5 Common Goat-Keeping Mistakes

A long time ago, when I was living in the city but dreaming about life in the country, I wanted goats. I voraciously plundered the livestock shelf at my local library. I formed strong opinions about breeds I’d never actually seen. And when I finally did move to my new property during one bright, hopeful summer, I made sure goats were part of the picture as soon as possible.

Mistakes soon followed. Experience is a pitiless and thorough teacher, leaving you with some bumps and bruises along the way. I’m wiser now, and I hope that sharing my early caprine catastrophes will keep other newbies from repeating my errors.

Mistake No. 1: Buying the Cutest, Smallest Goat

I was told the docile, tiny buckling had just been weaned. I chose him because I liked his coloration and was intimidated by the prospect of handling a large, potentially aggressive male in the future. Although I thought a small male would be a wise decision, what I actually got was a malnourished runt.

Don’t plunge