Getting Nigerian Dwarf Goats for the first time can seem overwhelming. Then once you get started with them, and kind of get a groove going with their basic care and it’s not so bad at all.
However, there are some little tips and tricks that new goat owners don’t always think about.
I recently received a free review copy of Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell, and as I read, there were so many helpful tidbits that I wish I had known back when I had started with goats.
Nigerian Dwarf Goat Care Tips
Training Goats
First off, did you know that you can train goats to respond to a whistle or other noise?
I didn’t realize this until my Nigerian Dwarf goats already had some bad habits (like rushing out the gate when I opened it).
But you can use a goat’s horrid distaste of getting wet to do some training.
If you are familiar with clicker training, it’s a similar idea. First you whistle, then you use a spray bottle of water or hose. Pretty soon the sound becomes a warning and they will respond to it.
You can also use a spray bottle to help you move a group of goats somewhere you want them to go. Pretty nifty!
Watch Out For Collars
Most new goat owners know that collars can be a problem for goats. Collars are easily caught in small when goats stick their heads through things or when they jump.
What I didn’t realize was that collars can cause problems even when you are walking alongside the goat.
If this has ever happened to you it’s totally scary! One minute you’re walking next to your goat, holding their collar. Then the next minute they’re laying on the ground spazzing out.
Apparently if the goat stops suddenly or turns their head, the collar can slip up and stop the blood flow to the arteries to the brain.
Luckily, goats recover quickly once you remove pressure on the collar and wait a few minutes.
My goat Aurora did this several times and it always scared me. I wish I had known this back then!
Fencing Issues (Even for short Nigerian Dwarf Goats!)
The saying goes that if a cat can get through your fence, so can your goat. While that isn’t quite true, fences and goats can be a tricky combination.
Goats are so curious they frequently get their heads caught. Gianaclis Caldwell recommends always having wire cutters handy for those sort of urgent situations.
Excellent advice indeed.
Another common fence problem is that goats LOVE to rub against them. Goats will rub away their winter undercoats along fences, and eventually can knock down even sturdy chain link.
Holistic Goat Care had a genius recommendation for large scale goat farms. Give your goats an old street sweeper brush! I know my girls would have LOVED that.
Goats love to jump and climb, and it’s nice to provide “furniture” for them to do that on.
However, it’s important to make sure they can’t use their cable spool or picnic table to launch themselves over their fence.
A good rule of thumb is place all raised “toys” away from the fence at least two times the length of the goat.
(Another tip, make shelves and surfaces slightly slanted so the pellets just roll right off)!
Manure Removal
One thing that I hadn’t accurately planned for when getting goats was the amount of bedding and manure that would need to be composted.
Because I am in a wet area, my goats needed quite a bit of bedding and indoor space to get out of the rain. This meant much more buildup than if the goats had been outside all year long.
One way to decrease the amount of bedding is to use raised slatted floors. You will need to clean under these however, so make sure they are easy to move.
If you are in a cold area, make sure the goats don’t get too cold with all the airflow though!
Picky, picky goats
Speaking of manure, make sure your baking soda and mineral feeders are easy to clean, because, you know… Goats can be super picky about only eating fresh things.
This last tip is so simple, I can’t believe I didn’t think of it myself. Only set out tiny amounts of baking soda and minerals at a time, because goats will refuse to eat it once they consider it dirty.
I cannot TELL you how much of that stuff I wasted by putting out too much at a time!
Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell
Common advise to new goat owners is to get yourself a goat mentor. Ideally we’d all have one, but sometimes yours moves away when you are just getting started. Mine did!
When that happens, the next best thing are good guides that can help you.
From selecting breeds, managing your farm, livestock guardian dogs, health care, breeding, kidding, health issues, you name it, Holistic Goat Care talks about it.
And even better, it has referenced books on some topics. So you can go deeper into certain topics if you want to know even more!
I’m such a sucker for good references. I know I will check out some of the ones about pasture management for sure.
If you’re thinking about getting goats, read Holistic Goat Care. If you just got goats, read Holistic Goat Care.
And if you’ve had goats for a while, you’ll probably still finding something useful. I know I did!
I highly recommend you go read Holistic Goat Care by Gianaclis Caldwell!
Want All Our Goat Articles In One Printable Place?
