What is more they are friendly little beasts and a whole heap of fun in to the bargain. Although they may not immediately spring to mind as the perfect suburban pet as long as you have a mid-sized garden at the back of your house they can make engaging pets.
Unlike their cousin the standard goat, pygmies are kept simply for the fun of having them around and of course, the goat gets to have a lot of fun at the same time. They are not what is known as a utility animal in as much as they are never kept for their milk. Really, how much milk are you going to get out of one of these mini goats anyway? As for their meat – no way! This is the goat that is kept purely as a pet.
As we have already established, the male of the species is known as a buck. The female – as with other animals associated with the farm – is known as a doe. Most breeders will only sell them in pairs as this is a herding animal which will pine if it is on its own. Even where it would not pine it would just stand around in a slightly bewildered manner as if to say what do I do next? So, one thing to keep in mind when deliberating over sharing your life and land with these animals is whether you have the time, space and patience to look after more than one of them.
Pygmy goats like human contact and tend to show off a little for any audience – and sometimes the audience gets to participate too but usually only as a prop. That is because these animals love to jump and climb – due probably to the fact that in the wild the terrain they usually inhabit is rocky and steep and they have adapted to these conditions over the millennia. They also like the company of other animals but – with the best will in the world – if your pygmy goats have horns they are best kept apart. Even a playful nudge from these horns could inadvertently injure one of your other animal companions.
These animals love shelter, too, which is why you will need a shed in the area in which you intend to keep them. The shed should measure at least eight feet by six feet is you are planning to keep two. There should also be a rack for the straw which will need to be replenished on a fortnightly basis.
As for that little snip which always factors in when contemplating bucks, it is much better that they have had this particular job done before you cohabit with them. These bucks are known as wethers and if they have not had the vet perform this operation then you will get some goat – a buck that will forever be looking to get with it and then that will produce the associated tetchiness when he doesn’t get his way. Other than that, kid does are possibly the best option if you want a more mild-mannered pygmy goat.
Fences – you will need one which totally surrounds where the pygmy goats are going to live. As well as protecting them from urban foxes and the like this will also ensure that you are not eaten out of house and home. The guys will eat pretty much anything – and they will attempt to make a meal out of anything that looks remotely edible without any concern for your feelings either to be frank! A four foot high fence is all you need – as they are so titchy then that is high enough to keep them in even though they love to jump and jump. And jump. They are the Itchy and Scratchy of the jumping world, if you see what I mean.
You will have to make sure that you do not have any plants within their home environment that are poisonous to the pygmies – so firs, laburnum and rhododendron are strictly off limits as they will try to eat them and then they will become ill. Goat mix can be fairly cheaply bought and they will also enjoy vegetables and fruit that you give them. Organic kitchen scraps are also absolutely fine – like any mammal they love to taste new things. No chocolate though. Absolutely not.
As long as you have the space and the time to make their habitat then the pygmy goat is a relatively cheap pet to introduce. A kid will cost on average about two hundred US dollars and a twenty kilo bag of goat feed will probably only cost around twenty dollars and will keep a pair for two months. However they do need to be fed twice a day and so you will have to be around for them. Also, each pygmy goat will live to be at least ten years old so you will have to be up for the commitment that involves.
Many people who care for pygmy goats say that it a completely addictive pastime. Folks start with a pair and then find themselves – if space is available – unable to resist enlarging their herd. These animals are extremely friendly and thoroughly engaging and unlike many other unusual pets they are not endangered so that is a plus as well. The Italian word for goat is capra and that is where in English, that we get the word capricious. This sums up this lovely animal beautifully.
Liked it
User Comments
MarlowMike
On September 14, 2009 at 9:39 am
Pygmies are actually a meat goat, and also produce good amounts of milk. Many people milk their pygmies and Nigerian dwarves.
Cris Waller
On October 5, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Almost all of these pictures are *not* “pygmy goats.” They are Nigerian dwarf goats, an entirely separate breed.
Pygmies are stocky, come in only a few colors, and don’t have white spots or blue eyes. Nigies are built like milk goats and come in every possible goat color.
Pygmies are built like meat goats and typically aren’t milked, Nigies produce a lot of very sweet milk.
Cris Waller
On October 5, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Almost all of these pictures are *not* “pygmy goats.” They are Nigerian dwarf goats, an entirely separate breed.
Pygmies are stocky, come in only a few colors, and don’t have white spots or blue eyes. Nigies are built like milk goats and come in every possible goat color.
Pygmies are built like meat goats and typically aren’t milked, Nigies produce a lot of very sweet milk.
