While chickens are often considered "gateway livestock," goats seem to validate our dreams of living a healthy, more sustainable life. Goats provide milk, meat, manure for the garden, brush clearing services... it's no wonder they are popular homestead animals.

Goats come with a learning curve though, and sometimes it can be steep. I've gathered all of my goat resources here in one place to hopefully straighten out the learning curve a bit for you.

Scroll down to find them all by topic.

How I started with goats

Two years before we moved to Oak Hill, we added two weanling does to our one-acre suburban lot. I didn't have to think twice about which breed I wanted, those long Nubian ears won me over right away.

A year later I bought Chloe, an Alpine doe. This time I was searching for a doe in milk rather than a certain breed. I had never milked a goat before, and I decided I'd better learn how on a goat who knew the drill instead of a first-timer.

I'm so thankful I did that; it really helped me to be successful with my goats.

We moved - with our three goats - to Oklahoma in 2004. I built up my dairy herd to sixteen by keeping the most promising doe kids.

After I lost my herd in a barn fire in 2012, sweet friends gave me doe kids from their own herds so I could start over. Those friends blessed me in so many ways, and I hope that I can pay it forward to you through my writing.

Small herd recordkeeping - free printables

Even if you only have one goat - but you should have at least two, because goats are herd animals and are much happier with a caprine companion - you need to keep track of the last time she was dewormed and vaccinated and had her hooves trimmed and was bred.

Multiply all that by the number of goats in your herd and oh my, there's a lot to keep track of.

My set of goat printable forms will help you keep up with all the information about your small herd (or your bigger herd). And the forms are free!

Click here to get your free set of printable goat forms.

The articles below will help you keep happy, healthy goats, but if you have a question that isn't answered here, I hope you'll email me or leave a comment. Please include your email address with your comment so I can contact you directly.

The Benefits of Raising Goats on Your Homestead

Why You Should Have Goats on Your Homestead
Raising Livestock for Self-Sufficiency

The Basics of Goat Keeping

The Most Effective Fencing to Keep Goats In Their Pen
10 Must-Have Basic Items for Goat Farmers, even if you only have one goat!
When to Breed Your Goat
5 Consumable Items You Should Have on Hand for Your Goats

Goats have some quirky habits. This guide will help you know whether your goat's behavior is normal or if it needs medical attention.

Kidding

The Subtle Signs that Your Goat is Ready to Kid
What to Keep in Your Kidding Kit
A Difficult Goat Kidding

Caring for Goat Kids

Goat Horns: to Disbud or Not to Disbud?
How to Make No-Sew Kid Coats

Milking Your Goat

8 Tips to Train Your Goat to Behave on the Milk Stand
How Changing My Milking Routine Changed My Life
The Hows and Whys of Once-A-Day Milking
6 Must-Have Items You Need to Milk Your Goat
How to Dry Off Your Dairy Goat; Why You Can't Just Walk Away

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How to Store and Use Goat Milk

How Does Goat Milk Taste?
8 Ways to Use Goat Milk
How to Store Goat Milk to Keep it Fresh
How to Make Yogurt at Home (and Save Money)
Lemon Cheese (National Goat Cheese Month)
How to Make Ricotta Cheese (National Goat Cheese Month)
How to Make Mozzarella Cheese from Goat Milk
How to Make Chevre Cheese with Goat Milk
Making Soap with Goat Milk: What You Need to Get Started

Goat Health

What to Keep in Your Livestock First Aid Kit
How to Make Dosage Balls for Goats, the easy way to give medications and herbal preparations
Pinkeye in Goats - What It Is and How to Treat It
Controlling Parasites in Goats, Notes from a Workshop
Keeping Your Goats Cool in the Hot Summer Months
Small Herd Recordkeeping  including free printables




If you have a question or a problem that isn't addressed here, feel free to contact me. Please include your email address so I can contact you directly.

Click here to get your free set of printable goat forms.

Related Posts
How We Baled Hay by Hand
Ten Tips to Prevent Barn Fires
Growing or Foraging Hairy Vetch for Livestock Feed
How to Feed a Round Bale

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