Goat Starter List

It’s hard to believe, but we’ve had the goats here with us for a month already (see The Goats Are Here).  They seem to be doing just fine, and we love having them.  It’s hilarious watching them run and play outside, they bounce and contort themselves in the funniest ways.

As we were preparing to get goats, one of my biggest questions was what I should have on hand.  This was the list I used to prepare for Tinkerbell and Honey (some of these are obvious I know).  

Basics

• Shelter – they need protection from predators and inclement weather
• Fencing – it needs to keep them in and predators out (remember they are escape artists!)
• Bedding Material – we’re currently using pine shavings
• Collars – easy to clip on and off because you only want the collar on when using the leash
• Leashes – more than one if you’re getting multiple goats

Feeding and Watering

• Food Dishes – one for each goat so you can monitor how much each is getting
• Hay – preferably the same type of hay they were eating at their previous home (see There’s Straw, Hay, and Then There’s Hay)
• Hanging Scale – to measure how much hay you’re giving them
• Goat Food – again preferably what they were previously eating, at least to start
• Measuring Cup – to measure how much feed they’re getting
• Black Sunflower Seeds – added to the goat food to provide vitamin E & Selenium
• Goat Mineral –  Mana Pro minerals
• Baking Soda – to offer free choice
• Calf Mana – top dressing for goat food
• Goat Treats – to help get things moving in the right direction
• Watering Bucket – the Fortiflex brand seems indestructible

Beauty Supplies

• Clippers with blades for face and body
• Grooming Brush
• Goat Weight Tape – to measure how much they weigh

Health Supplies

• Hoof Trimmers
• Alcohol
• Cotton Swabs
• Goat Nutri-Drench
• Rectal Thermometer
• Pepto Bismal/Milk of Magnesia
• Vegetable Oil
• Baby Aspirin
• Phone Number of Recommended Goat Vet (that will visit farm)

More Health Supplies

Since coming up with my original list of things we needed to have for the goats, the much more experienced folks on the Backyard Herds forum also suggested these:

• Probios
• Activated Charcoal
• Vitamin B Complex
• CD&T Vaccination
• Pen G and oxytetracyclene (antibiotics)
• Scour Halt
• DiMethox (for coccidiosis)
• Mineral Oil
• C&D Antitoxin
• Tetanus Antitoxin
• 2 Dewormers (Safe Guard and Ivermectin 1% suggested)
• Syringes (3 ml and 6 ml luer locks suggested)
• Needles (18, 20, and 22 gauge in 3/4″ to 1″ lengths)
• Drencher
• Scalpel
• Surgical Scissors
• Molasses
• Vacutainers
• Iodine (7%)
• Blood stop powder
• Electrolyte Mix

I admit I”m still working on the additional health supplies – understanding what each thing is for, as well as getting them.