If you want all our goat wisdom in an easy to reference, printable format, check out our guide Jump Start Your Urban Homestead With Dairy Goats.
This 37 page digital resource will help you get started breeding and milking your goats, give basic feeding tips, and help you monitor for common health issues. Digital articles are nice, but sometimes I like having things printed out so I can keep it in my goat barn, scribble notes, or not have to worry about my internet connection.
If that sounds useful for you, check it out!
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This is interesting about the goats. I don’t know much about them. My brother and sister-in-law raise all kinds of goats. Dwarfs and many different breeds. I know they put a lot of care into them and show them at shows. They have some really pretty ones of all different colors and sizes. Congratulations on being featured on #WasteLessWednesday ! Have a healthy, happy & blessed day!
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by!
I really want a goat for my birthday I have wanted a goat for a long time but I haven’t One yet and I am very disappointed I really really want A goat and I have decided I want a dwarf goat
Dwarf goats are good ones!
You need to want at least 2 goats. Single goats tend to get very lonely. They are herd animals thru & thru.
Very True!
Goats are herd animals, so you need at least 2
@Sophie, don’t forget goats are herd animals, and if you don’t have 2 or at least other compatible farm animals with it, it will be very lonely.
Is Keeping a weathered meat goat with my dwarf Nigerian Miller as company ok? She will be kidding soon we are hoping for a doe if not we plan on purchasing a doeling.
Wethered goats are fine. The only issue would be if it is a lot bigger breed than she is and being aggressive, or it was horned and she is not. Horned goats and disbudded goats shouldn’t be kept together.
Can a dog act as a substitute for companionship if you bought a single coat?
No, they really need another herd animal such as a goat, donkey, or horse.
So does this mean one goat and one sheep would not do?
I have no experience with sheep, however I do know that goats and sheep have different mineral needs. I suggest finding someone with experience with both goats and sheep.
I JUST GOT 5 DWAFT GOATS,FISRT TIME OWNER,ONE OF THEM IS HAVING DIARRHE,HOW CAN I FIX THE PROLBEM
Keep her hydrated for now. Check her for parasites, but it could also be the stress of moving or changing food. Here are some more details about diarrhea in goats: https://thefreerangelife.com/scours-in-goats/
You can give them keopectate or proto. Do not give imodium!
Good to know!
I want a mini goat for a pet, not farming purposes. I’m not sure what to expect I’m sure it’s not like having a dog or cat which I’ve had. Any tips?
Goats are herd animals so if you get one it will be very, very sad. So if you get one, make sure you get at least two! Goats are aloof and independent like cats, but in terms of care they need at least as much time as a dog.
I am considering of getting two Nigerian Dwarf goats. What kind of housing do they need? And do they need insulated shelter? I live in NH with -20 winters
Goats can handle cold well, but they have to be able to get out of the wind and stay dry. They’ll also need more feed when it’s cold. Here is some more information about keeping goats in cold weather: https://farmingmybackyard.com/winter-goat-care/
do goat droppings make good fertilizer?
Yes, they do! Compost anything with urine in it first so that the ammonia doesn’t burn your plants though.
Good information! ..Thanks.. I have a question..We just purchased two 3 month old nigerian dwarfs and the silly things refuse to climb on the toys we gave them!..They didn’t have any toys where we got them from, but don’t all goat love to climb? I put them up on them and they just jump down and walk away! Any ideas?
Are the toys too high for the goats to jump on? At three months old, they’re still pretty small!
What is the average cost of a Nigerian kid? I am wanting 2 kids a male and female. Would I have to get a male in order for the female to produce milk when old enough? How old do are the males when typically castrated?
The price of kids varies. It depends on their genetics, whether or not they are registered, and whether they are male or female. I paid $200 for each of my doelings who were not registered.
I do not recommend getting one male and one female. A breeding buck should be kept separate from the females except when you are intending to breed them. Young bucks can breed their mothers and sisters as early as eight weeks old! Most are castrated between 4 and 12 weeks old.
You will need access to a buck to breed your females to get milk. You may be able to rent someone else’s, but if not, you’ll want to keep the breeding buck with a castrated male to keep him company.
maybe this is a dumb question… if i get a nigerian doe and dont breed her, will she produce milk?
