This article assumes you want to get goats, but you're new to them and need the basics before bringing your goats home!
Goats need companionship.
Who could have only one goat, anyway?
Goats cannot be kept alone. Your family pet dog or your horse will not suffice. Goats should always be kept in groups of 2 or more. You'll find that many breeders, myself included, will not send goats to single-goat homes. You must have a companion for your goat. You do not have to get both goats from me, as long as you do get at least 2 goats :)
Goats Need Minerals.
A mineral feeder like this one, mounted somewhere out of the rain, works great for offering a loose mineral at all times.
Goats need loose minerals. Minerals specifically formulated for goats are best. And remember, get a loose or granulated mineral and not a block. Goats, unlike cows or horses, so not salvate very much. As such, they do not produce enough saliva to lick off enough of their required minerals from a solid block. As such, always use a loose mineral. We use and recommend SweetLix brand minerals, but there are many others to choose from as well. Whethers and bucks should have a mineral that contains Ammonium Chloride. AC helps break down urinary stones and prevent blockages.
Goats Need Water.
Nigerian Dwarfs are short. As such, their water trough should be too!
Specifically, Nigerian Dwarf goats need water they can reach. Low profile water troughs are best. A tall water trough will be difficult to reach for these short little critters. Always provide clean, fresh water. Don't let them go without water through the winter.
Goats Need Hay.
We feed our herd the best quality alfalfa and timothy we can find. Goats also do very well on teff hay or grain hay such as oat, rye or 3 way. Whethers do not need alfalfa, but can be fed a mixture that contains alfalfa as long as the Ammonium Chloride mentioned above is included in their mineral. We have found that 2-3 adult goats will eat about 1 flake per day with allowances for waste. And goats are very, very wasteful. They like to pick out the leaves, flowers, and seeds and leave most of the stems. Wasted hay makes excellent stall bedding, mulch for trees, and compost. Or group your goats with other animals who will eat the wasted stems. We like our PIGS for this job!
Goats Need Shelter.
Dog houses, dogloos, calf hutches, 3 pallets fixed together with a roof on top, small sheds, carports, lean-tos, and elaborate barns alike all work as shelter. Goats do not like to be wet and as such need protection from the rain and snow. A goat shelter should also block prevailing winds and provide shade during the hottest months.
Goats Need Good Fences.
Combo panels or Cattle Panels work well for goats. Keep in mind very young goat kids can get through the larger squares of a panel like this one. Use smaller spacing or cover the largest squares with mesh to prevent escaping. Fence height should be at least 4 feet.
In general happy, healthy, well-fed Nigerian Dwarfs with a herd to keep them company are not escape artists. But that is only a general statement; there are always exceptions. Goats can go under, over, or through fences if they really think they need to! Lonely goats may attempt to escape for companionship, bucks may attempt to escape to get to nearby does in season, hungry goats may escape for food, and so on. Sturdy fences are your best option. No Climb Horse Fence or Hog or Cattle panels work great for goats. Hotwire is also very effective for goats.
Also...
Goats should only be wormed if a parasite issue is present. Remember, wormers are small doses of poison designed to kill living things (parasites) so too much or too often can cause organ damage to your livestock and pets.
From the National Pygmy Goat Association, but the info applies to all goats.
Goats need their feet trimmed regularly, but in arid sandy Reno, Nevada they do not need them done as often as a wet or soft ground location.
Goats don't need grain if you're not breeding them or milking them. Dietary requirements for pregnant or lactating does is better covered in a future article. Grain in small amounts can always be offered for treats or training.
Goats should not be shaved if you can avoid doing so. We often shave our goats for shows. However, the coat serves to protect your goats from sunburn, bug bites, and cold temperatures. As such, they should be left fully fuzzy whenever possible.