Getting Started With Goats: Goat Supplies List

If you're thinking of getting goats for your homestead, here is a list of supplies needed for goats.  Goats don't need a lot of supplies, but you want to be prepared to keep them happy and healthy.

Goats are fairly easy animals for a homestead.  We've had up to five goats at a time, and they don't need a lot of attention each day.

However, goats are fickle animals.  They are kind of like big babies and will be dramatic if they get hurt, which can be stressful for humans and cause some unnecessary vet bills.

Before getting goats, you must ask what do I need to raise goats?  Is there a list of supplies needed for goats?

We love our animals, and they are pets for our homestead.  While we do make a few bucks from chicken eggs, our goats are purely for fun.  

However, some people raise goats on a homestead to sell milk or for breeding.  Regardless of what your end goal is, learn more about what do goats need before getting your first goat.

Here are 35 ways to make money homesteading, including with goats.

List of Supplies Needed for Goats

My cousin breeds goats, so he gave my kids two goats to start with.  We really didn't know what to expect, so he helped us with a goat starter list and recommended some good books.  

Thankfully, goats are fairly easy animals for your homestead.  They don't need a lot of supplies like, say, chicks.  

If you're still in the planning stages, check out what you need to know before getting goats for more information about these fun animals.  Also learn what can goats eat and the best goat breeds for pets, best goat breeds for milk, and best goat breeds for beginners.

Goat Shelter

Learning what do goats need for shelter is a key component to learning how to raise goats. Shelter is a key component to the survival and well being of your herd. Following is a quick goat starter list in regards to the shelter they need.

After they are done grazing your goats need a place to sleep, eat, drink, and keep out of the elements. A good shelter for your goats will have plenty of space and be secure against harsh weather.

I have seen many turn old sheds or other outdoor buildings into goat shelters with ease. Now, what do you need for goats once you have the outside of the shelter done?

Once you have your building, you will need to furnish it for your goats. You will need spots on the wall to clamp heat lamps to in the colder months. You will also need to lay out straw for your goats to rest on, especially if the floor is made of a hard material.

Further, you will need an area for your goats to eat and drink. If you live in a cold climate you will also need a way to prevent water from freezing. This can be done either with a heat lamp or with a heated water bowl.

Finally, you will need the tools to maintain your goats' shelter. This includes mucking rakes and shovels and a way to transport waste away from the shelter.

Goat Food 

There are a lot of misconceptions about the diets of goats, so you may be wondering: what do goats need in terms of food?

Food is perhaps the most important thing in a goats life, and if you don’t believe me just see what happens when you interrupt a goats feeding schedule. There are a few things you will need in the way of food to ensure adequate nutrition for your goats.

First, you will need large and sturdy bowls to hold food and water. I recommend investing in metal bowls as plastic bowls can get chewed on by your goats.

I also recommend finding a way to keep their feed and water bowls up and off the ground. This keeps them from getting dirty and also makes them easier to eat and drink from.

Further, you will need a place to store your goats' feed. I recommend a large sealable container. You can use trash cans and place bungee cords through the handles to keep the lid secure. I have also seen homesteaders use old chest freezers to store food.

The key is to keep predators and pests from smelling the food and trying to get to it, and to keep your goats from trying to get seconds and thirds when you aren’t around.

Further, you will want a way to easily transport water to your goats if you do not have a water tap on sight. You can use gallon jugs or buckets, but if you have a walk to get to your goats pen then that can be difficult. You may also want to invest in small wagons or a wheel barrow to help haul stuff around. 

Further, there are other ways to keep your goats satisfied in terms of food. For instance, you may want to invest in a hay net for your goats to eat hay from. This is not only tasty for them, but also it can be fun to grab hay from the swaying net.

Goat Play

Goats are naturally playful and curious creatures, and they love to have fun. There are all sorts of ways to give your goats plenty of playtime. 

Use large plastic children's outdoor toys to make playgrounds for your goats that they can climb on and explore. 

Goats love to climb and be up high, so you can give them structures such as slides or picnic tables to mount and walk around on. Anything with stairs or a ramp is also a great idea.

You can give them rubber balls to knock around, and chase as well. You can also give them things to do when they are not playing or grazing, like brushes. 

Securing a grooming brush to a fence allows your goat to scratch and groom themselves even while you are not around. 

If you want to get really fancy, some companies offer structures made specifically for goats. Structures such as spiraled towers and oversized playground equipment offer safe ways for your herd to have fun. 

It simply cannot be overstated how much your goats want to climb and get up high, so anything you can provide for them that will allow them to do just that will be highly appreciated.

Goat Vet And Grooming Care

Before or as soon as you acquire your goats you will want to look up a vet that can treat goats just in case of an emergency. You will also want to put together a basic kit of some necessary medical and hygiene supplies. 

As for what do goats need for medical supplies, the following is a simple list of supplies needed for goats.

Hoof Trimmers

Your goats hooves can grow pretty long, and unless they are trimmed they can break off or otherwise cause discomfort. Hoof trimmers allow you to easily manage your goats hooves.

Healing Salve

Healing salve is an easy way to treat minor injuries like cuts and burns.   We always keep Bag Balm in the cupboard for the goats.

Simply apply the salve and wrap with a bandage or medical tape. If the injury does not heal or show signs of progress always check with a vet.

This calendula salve recipe made without essential oils is a good choice for goats.

Brushes

You will want a few grooming brushes to help manage your goats fur and keep them at their best. Their fur will grow thick during the colder months and they will have lots of shedding around springtime.

For this reason you will want a few brushes that can handle the stages of goat fur. 

Vitamins 

Check with a vet to see what vitamins you should keep on hand, like B Thiamin. 

With this simple goat supplies list you now know what do you need for goats in regards to medical supplies.

Grazing Opportunities

If your goats have a dedicated fenced area for grazing then this step is not as important for you. Grazing is important when it comes to raising goats, so learning what do goats need to graze should be a top priority.

Goats need time to graze, and without that time they can become bored and sick. If you do not have fencing, or if your fencing isn’t adequate, then you will need to secure your goats somewhere outside during their grazing periods.

If you have to move your goats from their shelter to a grazing area you will need some way to keep them from roaming off or getting lost. If there are trees around, you can take a dog tie out leash to keep them in one place.

I do not recommend using chains for this as chains can easily get tangled. Goats love going circles around trees and posts and chains are quick to snag and tangle.

If you do not have trees, you can try other methods of tying your goats outside. Screw in ground stakes typically used for dogs can work in a pinch. Be warned, however, that goats have tremendous pulling strength and can pull the stakes out of the ground.

For this reason I recommend buying a tie out stake for incredibly large or strong dogs and be sure to drive it in according to the instructions. You can also tie leads to heavy objects such as large cinderblocks or anything else you can think of.

Just make sure that the object cannot topple over and won't break or be pulled by your goats.

Now you have a goat supply list so you can be prepared for your new goats.

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