GOAT CARE SCHEDULE & RECORD DATES

2) If you aren't already, get on yourself on facebook and join a few goat groups, there are a ton out there, a few of my favorites are "GOAT VET, GOAT EMERGENCY TEAM, GOAT TIPS & TRICKS, GOAT HEALTH & EMERGENCIES" jump on facebook a few nights a week if you can for 15-30 minutes JUST to read through the goat group posts that show up on your feed, read the nitty gritty details in the comment sections, especially pay close attention to what the admins are suggesting for treatment, look at those hard to view pictures (even the gory ones), and SAVE the info-graphics/pictorials they post on emergency treatment protocols so you can PRINT THEM for your Goat Care binder for those emergency situations! That is probably my biggest advice! Educate yourelf and prepare yourself for the unexpected!

The care and husbandry of goats will be everything you hope it to be but lets be real it can also often times be SO. MUCH. MOREEE...... work than you ever really imaged when you saw those fluffy little goat babies binking all over your social media feed! (That's how they get ya, it's all apart of their plan to take over the world...) LOL! The SO MUCH MORE part though, is what no one really talks about! Goats bring endless hours of entertainment, brush-clearing and unconditional love but in my opinion and the opinion of many others who also show all aspects of homesteading not just the frilly parts.... feel that goats in return require endless hours of attention, care and maintenance compared to other hobby farm animals, especially poultry. Which is what everyone seems to compare the care of goats to (poultry) but they are quite a bit more complex than the average chicken is. Of course, you can choose to give your goats as much or as little attention, love and care as you see fit but I strongly feel that every animal you choose to bring to your farm to live, deserves to be cared for in the highest regard possible. I have seen some pretty poorly cared for goats that don't get their hooves trimmed, arn't fed free-choice minerals and don't have regular access to quality forage and I can tell you that the consequences of that bad husbandry is that they are nearly infertile, their body condition is considered very poor, they lack energy and hardly play focusing most of their time on finding something to eat on their land... unfortunately they can only give as much as you are willing to give to them. My hope is that with this article and templates I've created that it will help you properly care for your goats and to stay on-top of their maintenance!