HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS

Just Getting Started:

Nanny’s Mini Goats works to make your purchase of a baby goat as problem-free as possible. The suggestions below are what I have picked up from my own experience and from following the advice of my veterinarian. I suggest you read up on goats, ask your vet, and modify these suggestions to your own situation.

Shots – Babies get their Tetanus Antitoxin shot at the same time they are disbudded. Before a baby is sold, I treat it for coccidiosis and lice/mites, as a precautionary measure. Additionally, you may choose to have an annual CD/T vaccination for Enterotoxemia and Tetanus.

Hay Feed – Grass hay free choice, to keep their rumen working properly. I feed B-Dahl hay, a bluestem grass native to Texas. Alfalfa is not a grass hay. They can have alfalfa but also need grass hay.

Pellet Feed – Pellets specifically designed for goats (NOTE: not sheep and goat pellets) is best. I feed twice a day (morning and night), a mixture consisting of goat pellets, black oil sunflower seed, corn, and calf manna. If you are feeding wethers, add a sprinkle of ammonia chloride to the feed to prevent bladder stones.

Minerals – Goat specific minerals to include macrominerals (calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfur and magnesium) and microminerals (iron, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, iodine, selenium, molybdenum and others).

Housing and Bedding – Goats don’t like to be wet, so make sure you have shelter for them — a barn or lean-to is great. They will even get in a dog house if you have an extra. I use heat lamps in the winter for mamas and babies. In the summer, I have fans going in the barn.

Dealing with Your Goat’s Health:

If you suspect your baby goat is sick, please contact me or your vet, quickly. Time is of the essence with these little ones. If your baby has a loose stool for longer than 48 hours, you need to get them to a vet. A change of weather can cause silent pneumonia. If you notice watery eyes and a snotty nose, they will need an antibiotic shot.

Supplies On Hand for Minor Issues –
1) Goats Prefer Probiotic Plus Paste (for stress)
2) B12 Paste (for fatigue)
3) Baking Soda (for digestive aid)
4) SpectoGard Scour-Check Pig Oral Solution (for diarrhea)
5) Hoof Trimmer (see note below)

In Case of Worms – Check bottom eyelids to see if they are nice and pink. If not, the kid may need to be wormed. If you suspect worms, it is best to get a fecal test so you can give the correct wormer for your problem. Only worm when necessary and do not chemical worm on a regular basis, as the goats can build up an immunity to it.

Turned Under Hooves – There is no set schedule for trimming hooves. Just check them every 3 months or so and trim only the edges that are turning under. You can buy hoof trimmers at Tractor Supply.

Castrating the Males – Fixed males (wethers) make GREAT pets. An unfixed male (buck) is not fun to keep and can be aggressive if there are not enough girls for him. Castration is recommended at about 3-4 months of age, when their urethra is fully developed. An added benefit is that castration helps the wether avoid urinary calculi (kidney stones). Castration is preferable to banding, as tetanus is less likely. It is advisable that the wether be given a tetanus shot at the time of castration.

In Case of Scurs – Scurs are the tiny piece of horn that may emerge from the skin after disbudding. Since all our baby goats are disbudded at the farm, I cannot predict if or when scurs may occur, and I cannot be held responsible for them. Because of testosterone in males, it seems more common for the boys to have scurs. Individual scurs vary, some can be dismissed as no big thing, and some need to be filed down.

Expected Life Span – These Pygmy Nigerian Dwarf goats can live a long time (10-15 years) depending on their care and how much they are bred, etc.

Responsibility for Illness – Nanny’s Mini Goats raises and sells live merchandise. I sell ONLY what I consider to be a completely healthy animal, one that has been closely checked, treated for any issues, and monitored until you arrive. I do my best before you get the baby, and I will help any way I can after you’ve gone home. However, I am unable to foresee all health issues. Although it happens very rarely, some animals can sicken. If something happens to one of my babies, I am as upset as you are. Please understand that, if you have taken possession of the baby goat, I am no longer responsible for its care. If your baby is sick, DO NOT WAIT. Contact me or your vet QUICKLY.

Call Nanny’s Mini Goats at 254-709-0568 or Email t.clepper@hotmail.com with your questions. Thanks!