If you have goats, you likely already have an enclosure, feeders, waterers . . . the essentials. The following are 6 items that also come in handy when you have goats . . .

1. Goat Mineral

This might seem like an obvious one to some. But not everybody has their goat on a good mineral supplement. A good loose mineral supplement ensures your goat is getting everything they need to be healthy on productive. Some brands have a bunch of unnecessary grain byproducts that aren’t doing your goat any favors. I like the brand that just has the minerals . . . and the goats love it.

2. Goat Milker

If you’re still milking by hand, you’re missing out on a handy machine. I have arthritis and can’t physically milk our goats. A goat milking machine gets the job done quickly and efficiently. I bought mine from a friend so I’m not sure on what brand it is. So far it’s worked great. So do your research on a good unit that will last. Be careful about DIY milkers to ensure you’re not harming your goat.

3. Goat Coat

If your goats have a good shelter, then your goats should be good to go. BUT, a coat does come in handy if you have a senior goat or sick goat that can’t handle the cold as well. When my doe was attacked by a bear, she had a more difficult time keeping warm as we were heading towards winter. You can find that story here. A coat seemed to make a difference in making her more comfortable while she healed. Note that I only put it on during the day when she was outside. Then I took it off at night when she got put away in her own private area. I used a model that was more meant for dogs because I really like the design and tough material. But you can also find goat specific brands. For safety reasons you’ll want to keep a close eye on your goat to see how they react having a coat on. They may try to rub it off. You’ll also want to make sure other goats aren’t chewing it up.

4. Goat Cart

Not a common one but absolutely a fun idea if you have kids. Train and put your goat to work pulling a cart. A young healthy goat can pull about half of their body weight safely. This includes the weight of equipment, wagon, and passengers. There are plenty of ideas for DYI projects. But if you’d rather buy a setup, there are companies like this one that specialize in the proper equipment.

5. Toys

Goats are mostly interested in eating. A treat ball with their favorite food can provide and entertaining challenge and prevent boredom. If you have an extra sassy goat that full of energy, they may love a big ball to push around. I’ve found that bucks in particular like to play around with things like this.

6. Diatomaceous Earth & 99% Sulfur Powder

I think everybody that owns furry & feathered animals should have some diatomaceous earth (DE) and sulfur powder around. I’ve used it on dogs, goats, chickens, rabbits (DE only on rabbits, they hate sulfur), as well as in and around the pens. The mixture I use is 3 parts DE to 1 part sulfur. I’ve even used it on the carpets of my own house. It’s great against unwanted pests like fleas, ticks, mites, lice, etc. Take care not to get it in your animals’ eyes, nose, or mouth. If you suspect one of your animals has a skin condition like ringworm, mange, yeast infection . . . there is also a sulfur lime dip that can be used. Sulfur powder can also be used in the garden. I’ve never used it in my own garden, but it can be beneficial to plants that are sulfur deficient. Make sure the DE is food grade and that the sulfur is 99% pure.

Hope you found this post interesting. I enjoyed looking into some of the fun things you can do with and for your goats. I can’t wait to make my own goat cart for my 4 year old. Happy trails!

Recommended Goat Products (clickable)

*Goat pulling wagon image from Working Goats