Try Pigmy Goats As Pets

Tiny Pigmy Goats

Tiny Kid

Pet Goats

Pigmy goats are small breeds of domestic goats, which are not typically used for meat or milk, although they can produce milk in large quantities and can be eaten. These goats are more robust and continually breed throughout the year more than the meat and dairy goats. In most cases, these goats are kept as pets especially in urban backyards. Keeping a pigmy goat as pet will, however, have to be according to the local regulations of ownership of livestock, and this is because it is different in various towns and cities.
 
A pigmy goat can adapt to any type of climate and is considered as an asset in many ways. A male pigmy goat is known as a buck, and a female pigmy goat is referred to as a doe. The female pigmy goats weigh between 40 lbs to 60lbs while the male pigmy goats weigh between 40 lbs to 60 lbs. The pigmy goat height will range form 16 inches to 23 inches. Their color ranges from white caramel, dark caramel, medium caramel, medium grey agouti, silver light grey agouti, brown agouti, dark grey agouti, solid black and black with frosted points.


Pygmy goats are known to be polyestrous breeders as they can bear one to four young ones every 9 to 12 months. This is after a gestation period of five months. The pygmy goat is believed to have originated from Cameroon. They were later imported to the US from European zoos. They were mainly for using in zoos, and as research animals but they were later used by private breeders as pets due to their friendliness, hardy constitution and good natured behavior. It is important to take good care of a pygmy goat and one of the things that you need to look into here is their diet which should have greens and grains. It is also important to provide them with items to play with.

It is, also, advisable to provide a shed, as well as an accessible open area. You should ensure that every pygmy goat has a companion. Due to the fact, they are prey animals; they should have a shelter that is in a predator proof area more so during the night. You should always provide fresh drinking water to your pygmy goat. Keep in mind that if you treat the goat with respect it will be affectionate. A pygmy goat can also be trained although this will require a lot of time.

  Found on bleieshia.hubpages.com

Keeping Goats as Pets

Goats can be raised for meat or dairy, but don’t overlook their potential as pets.

By Audrey Pavia

Due to their charming personalities, goats make good companion pets for humans as well as companions for other animals. Pygmy goats and Kinder goats make excellent choices for companion goat breeds.

One of the most popular occupations for goats these days is simply being companions. More and more people are discovering the joys of keeping goats solely as pets.

Just about any breed of goat can make a good pet, though the smaller breeds are more popular as backyard companion goats.

Pygmy goats are one of the most popular breeds of goat—no doubt because they are so small and cute. An adult doe or wether grows to be 16 to 23 inches at the withers and weighs 40 to 80 pounds. 
Pygmy goats breed year-round, which means kids are available at any time of year.
Pygmy goats aren’t the only goat breed that make good pets. Kinder goats, a breed that was created by crossing Pygmies to Nubian goats in the mid-1980s, have found a place in the pet-goat market as well.
According to Pat Showalter, president of the Kinder Goat Breeders Association, a number of factors make the Kinder goat a good candidate for a companion goat.

“They are a nice size, so even children are able to handle them if they are bottle-raised and friendly, and they transport in a dog kennel if need be,” she says. “They are intelligent and affectionate and are easy to train, whether it’s for milking or something like cart-pulling. They love to be with their owners, so they make great companions for walking, hiking or even camping. They are natural comics and are great entertainment.”

Even goat breeds typically used for milk or meat can become wonderful pets. Goat owners can enjoy stress relief and relaxation when they are with their goats.

There can be downsides to keeping goats as pets, however. Pet goats can be messy and picky eaters. They like to climb, and, if allowed, can sometimes be destructive. The key to deterring bad goat behavior is effective management.

Some pet goats have the easy task of simply providing companionship to another animal, such as a dog. There’s something about goats that makes them great to be around, even for other four-legged creatures.

Although many pet goats don’t do much but lounge around, entertain their owners with their charming characters and browse to their heart’s content, some companion goats are asked to perform part-time jobs.

Some pet goats help their owners give back to the community by working as therapy goats. These goats accompany their humans to schools, assisted-living facilities and community centers.

The Delta Society, an organization that tests and registers pets for therapy work, includes goats in their list of animals eligible for registration. To become a registered Delta Society pet therapist, a goat must pass a test that shows it to be controllable, reliable and predictable. 

The goat must have good manners in public places, and have the social skills to seek out and visit with strangers.

Goats have so much to offer their human companions. It’s no wonder more urbanites are choosing to share their lives with pet goats.

About the Author: Audrey Pavia is a technical writer by day and an urban farmer by night (and on weekends). She and her husband live on a 1/2-acre urban farm in Norco, Calif., where they keep horses, chickens, rabbits, cats and a dog.

 http://www.urbanfarmonline.com/urban-livestock/goats/goat-companions.aspx


..