Learning to raise goats can be a daunting task, especially when you’re just starting out. In my experience, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea of having all the right gear and equipment, but this approach can often lead to unnecessary expenses. For instance, I initially invested in metal goat pails that seemed like the perfect solution for collecting milk. While they do have a certain charm, they’re not exactly practical for everyday use – especially when it comes to cleaning them.
Instead, I opted for BPA-free plastic pitchers that not only collect milk but also come with lids and can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher. Not only are they more convenient, but they’re also more versatile, allowing me to use them for serving beverages at parties or events. The key to successful goat keeping is simplicity and a willingness to adapt.
By focusing on tried-and-true methods and seeking out low-cost alternatives to expensive equipment or time-consuming processes, you can make the process easier and more enjoyable. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and get creative – it’s often the simple solutions that lead to the greatest success.
10 Super Simple Goat Care Hacks
As I look back on my journey into goat keeping, there were several key takeaways and ‘aha’ moments that significantly simplified the process. If I could go back in time, here are a few realizations I’d want to share with my earlier self – or perhaps offer as advice to others starting out.
Administering a Copper Bolus
Initially, I employed a rather time-consuming approach to administer copper bolus supplements to my dairy does. The process involved pouring the contents of the pill capsule into a bowl and encouraging each goat to lick the mixture along with loose minerals and alfalfa pellets – a treat they seemed to enjoy. While this method wasn’t entirely unpleasant, it did require a significant amount of time.
Treating eight goats individually took around 5 minutes per animal, plus an additional few minutes to round up and isolate each one in the milk room to prevent others from consuming their copper supplement. As you can imagine, this could quickly become a laborious process. It wasn’t until I learned about other goat owners placing the copper bolus inside large marshmallows or banana chunks that I discovered a much more efficient solution.
With some experimentation, I successfully treated six goats with copper in under 5 minutes! The goats even began lining up for their treat, eager to receive their dosage. While two of my charges were initially uninterested in the marshmallows, substituting bananas proved to be a successful alternative. Although I wouldn’t recommend making bananas or marshmallows a regular staple in your goats’ diet, they do make an excellent means of dispensing copper boluses – saving both time and effort.
Easy Kid Sweater
When unpredictable weather strikes, even carefully planned goat births can be disrupted. As someone who’s planning for spring arrivals, I’ve found myself dealing with chilly days without a budget for fancy kid sweaters. Luckily, I had an old sweatshirt collecting dust that didn’t fit me anymore. By repurposing the sleeve to create a custom fit for my goat kids and cutting arm holes, I was able to craft makeshift sweaters using nothing more than scissors.
The elastic band from the wrist area serves as a makeshift collar, giving these impromptu garments a turtleneck-like appearance. Depending on the size of your goat’s neck, you may need to make a small slit in the elastic to ensure a comfortable fit.
Simple Mineral Feeder
Initially, I relied on PVC mineral feeders attached to walls, which cost around $20 for parts and hardware. The design allowed for easy refilling from the top and continuous flow at the bottom. This solution proved popular among chicken owners as well. However, my goats had other plans. As they sipped their minerals, they would often leave behind a sticky residue that clogged the dispenser over time. Cleaning the feeder became a tedious task.
Faced with this issue, I turned to an unlikely solution: repurposing empty sour cream and yogurt containers. Using leftover 2×4 wood, I crafted a mounting bracket and secured it using deck screws. This transformed the container into a functional cup holder. To maintain this setup, I keep a stash of identical containers ready for filling with various substances – minerals, baking soda, or DE (for those who use it).
Once a container is filled and loaded into the cup holder, my goats can freely access their treats. If one becomes clogged, I simply swap it out for a fresh one.
Sell Goats Faster
As a hobbyist goat breeder, my primary objective is to sell weaned kids as pets. While I’d love to see this process unfold rapidly, it doesn’t always pan out that way. In recent years, I’ve explored various strategies to boost sales of my adorable goat offspring. One innovative approach I stumbled upon was capturing high-quality images of my baby goats in their natural habitat – the pasture.
To add an extra layer of charm, I adorn them with vibrant bandannas in hues like red, pink, and purple for females, and blue and green for males. This creative twist not only captures the essence of farm life but also gives potential buyers a sense of the kid’s unique personality. Just be aware that after the photo shoot, you’ll need to remove the bandannas – goats have a tendency to enjoy snacking on them!
Despite this minor challenge, I’ve found that incorporating these colorful accessories into my marketing efforts has significantly accelerated sales.
