Goat Starter List

[BetterHensandGardens]

As we were preparing to get goats, one of my biggest questions was what I should have on hand. This was the list I used to prepare for Tinkerbell and Honey (some of these are obvious I know). Ive seen others ask the same question on Backyard Herds, so I thought Id share:
Basics
Shelter they need protection from predators and inclement weather
Fencing it needs to keep them in and predators out (remember they are escape artists!)
Bedding Material pine shavings seem to be a good option here
Collars easy to clip on and off because you only want the collar on when using the leash
Leashes more than one if youre getting multiple goats
Feeding and Watering
Food Dishes one for each goat so you can monitor how much each is getting
Hay preferably the same type of hay they were eating at their previous home
Hanging Scale to measure how much hay youre giving them
Goat Food again preferably what they were previously eating, at least to start
Measuring Cup to measure how much feed theyre getting
Black Sunflower Seeds added to the goat food to provide vitamin E
Goat Mineral Mana Pro minerals
Salt
Baking Soda to offer free choice
Calf Mana top dressing for goat food
Goat Treats to help get things moving in the right direction
Watering Bucket the Fortiflex brand seems indestructible
Beauty Supplies
Hoof Trimmer
Clippers with blades for face and body
Grooming Brush
Goat Weight Tape to measure how much they weigh
Health Supplies
Alcohol
Cotton Swabs
Goat Nutri-Drench
Rectal Thermometer
Pepto Bismal/Milk of Magnesia
Vegetable Oil
Baby Aspirin
Phone Number of Recommended Goat Vet (that will visit farm)
Obviously everyone's list will be a little different, but did I miss anything that should be on hand day one???????????

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Just wanted to emphasize the # of a good goat vet part! When I first started I was lucky enough to have a recommendation for a GREAT goat vet from a local breeder (thanks Kate! ) who used him. He has been invaluable for the few (thankfully) situations where advice but not visitation was needed.

Also, one thing that I'll always have on hand at kidding time is a enema bag. We had a dystocia early this year and needed to do a uterine flush and this isn't something you'll find at Walgreens. Trust me, I had to ask. It might end up being something in the kit you'll never need but at least you don't have to scramble if it does become necessary and it certainly won't expire!

 

[glenolam]

More Health Supplies that I have found are invaluable:

Probios
Vitamin B Complex
CD&T Vaccination
Pen G
Mineral Oil

I leave my goat's collars on 24/7; however, they are the kind that will snap if caught on something.

 

[helmstead]

C&D antitoxin, sure as you don't have it, you'll need it.

 

[jodief100]

A good dewormer. 2 kinds is best. You may need to experiement to see what works in your area and what doesn't.

Syringes
Drencher
Iodine
Scalpal
Surgical Scissors

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

Molassess....I couldnt live without it!! "A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down" LOL...and yes a good Vet on call!!

 

[lupinfarm]

Add VacuTubes (Vacutainers) to that list! For emergency blood-draws for tests

 

[cmjust0]

Hanging Scale to measure how much hay youre giving them

Hanging scales are nice, but hay is best given free choice, 24/7.. No need to weigh it.

Measuring Cup to measure how much feed theyre getting

Bagged feed is best measured by weight, instead of volume.. I weighed a small coffee can full of our feed (1.2lbs), and can kinda guestimate from there.

Black Sunflower Seeds added to the goat food to provide vitamin E

BOSS is mostly good for fat, which helps improve body/coat condition, though it generally is also a good source of selenium.. Dunno about BOSS's vitamin e content.. Bear in mind also that when you add BOSS, you've essentially begun mixing your own feed because it can throw the balance of the ration off..

Salt

NEGATIVE...do not provide salt. They get their "salt fix" from the mineral, so if you provide free choice salt, they'll likely ignore/under-utilize their mineral. Make their mineral their only source of salt.

Calf Mana top dressing for goat food

AS NEEDED, and see the 'mixing your own feed' comment under BOSS...read your gauranteed analysis tags and be willing to do the math.

Beauty Supplies
Hoof Trimmer

This goes under "health supplies."

Health Supplies
Alcohol
Cotton Swabs
Goat Nutri-Drench
Rectal Thermometer
Pepto Bismal/Milk of Magnesia
Vegetable Oil
Baby Aspirin
Phone Number of Recommended Goat Vet (that will visit farm)

As others have mentioned, you'll also need dewormers.. At a minimum, I'd keep Safe Guard and an ivermectin 1% injectable on hand.

*Iodine, 7%...it's "restricted," so you'll probably have to call around.
*Needles, 18ga, 20ga, and 22ga in 3/4" to 1" lengths..
*Syringes..6ml luer locks are a good all-purpose around here..
*ProBios is handy..
*Activated charcoal is good to have, especially if you have milkweed, azalea, rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and things like that which may pop up and go unnoticed by the herdsfolk from time to time.
*Tetanus anti-toxin, for punctures and other wounds favorable to the growth of anaerobic bacteria.
*C&D antitoxin is rarely needed, but critical to have and seemingly impossible to locate when you actually do NEED it.
*antibiotics...PenG is good, and probably some kind of oxytetracycline (BioMycin if you can get it, or LA200, Agrimycin, etc).
*Scour-halt (which is just oral spectinomycin, an antibiotic) and/or oral neomycin...good for bacterial scours.
*DiMethox...good for coccidiosis; nearly impossible to find locally, anywhere. Must-have if you start with kids or expect kids soon..
*Blood-stop powder....ya never know. And, yes, I've actually used it.
*Electrolyte mix...essential when a goat has a super-watery scour.


I know there's other stuff, but when I think about my own cabinet I can't really imagine raising goats without most of the stuff in it.. At the same time, I KNOW my cabinet is a bit ridiculous.. That leads me to want to say things like "lactated ringer's solution and IV sets!" or "Dexamethasone!"...when the reality is that they're probably not going to be useful to a beginner anyway..

All the stuff I added, though...I'd recommend, even to folks just starting out.

That's me, though..

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

Thanks for all the health supply suggestions and advice - I actually had a lot of questions about which health supplies I should have on hand for unexpected situations, and this helps.

So, I'm on-line shopping for more supplies Is Triodine 7% the same as 7% iodine? And, since we have Dwarf Nigerians, do we really need 6 ml syringes, or would 3 ml be more appropriate.

Sorry, still have many questions

 

[ksalvagno]

Actually, you need both 3cc and 6cc. Probably more 3cc than 6cc though.