GENERAL INFORMATION
The Pygmy Goat is a hardy, good-natured animal; a gentle, fun, loving, and responsive pet. Pygmy Goats need the company of their own kind and should not be kept alone. Owners not wishing to breed, it is recommended should chose two wethers. These castrated males / wethers make excellent pets, with none of the drawbacks associated with the entire (stud) male. Care should be taken to avoid obesity, which can cause stones in the urethra.
HOUSING REQUIREMENTS Modest; an 8' x 6' (2.4 x 1.8m) shed, furnished with benches and hay rack, being suitable for two pets. I recommend putting a dog igloo inside their shed to go into, bedded with straw, especially for in the winter and for kids . The shed should have ventilation but must not be draughty. If there is a glass window it should be replaced with perspex OR protected with mesh to prevent accidental breakage. A concrete or slab path or area of hard standing adjacent to the house will be useful and appreciated by the goat. Provide your goats with a play yard of obstacles for them to climb and play on. Their playful antics are a joy to watch. Access from the shed to a well-fenced area will provide space for exercise and fresh air, both essential for the fun loving Pygmy Goat. Tethering is not a suitable means of restraint. Fencing should be a minimum of 4' high. Hedges will not be a sufficient boundary.
Pygmy goats should not be kept as house pets and do not need to wear coats.
DIET: A basic diet of hay and clean drinking water should be supplemented with 2-4 oz of goat mix with ammonium chloride added and/or a roughage based feed each day. Exact custom hay and feed requirements will be given soon the deposit / purchase of your goat.Quantity of feed depends on age, sex and condition. Pygmy goats are “browsers” not grazers - they should not be considered as lawnmowers. Vegetables and fruit should be added to their diet. Twigs, leaves, bark and some 'weeds' are the natural food of the goat. Care must be taken not to allow access to poisonous plants such as alder, yew, rhododendron, laurel, privet, laburnum, honeysuckle, walnut, evergreen shrubs, green-stuff from flowers including delphiniums, hellebores or any bulbous plants such as daffodils or tulips. New foods should always be introduced gradually. All food must be clean and untainted.
HEALTHTo keep your Pygmy goats healthy they should be provided with a white salt lick in the goat shed. Their hooves will need trimming occasionally. See our Goat trimming page for instructions. They will also need to be tested for worms (via a Faecal Egg Count) twice a year, and should be routinely treated against lice during the autumn and spring. Vaccinations as advised by your vet. Your vet will advise you on these matters.
Breeding it is now thought best to wait until a minimum of 18 months of age before having your female pygmy goats served. Matings earlier than this age are possible but undesirable.
The gestation period is approximately 5 months. Kids may be weaned at 10-14 weeks if they are taking a good ration of hay and concentrates, but left with their mothers they may continue to suckle for seven months or more.
The Pygmy Goat is a hardy, good-natured animal; a gentle, fun, loving, and responsive pet. Pygmy Goats need the company of their own kind and should not be kept alone. Owners not wishing to breed, it is recommended should chose two wethers. These castrated males / wethers make excellent pets, with none of the drawbacks associated with the entire (stud) male. Care should be taken to avoid obesity, which can cause stones in the urethra.
HOUSING REQUIREMENTS Modest; an 8' x 6' (2.4 x 1.8m) shed, furnished with benches and hay rack, being suitable for two pets. I recommend putting a dog igloo inside their shed to go into, bedded with straw, especially for in the winter and for kids . The shed should have ventilation but must not be draughty. If there is a glass window it should be replaced with perspex OR protected with mesh to prevent accidental breakage. A concrete or slab path or area of hard standing adjacent to the house will be useful and appreciated by the goat. Provide your goats with a play yard of obstacles for them to climb and play on. Their playful antics are a joy to watch. Access from the shed to a well-fenced area will provide space for exercise and fresh air, both essential for the fun loving Pygmy Goat. Tethering is not a suitable means of restraint. Fencing should be a minimum of 4' high. Hedges will not be a sufficient boundary.
Pygmy goats should not be kept as house pets and do not need to wear coats.
DIET: A basic diet of hay and clean drinking water should be supplemented with 2-4 oz of goat mix with ammonium chloride added and/or a roughage based feed each day. Exact custom hay and feed requirements will be given soon the deposit / purchase of your goat.Quantity of feed depends on age, sex and condition. Pygmy goats are “browsers” not grazers - they should not be considered as lawnmowers. Vegetables and fruit should be added to their diet. Twigs, leaves, bark and some 'weeds' are the natural food of the goat. Care must be taken not to allow access to poisonous plants such as alder, yew, rhododendron, laurel, privet, laburnum, honeysuckle, walnut, evergreen shrubs, green-stuff from flowers including delphiniums, hellebores or any bulbous plants such as daffodils or tulips. New foods should always be introduced gradually. All food must be clean and untainted.
HEALTHTo keep your Pygmy goats healthy they should be provided with a white salt lick in the goat shed. Their hooves will need trimming occasionally. See our Goat trimming page for instructions. They will also need to be tested for worms (via a Faecal Egg Count) twice a year, and should be routinely treated against lice during the autumn and spring. Vaccinations as advised by your vet. Your vet will advise you on these matters.
Breeding it is now thought best to wait until a minimum of 18 months of age before having your female pygmy goats served. Matings earlier than this age are possible but undesirable.
The gestation period is approximately 5 months. Kids may be weaned at 10-14 weeks if they are taking a good ration of hay and concentrates, but left with their mothers they may continue to suckle for seven months or more.
