Backyard Miniature Goats
Their small size and space requirements, cute and playful nature, and the possibility of fresh milk and cheese make keeping miniature goats appealing to many people. Much smaller than a regular goat, miniature goats (also known as dwarf or pygmy goats) average about 20 inches high, 70 pounds, and two can be kept in an outdoor pen as small as 20 feet by 20 feet.
Go to almost any petting zoo and you will find miniature goats with families thronging around them and young children feeding them.
Travel through suburbia, and every now and then you will see a pen behind a house with a pet miniature goat.
Visit an urban farm or homestead and there are likely to be miniature goats providing a family-sized source of healthy milk for the family and rich compost for the gardens.
Take a trendy yoga session and encounter miniature goats climbing on and around happy participants.
And you can’t go long on the internet without coming across a cute or hilarious miniature goat video.
Miniature goats enrich our lives.
But is keeping miniature goats in a backyard really a good option?
Yes, when:
Good laws are in place.
An increasing number of cities are adopting ordinances specific to the keeping of miniature goats in residential backyards in recognition of their smaller size and space requirements.
Care for Neighbors is in place.
Miniature goats can be kept in backyards with similar or less impact to neighbors than a dog next door.
Miniature Goat Care is in place.
A medium-sized backyard can be a good place for a pair of miniature goats when an owner can provide adequate shelter, fencing, access to hay, vet care, enrichment activities, and clean facilities.
Our Vision
Miniature goats are a beautiful part of what we want for our family and our lives.
[ Insert picture here
of our family with miniature goats
when Raytown makes it possible
to keep miniature goats. ]
My wife, three daughters, and I love animals. Rachel was a vet technician for almost 15 years and has much skill in caring for animals. I have enjoyed constructing our chicken coop and pen and have much joy from going out to feed them each day. I want to one day make a miniature goat shed and pen and to have miniature goats to feed. Our daughters would love to play with them and care for them. A few years ago when we tasted fresh miniature goat milk for the first time, our daughters were amazed at how good it tasted. In recent years Rachel has learned to make sourdough bread and cheese and soap, and we have a large garden, so the milk and compost miniature goats provide would play a natural part in making healthy food and products for our family.
Why would anyone want to keep miniature goats?
Aren’t goats big, stinky, noisy animals that eat everything?
Many of the stereotypes that originate from cantankerous, mature male goats don’t apply to miniature, female, or neutered male goats.
When thinking about miniature goats as backyard pets, it can be helpful to consider their similarities and differences to another popular household pet, the dog. Miniature goats, typically 50-80 pounds and less than two feet high, are about the size of a Golden Retriever. Both are intelligent animals, but miniature goats have the additional benefit of providing milk!
Here are more similarities and differences between dogs and miniature goats:
Like a dog…
- They are fun and playful pets that sometimes chew on things.
- They need a minimum amount of space for play and exercises of about 400 square feet (20’x20’).
- Their barks or bleats, which are of a similar decibel level and vary from animal to animal, are commonly not an issue and can be moderated with proper care.
- Neutering males is recommended when kept as pets.
- A good fence is a must.
Unlike a dog…
- Miniature goat droppings have very little odor.
- Miniature goats must be kept in groups of two or more.
- They are vegetarians (they eat hay, leaves, and grain).
- They can produce milk and cheese.
- Their bite is not dangerous. They probably won’t steal a steak off a grill, but they might eat a flower out of a flower bed.
Dog Care and Miniature Goat Care Comparison:
Benefits of Miniature Goats
Intelligent and Affectionate
Studies have shown goats are as intelligent as dogs and recognize and show affection to their owners. https://www.sciencealert.com/goats-are-just-as-smart-and-loving-as-dogs-say-scientists
Entertaining
Watching miniature goats can provide hours of entertainment.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2017-08-22/goats-on-the-internet-grow-in-popularity/8798698
Educational
Children (and adults) learn about animals, food, and hard work from keeping and interacting with miniature goats.
https://www.phillygoatproject.org/
Milk
Fresh miniature goat milk is rich, healthy, tastes similar to cow milk, and may be easier to digest.
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/diet-nutrition/a32068757/goat-milk-health-benefits/
https://www.healthline.com/health/benefits-of-goat-milk
Cheese
In addition to the famous goat cheese often found in salads and pizzas, many other types of cheese can be made from miniature goat milk.
https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/home-dairy/making-goat-cheese-with-surplus-milk/
Soap
Goat milk soap is full natural oils, vitamins, and minerals that help skin to stay moisturized and healthy.
https://www.bradfordsoap.com/blog/april-2023/all-the-rage-goat-s-milk-soap/
Compost
Miniature goat droppings are easy to compost and are fantastic for gardens.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/manures/goat-manure-fertilizer.htm
Brush Clearing
Miniature goats are voracious browsers who can help clear undergrowth from areas.
https://lawnlove.com/blog/using-goats-to-clear-brush/
Fiber
One breed of miniature goat, the Pygora, produces fibers that can be made into fine yarn for clothing and projects.
https://pba-pygora.org/an-introduction-to-pygora/
Yoga
Miniature goats add an interesting element to a popular pastime.
https://digitaledition.baltimoresun.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=bbf5e11d-3731-42dc-b2b1-ae796c9475de
Therapeutic
Interacting with miniature goats and caring for them can help emotional healing and wellbeing.
https://backyardgoats.iamcountryside.com/ownership/therapy-goats-from-hoof-to-the-heart/
Making Backyard Miniature Goats Possible
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Backyard Miniature Goats 