|
|
Goat Care Basics
When caring for your a goat you own--or one want to own--here are 15 goat care basic items you need--and 6 plants to avoid.
 Goats can be incredibly sweet and impossibly insolent. But no matter how independent and hardy they appear, goats need some basic care and attention. (Check out these 6 toxic plants!)
So if you're thinking of adding goats as companions or as a way to add income to your farm, take some time to learn more about goats and basic goat care.
There's so much more to know, but here's are some basic items you'll need to take good care of your goats:
15 Goat Care Necessities
- Quality hay and/or balanced concentrated feed
- Feed tubs or mangers
- Water containers
- Minerals that are goat-specific for your area
- Hoof trimmers and styptic powder
- Brush
- Collar and lead
- Shelter, shed or barn
- Bedding material
- Secure fencing
- Goat care and veterinary reference books
- First-aid supplies
- Dewormer
- Syringes, needles, vaccines
- Kidding supplies, if needed
|
6 Toxic Plants
Goats aren’t immune to toxins if they ingest too much of the wrong plant.
A good guide to poisonous flora--like A Guide to Plant Poisoning of Animals in North America, by Anthony P. Knight and Richard G. Walter--can help you identify the worst offenders.
Here's a quick checklist of six plants to keep out of your goat's eating areas:
1. Rhododendrons/Azaleas: All plant parts contain toxins that can cause vomiting, colic, paralysis and coma.
2. Mountain Laurel: Signs of poisoning include salivation, colic, vomiting and weakness.
3. Water Hemlock: Symptoms of poisoning include teeth grinding, increased salivation and seizures.
4. Poison Hemlock: A lethal dose can bring on respiratory failure in a few hours.
5. Death Camas: Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, weakness and staggering.
6. Choke Cherry: The toxic seeds, bark and leaves—especially when wilted—can cause breathing difficulty, confusion, convulsions and sudden death.
Excerpted from "Browse Buffet" by Cherie Langlois. Read the full article in Popular Farming Series: Goats. |
Excerpted from "Caprine Care" by Cherie Langlois. Read the full article in Popular Farming Series: Goats, a publication with in-depth information for those who own or would like to own goats. Buy one online or call (800) PET-BOOK (738-2665).
 Give us your opinion on
Goat Care Basics
|
Kasco Manufacturing offers Model GT-77 HERD Seeder for ATVs for evenly spreading seed, fertilizer, salt and other materials. This broadcaster features a galvanized hopper instead of plastic and is equipped with a centering pivot plate.
|
|  |
|
Charming back yard chicken coop KITS. Various sizes hold from 2 to 12 chickens. All the precut parts you need to build your hen house, plus plans for building the yard around it.
|
|
|
Agstore.com CBSF-2000 Clamp-on Bucket Bale Spear converts front loaders into tools for handling large round bales without removing the bucket. Features a tapered spear with a useable length of 42”, rated at 2,000 lbs.
|
|
|
Hubbard has invested 100 years into perfecting animal nutrition. Hubbard® Life delivers premium protein, minerals and nutrients. Connect with experts to learn about feline care and nutrition.
|
|
|
Randall Burkey Company stocks everything you could want or need for poultry. Incubators, Brooders, Nest Boxes, Feeders, Waterers, Medication, Books, Day Old Chicks, Eggs, & much more!
|
|
|
Year-round hatchery offering 160+ varieties of poultry: Chicks, bantams, meat birds, ducks, geese, game birds, juvenile fowl, exotic poultry and more! MINIMUM ORDER: 3 BABY CHICKS! Free color catalog!
|
|
|
IDEAL POULTRY is a family owned business founded in 1937. Our business is built on customer service and quality poultry, from rare egg layers to broilers, ducks, turkeys and bantams. IDEAL is the largest supplier of backyard poultry in the U.S., shipping close to 5 million chicks annually.
|
| |
|
|