Sometimes goats from really good milk lines can, but it’s not enough to bother milking. If you want a goat in milk but don’t want to breed right away you may be able to buy one after she has had her babies.
If a brother and sister breed before they are separated (weaned) should the pregnancy be terminated??
Boys really need to be castrated before they’re able to breed back. However, if that does happen it’s called inbreeding. It can really accentuate any genetic flaws in the line, and it can make it more difficult to sell the offspring. If you are keeping goats for brush or meat, it won’t be a problem. It’s not a good idea to use the offspring for further breeding.
The bigger concern would be the well-being of the doe, as it sounds as if she would be too young to really have a healthy pregnancy. Make sure she gets plenty of food so she can continue growing herself.
Silly question, why do you use baking soda? I will be getting babies in the spring and trying to get all the information that I can use for my new adventure.
The baking soda helps them regulate the ph of their rumen and prevents bloat.
How much do you use and is this daily?
Put out maybe half a cup at a time and have available to them around the clock. Replace with new baking soda when it’s soiled.
I have two babys now, same father different mothers can I breed them?
If you breed two from the same father it will accentuate any positive or negative attributes passed on from the father. If you are new to goats, I recommend not breeding them.
I have never had goats before and I want them this spring 2019. I’ve gotten most of my Fencing complete, making toys now and getting everything in order. Just dont know where to buy them. We want a minimum of 4 Nigerian Dwarfs. We want them to have their shots, horns removed, and castrated before purchase. Can anyone help me out? I live in Jacksonville, NC.
This breeder looks reputable https://www.simplepleasuresfarmnc.com/nigerian-dwarf-goats.html
Will or can the goats co-habitat with chickens?
They do okay together, but you have to make sure the goats cannot access the chicken food. They love it and will go to great lengths to eat it, but it can give them bloat and kill them.
Thank you for all the great information. I want to know if I know I am going away for the day is it ok to feed my Nigerian Dwarf Goats a lot in their feeder vs. feeding them two times that day? I plan on having a feeder where I fill it at the top and cut the holes in the front of a barrel. Thank you!!BJ
You can feed them unlimited hay, but you’ll need to ration out any grains because they can give themselves bloat.
My Nigerian dwarf on sat night had a breach birth baby was dead when I got home got baby out monday she is not wanting to eat her hay this morning she is in the barn looking like she is pushing once in a while could she be in labor she is touching her side with her nose she finally ate some hay help
I would contact a local vet who could help.
I just bought one dwarf goat, she is 5 weeks old. How do i make sure she is happy w/o another goat?
Goats are herd animals and they need to be with another goat.
I have four four month old goats. Two Nigerian dwarf and two mini silky fainters, a female and male in each group. Males are fixed and all are disbudded. The fainters are twice the size of the Nigerians and the male in the fainter group butts the little goats and it seems quite aggressive. Is this normal and isn’t a female usually the “queen or leader goat”?
They can be quite rough with each other, but I haven’t had a herd of mixed sizes.
@Kathryn,
@Jan Roos, i got a nigerian dwarf as a present for the mother died. He is 4 weeks old and i feed him with a tiet 4 times daily milk. How am i supposed to raised the little man. He sleeps on our bed plays with the cats and dogs but HELP. I dont know how to raise hi any futher. I tried to potty train him.
Can i make a succes of it. When must i start feed him pellets. I am staying in the city. And the little man stay in the house. Will it work.
What must we do. We love him.
Here’s a chart with how much to bottle feed by their age: https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/health/bottle-feeding-baby-goats/
You can give him access to grass hay now.
I have never house trained a goat, but others have. Here is one story: https://riveredgegoats.com/2016/09/08/how-to-house-train-a-goat/
Truly though, he will eventually need a companion goat and to move outside.
I am buying a house in the middle of a small town but my yard is one acre. There is a fenced section with an animal entrance into a small barn. Would this be sufficient space for two-three Nigerian dwarf goats?
It depends on how big it is, and how much you want to muck it out. 🙂
I have 4 Nigerian dwarf does and 1 buck pretty positive the does are pregnant. So far I still have the buck in with the does. They r all getting along well. The buck is a real gentleman. All I’m reading says I should separate him from the does which I am planning to do soon. Do u agree? I’m hoping one of the kids will be a buckling we can castrate for him to have a buddy.