Spill and Kick Resistant Milking Procedure
The Goat Litter Box
While it may come as a surprise to some, goats are actually capable of being potty-trained – in a sense. Specifically, they can be trained to urinate in a goat-sized litter box, which means you’ll only have to worry about cleaning up the urine-soaked straw from one designated area. This is because goats still tend to leave their droppings wherever they happen to be, but at least the pee-related mess will be contained.
The Homemade Hobble
To facilitate easier milking and training, goat hobbles are an essential tool. While official hobbles can be pricey, they’re not always a practical option, especially when working with miniature goats that require tailored restraints. Fortunately, creating your own DIY goat hobble is a straightforward process that requires minimal investment. I recently crafted my own using cloth-covered cord, which serves as a versatile material for various projects.
The thin cord may seem inadequate, but it’s surprisingly effective in training goats without causing discomfort or harm. To create your own DIY goat hobble, start by laying two lengths of cord parallel to each other, positioning the center of the cords like a U over the hook on your milk stand (or rope). Next, fold the four end strands through the U to secure them to the hook.
Then, tie knots at the desired foot position and use the loose ends on the opposite side of the cord to tie in your goat. While goats may nibble on the cords if left unattended, this DIY hobble can be quickly made for a mere quarter, making it an affordable solution.
Goats Can Eat Like a Horse
In my area, goats are not a common sight, which means I’ve had to get creative when it comes to finding the right feed for them. When my local feed mill runs out of goat pellets – which has happened several times in the past – I used to resort to using 16% cattle feed as filler. However, I soon realized that this feed is severely lacking in selenium, a nutrient that’s essential for healthy pregnancies and kidnings in areas with low selenium levels.
A fellow goat keeper recently shared her secret substitute feed source with me: pony or foal feed. And let me tell you, the goats love it! This feed has a higher selenium content than cattle feed, making it a much better choice for my goats. Plus, it’s often less expensive than buying goat-specific feed.
Before switching to this new feed, I made sure to double-check that the protein content was around 16%, which is important for optimal nutrition.
As long as I also provide them with high-quality hay, pasture, and free-choice goat minerals, pony food can even be a regular option to help control feed costs.
Use Lumber Waste to Make a Goat Shed
When we first moved into our property, an existing shed was already on the premises. To expand and divide it into separate areas for dairy and living quarters for our goats, I utilized a combination of affordable materials: $30 fence panels, reclaimed wood, and basic hardware. The total cost came out to around $100. However, my fellow blogger Jennifer Poindexter took a more frugal approach, transforming her goat shed at almost no expense. Her cleverness has left me impressed!
To achieve this level of thriftiness, Jennifer repurposed discarded lumber scraps from a local mill, which are typically worthless and readily available for the taking. While these slabs aren’t ideal for structural framing, they do lend themselves well to creating a charming, rustic exterior for your free-sourced goat shed.
Homemade Feed Bag Hay Feeder
I’ve developed an effective system for feeding my goats using a crib-style hay feeder that I built myself for around $20. The large design allows me to store several bales inside, which I then portion out daily by spreading it along the edges. For the most part, this setup works well, but occasionally my bigger does can get a bit rowdy and crowd the feeder, making it challenging for younger or more timid goats to access their share.
To address this issue, I sought an affordable solution to offer hay in alternative locations. After researching online, I discovered DIY-friendly hay feeder bags that typically cost between $10 and $30. These bags are designed to be hung up with pre-cut holes at the bottom, allowing goats to feed through the opening. The idea seemed promising, so I decided to create my own version.
If you’re familiar with polypropylene feed bags used for other livestock, you can replicate this simple hack by cutting a hole in the lower side of the bag and securing it with duct tape to prevent fraying. Simply add a duct tape handle and hang the bag in your goat shelter. Then, fill the bag with loose hay, and voila! You’ll have a quick and easy hay feeder solution that requires minimal effort and investment.
Goat Care Hacks for Happy Goats
As a self-proclaimed cheapskate and time-conscious individual, I relish the discovery of innovative goat care hacks that streamline my routine or reduce expenses. The added bonus is that my goats reap the benefits, too – receiving the nurturing they crave while giving me more freedom to indulge in quality time with them. For fellow new goat enthusiasts, my final piece of advice is to strike a balance between frugality and prudence.
While it’s essential not to compromise on care or safety for the sake of cost-cutting, embracing tried-and-true methods that have been tested in real-world scenarios can indeed save you time and money. With this mindset, go ahead and indulge in some quality goat-wrangling – your furry friends will thank you!