Cris Waller
On October 5, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Almost all of these pictures are *not* pygmy goats. They are Nigerian dwarf goats, an entirely separate breed.
Pygmies are stocky, come in only a few colors, and don\’t have white spots or blue eyes. Nigies are built like milk goats and come in every possible goat color.
Pygmies are built like meat goats and typically aren’t milked, Nigies produce a lot of very sweet milk.
Cris Waller
On October 5, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Almost all of these pictures are not pygmy goats. They are Nigerian dwarf goats, an entirely separate breed.
Pygmies are stocky, come in only a few colors, and do not have white spots or blue eyes. Nigies are built like milk goats and come in every possible goat color.
Pygmies are built like meat goats and typically are not milked, Nigies produce a lot of very sweet milk.
Terry
On October 22, 2009 at 12:40 am
Great article! Does anyone know if pygmie sheep bother or attacks cats? We are thinking of getting some sheep.
Thank you
Terry
fresnobiz@gmail.com
Idazalee
On March 15, 2010 at 5:51 am
A wonderful article and very interesting read as usual…well done! Thanks for sharing.
gianne
On March 15, 2010 at 5:52 am
Beautiful photos and well written!
Katien
On March 15, 2010 at 5:52 am
Lovely article with great photos. I read recently in a newspaper aticle that quite a few people have had their pygmy goats stolen. Because they are so small they can easily be picked up and put in a car – something to bear in mind.
Nikita K
On March 15, 2010 at 5:52 am
Aw, look at them, they are well cute aren’t they? Lovely article and I never really knew about them before but I now I know loads to last me a lifetime! Thanks!
Tlchimes
On March 15, 2010 at 5:52 am
Neat idea. I have a friend who loves to use goat milk. I wonder if these little gals would suit her purpose. I shall suggest it to her to investigate.
s hayes
On March 15, 2010 at 5:53 am
wonderful article- my old junior school had 2 pet goats and they were a great hit with everyone – the pygmie ones are particulary cool
adam344
On March 15, 2010 at 5:53 am
Their so cute
DulceCorazon
On March 15, 2010 at 5:53 am
Great article, very informative. Today, I knew something I didn’t know before. Thanks.
Sonora
On March 15, 2010 at 5:53 am
The third picture was simple adorable!
moneyman123
On March 15, 2010 at 5:54 am
I liked the pictures
Beth Suess
On March 15, 2010 at 5:54 am
Great article, nice pics!
Chambo
On March 15, 2010 at 5:54 am
Nice work R J.
RJ
Anne Lyken Garner
On March 15, 2010 at 5:55 am
Great article. I’ve always liked goats and would raise some if I had the space.
papaleng
On March 15, 2010 at 5:55 am
nice pictures to compliment such an interesting article. you have my like.
Sashya
On March 15, 2010 at 5:55 am
I live around goats and i think you have done a wonderful job with this article. Keep it up!
Chris Stonecipher
On March 15, 2010 at 5:55 am
RJ,
These animals certainly are cute and they look like curious fellows. My brother and his son raise goats but I am sure not of this type. Stumbled and dugg.
Lauren Axelrod
On March 15, 2010 at 5:56 am
My sisters husbands dad has some of these on his farm. They are quite lovable.
pauly2321
On March 15, 2010 at 5:56 am
Great article keep up the good work
mickey62
On March 15, 2010 at 5:56 am
nice animals
B Nelson
On March 15, 2010 at 5:56 am
People do eat them.. and milk them…
Where I am you can buy them for $20-$100 Canadian, show quality ones being more. We havent ever had goats because they can climb fences so have stuck with sheep…
also what you feed is Hay, not straw.. straw is for sleeping on… hay is food..
excellent pictures.
Laloka
On March 15, 2010 at 5:57 am
as
Rask Balavoine
On March 15, 2010 at 5:57 am
Great article, and now I feel quite vindicated in wanting a few Pygmy Goats for the back garden. The family need scoff no more. Saw some advertised in the paper for £300 a go! It’ll be a while before I spend that on them.
Unofre Pili
On March 15, 2010 at 5:57 am
I wish to own one. They are so cute and beautiful.
MountainNana
On March 15, 2010 at 5:57 am
Loved it, I miss having goats, used to have several, My favorite though are the long eared roman nosed Nubians.
Wilda A Lahmann
On March 15, 2010 at 5:58 am
Great article and I loved the pics! We have goats, but not Pygmies…maybe someday. We have 2 mini Boers, one full sized Boer and a Kiko kid. You are right: goats are very entertaining!
Post Comment