× Looking for minerals and goat supplies? Head over to our shop at GoatCare.com! I was so excited in a geeky sort of way when this image came up in my FB group. I immediately asked the owner if I could use it because it is such a perfect representation of a wormy goat compared to a healthy goat. Images like this demonstrate far better than text could and I don’t often have subjects of my own to photograph, so I am very grateful to our Anonymous member for agreeing to let me use this photo! Let’s pick it apart and see what we can learn. Coat Condition: Healthy Goat vs. Wormy Goat The condition of the goat’s coat will tell us a lot about Read More
Category: Holistic Goat Care Philosophies
Trust Your Goats
× Looking for minerals and goat supplies? Head over to our shop at GoatCare.com! Goats have been being goats far longer than humans have decided they have to worry about it. When in doubt, trust Nature. We are not so wise as to know how to be a goat and in walking this journey for 15+ years, I’ve learned that the more I get myself and my imperfect knowledge out of the way and let goats do what goats do, the healthier and happier the goats–and me!–become. I would even venture to say that goats are smarter than we are, because they have not been formally educated on the “right” way to eat and balance minerals. It helps to remember that, while rare exceptions exist, Read More
Fireworks & Loud Noises
× Looking for minerals and goat supplies? Head over to our shop at GoatCare.com! Every year, I see the posts and comments from people who are angry about fireworks because it upsets their animals. While I completely understand that side too and the harm fear can cause, it seems to me the solution is to try to desensitize our animals, since it’s not possible to control what other people do at their own places. Loud noises ARE a part of life, and if your animals are reactive, you have some work to do in your shepherding. All our animals do fine with loud noises because of frequent exposure. We have shooting enthusiasts all around us and I’m so grateful for that fact, because even our Read More
Megan’s General Philosophies for Raising Goats
× Looking for minerals and goat supplies? Head over to our shop at GoatCare.com! These are the basic philosophies that guide my practices on the farm. They don’t have to also be yours to get use out of this website, but I want you to understand where I come from in my decisions so you can fully understand how they play out in real life. The Animal Usually Knows Best We’re taught in modern society that we cannot rely on ourselves, that we must turn to experts to know how to think, eat, act, be healthy, lose weight, etc. We have a tendency to apply this to our animals as well. I’d venture that in both cases, the self knows best. While this isn’t universal, Read More
On Microchips
× Looking for minerals and goat supplies? Head over to our shop at GoatCare.com! Let’s talk about microchips. The general belief is that they are a benign way to permanently identify an animal. They are required in animal registries, cities, rescues, etc. and most folks have no idea there is another story lurking beneath the surface. A few years ago, one of the major chip brands was sued with the allegation their chips cause cancer. It was shushed and the outcome will never be known, but we can look elsewhere to find supporting data. Those chips are still on the market. There is absolutely no question the company is aware of what happens to animals who receive these chips. We all choose the path that’s Read More
Non Coercive Milking: A Force Free, Peaceful Milking Process
× Looking for minerals and goat supplies? Head over to our shop at GoatCare.com! I used to do all the tricks you hear about to force my goats to do what I wanted. Coming from a cattle background, the entire process of “working cows” is nothing but trauma for the animal and it took a while to learn a different way. Now, I cringe when I read people advising hobbling, tying, or other force measures to milk a goat. I did those things too, until I learned how to do it differently in a way that requires no head gates, no locking or forcing (energetically it’s not much different than rape, is it?), just free will. Instead of looking at it as a battle of Read More