All of a sudden all 5 act like they are starving to death lol. we have available all the hay they want and grain 1 time a day. Do u think they r missing something in their diet causing the increase in hunger? I figured the does might have an increase in appetite as pregnancy progressed but the buck is doing it to. I’ve been rotating sweet feed and goat meat developer feed. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I’m 1st time goat owner and all 4 does are pregnant for the first time.
The problem with having your buck with your does is you will not know what the due date is for each of your does. As for the hunger, have you dewormed lately? Or did the weather suddenly get cooler and they are burning more calories to stay warm?
What is the Vaccination process for Nigerian Dwarfs, i can not find a website to tell me when to do what and what to do
Here’s a schedule for you: https://goats.extension.org/goat-vaccination-program/
Hi,
I’ll be getting 2 Nigerian Dwarf goats this summer, we have some plants in the goat area we are fixing up. Are there any plants goats shouldn’t be around/eat? Just want them to be safe.
Thanks
Pat
Many plants that are poisonous for humans are also for goats. Here’s a list with some in particular: https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/feed-housing/poisonous-plants-for-goats-avoiding-dastardly-disasters/
Generally if goats have access to plenty of good plants they will avoid those that aren’t great for them. However, goats will overeat on grain, so make sure to not overfeed them!
How are goats with dogs. A boxer
It really depends on how well your dog does around prey animals. Goats can be fine with a well trained livestock guardian dog. I recommend reading the post Can You Have a Dog and Chickens, as much of it is applicable to goats and dogs as well.
Hi! We just got 2 pregnant Nigerian Dwarf goats a few days ago. They are lovely on one of the moms gave birth to a very cute kid. We have been keeping the 2 adult goats separated for 2 days to give the new mom time to bond with her baby. The pregnant goat is now becoming very resistant to being put in her pasture area, and we heard that you should never force them, but treats and food aren’t working and we ended up having to harness her and pull her in. I hated doing it, but cannot hang out with her all day (we have been letting her come to the chicken yard with us and take walks around the property with out throughout the day). I will try the spray bottle trick, but any other suggestions?
The goats will bond with their baby right after birth. If you only have two adults, it is likely that there won’t be any problems letting both adults stay together. They really should not be alone for long.
First time goat owner here, I rescued two Nigerian dwarfs and both are “possibly pregnant” according to the woman who had them. Since I don’t know their due dates, do you have any tips to be prepared for the babies to come? I am afraid to miss the births and lose the babies to possible complications.
Also, do the mother and babies need to be separated from the other doe During labor and delivery or can they all be together?
With just two, they will most likely be happiest together. If they are pregnant, you will most likely be able to feel the babies moving as they get closer to the end of the pregnancy, which may give you some idea of when it’s getting close.
Here is more information about pregnancy and kidding: https://farmingmybackyard.com/basic-goat-care-pregnancy-and-kidding/
What kind of mineral block should you give a nigerian dwarf goat? Also how much grain should you feed them a day?
Any mineral block your feed store has should work. Unless your goats are pregnant or in milk, they do not need grain as food. It does however make great treats.
I appreciate your information. It is factual and will help me to make an informed decision. Thank you!
Thank you!
We have 2 bucks, 2 does. We moved the bucks a few hundred yards away and out of site from the does. They can get rather loud for periods of time calling each other. Would it be better to separate them, but keep them close to each other?
That is normal. They will likely call to each other whenever they are in heat/rut.
Do Nigerian Dwarf goats have to be milked?
They are a dairy breed, but if you don’t want to milk them don’t breed them or dry them off after they give birth.
how do you Dry them off
Here is a post with more details about drying them off: https://farmingmybackyard.com/dry-off-a-goat/
I have two Nigerian dwarf goats; a buck and a doe. They are 10 months old. The buck has started to roll his head back. Is this normal and if not, what should I do?
If there are no indications that they might be sick it is likely normal. They may be looking around, or goats with horns scratch their back that way.
This has helped me alot! I am picking up my first intact bucking goat today. I am very excited
Exciting!
This seemed very helpful! We don’t have any goats yet, but I’m working on gaining knowledge for when we do get them. I am looking at the Nigerian Dwarfs. We will be using their milk to replace store-bought cow’s milk. I’ll definitely be book marking this page for when we do get our goats.
Glad you found it helpful!