So you want to be in the goat breeding business

Well you have clicked on the educational part of the web site.  I write portions of this primer partly out of self defense and partly out of shear ego.  I defend myself against all forms of disappointment by analyzing how I manage my goat herd.  In the general scheme of things I don't know squat about raising goats, but I'm kind of good at not repeating my mistakes.

A well ventilated barn is necessary to keep goats.  You will actually need 3 barns maybe 4 and two will be large and two will be kind of small.

Don't let new goats roam the grounds eating anything that's around.  My goats got into some 5 foot oak trees and 7 percent of the herd died from acidosis.

Treating acidosis.  First but a few boxes of Baking soda.  Also get those 12 ounce water bottles that moms buy their kids with the pull spout thingy.  I put two heaping tea spoons of Baking soda in a full bottle and shake well.  Make sure that all the powder has been mixed well into the water.  Now you are ready to go to work.  You can probably do this yourself or perhaps a helper, but hold the goat firm and tip the head back.  Jam the water bottle into the goats mouth.  The goat will probably clench its jaw and not let you do this very easily you are not hand feeding a hungry baby kid, you are forcing water down a dying goat's mouth.  Get all the water into the animal.  Some animals will give you a good show and you find that you still have most of the bottle to get down.  They call this drenching.  You know why very shortly after the first application. The animal may help you out a bit and drink with you.  I find the more they fight you the better their chances.