goat breed that is increasingly popular in the United States. Their small size and good nature make them attractive dairy goats, where they require less space and feed than larger goats, and are suitable for smaller farms in urban and suburban settings.
Why are pygmy goats so popular?
They were originally imported as a curiosity, for zoos and shows, and remain extremely popular fixtures in petting zoos across the country due to their friendly nature . Many Pygmy goats were adopted by private breeders in the 1950s, who took an interest in cultivating these cute little goats as pets and companions.
How much does a pygmy goat cost?
Pygmy goat prices vary widely depending on whether you are happy with an unregistered animal to keep as a pet ($40-$50), or want a pedigreed Pygmy to start breeding of your own for sale and profit ($150 - $300).
How to secure a pygmy goat?
The best way to secure your Pygmy goats is with a woven wire fence with 2x4-inch openings too small for adults to put their heads through; woven wire is strong enough to withstand the chewing, leaning, and standing that the fence will endure. Woven/goat wire can be purchased in rolls that are already 4 feet high.
How high should a goat fence be?
Fences should be about 4 feet high since Pygmy goats can't jump higher than that. Goats will lean, stand, rub, and chew on fencing, particularly if they have smaller pasture, or if there seems to be attractive forage on the other side, so posts should be no further than 8 feet apart.
What to give goats for a pygmy?
Minerals. Provide your goats with a loose trace mineral grain that is intended for goats. Pygmy goats, like other goat breeds, have unique mineral requirements. It’s better to provide them with a goat mineral mixture than a salt or mineral lick intended for all livestock.
What minerals do goats need?
Goats will need extra copper and selenium, both of which are found in mineral mixes made for goats. Another thing to watch out for is the presence of barber pole worms. Barber pole worms are an internal parasite that affects goats. They get their name due to the striped appearance that resembles a barber’s pole.
How much milk does a pygmy goat produce?
Pygmy goats can produce a ton of milk for their small size. You can expect anywhere from 1-2 quarts of milk each day. The milk is super rich and can contain as much as 11% butterfat. They do have shorter lactation periods than some of the dairy goat breeds and will only be in milk for 120-180 days before drying up.
Why are my pygmy goats fat?
Pygmy goats are prone to obesity and can become fat quickly with too much feed. If you notice a goat that starts to look pot-bellied and isn’t wormy, then you need to restrict the amount of feed they consume.
How much does a pygmy goat weigh?
They can weigh as much as 85 pounds and could easily tear up things in your home. Also, it’s not easy to potty train them.
Where did the pygmy goat originate?
Pygmy Goat History. The pygmy breed has an interesting history that began in Africa. Throughout Africa there are several types of pygmy goats. The pygmies that led to the pygmy goats found today in the United States are descendants of the Cameroon Dwarf goats.
What is the most common color of goats?
Pygmy goats can be any color or color pattern. The most common color is agouti, which results from a mixture of light and dark hairs, making a grizzled pattern. Pygmy goats are very hardy and very adaptable. They have big personalities and are both docile and playful.
