Page 22 - Back to the Basics - Homesteading

Housing
Goats need to be provided shelter from the weather.
What type of housing they need might depend on
where you live. Goats in warmer climates may just need
a three-sided shelter that provides shade, wind block
and a place to get out of the rain. If you live in a colder
climate, you’ll need a more weather-proof shelter.
Bedding should always be provided.
Things to consider are protection from:
1.Rain
2.Wind
3.Sun
Additional shelter considerations should include:
Ease of cleaning: soiled bedding will need to be
removed
Ventilation: poorly ventilated shelters can cause
respiratory issues
Direction or facing of shelter: which direction does
the wind and rain blow?

Fencing

Goats are escape artists and there’s a saying that goes, “If water can go through it, so can a goat.” While this is an exaggeration, goats are pretty resourceful
at finding weakness in your fence line. A no-climb type fence works best. There is welded wire which is less expensive but not as durable as woven wire.
Goats climb and push against welded wire and break the tiny welds over time. Also, welded wire bends and doesn’t return to its original shape.
Some people choose to run a line or two of electric fence near the bottom third and/or across the top. This can prevent goats from testing the fence and
also keep dogs or predators from pushing under or jumping over the fence.

Protection from Predators

Goats are prey animals. No matter where you live, there are predators. Domestic dogs can often be the biggest threat in urban or suburban areas.
Predators for goats include:
Dogs
Coyotes
Large predatory birds such as eagles, hawks, owls
Wild cats such as bobcats, mountain lions or cougars, lynx
Bears
Wolves
Foxes

Access to Forage and Hay
Most goats will need access to hay in addition to what is available in their pen, unless they are on acreage with ample browse (trees, weeds, bushes, grasses).
Also, certain breeds or life stages require feed, such as young goats, lactating/nursing does, and does at the end of their gestation.

Goats need Hoofcare
Hooves should be trimmed on a regular basis, approximately every 2-6 weeks. Trimming hooves is easy to do and hoof clippers are sold in most farm,
ranch and feed stores. How fast a goat’s hooves grow varies by season, feeding program, rocky ground vs sandy soil, and other factors.