An Introduction to Keeping Goats in Your Garden

Recent research has indicated that

goats, like dogs can read our expressions and use their own facial

expressions to communicate with humans. They are very intelligent and

can make great pets… but there are many other reasons why you may

wish to consider keeping goats in your garden. Keeping goats has many

benefits – goats may be used for their meat and/or milk, which can

be turned into a range of goat cheeses. Keeping goats or other

livestock could be the natural next-step if you have been growing

your own food in your garden. Goats can also provide fibres for

clothes making, and will provide a source of fertiliser for your

vegetable and fruit growing efforts.

Anyone who has kept goats in a garden, however, will know that they are not always the easiest animal to keep. As with any livestock or pets, it is important to be fully informed before you make any decisions and to make sure you really are ready, and equipped, for every eventuality. Goats can be incredibly destructive - they will climb into trees to nibble off young shoots, eat the

bark off saplings, and even eat your washing

off the line.

If contemplating introducing them keep

them confined in small movable paddocks where they will do a

reasonable job of “mowing” an area, they can be used to take the

young side shoots off trees and will clear an area infested with

shrubby weeds simply by eating them, all the while churning out

droppings to re-fertilize the area. They do require constant

surveillance otherwise they may convert the food forest to a food

wasteland and it is best that they are penned when not in their

movable enclosures. Never let them near young plants that are just

getting established.

You will need to own at least two goats

– goats are very sociable creatures and so will suffer if kept on

their own. You will also need to make sure that you have enough space

to keep them in your garden. While goats require much less space

than, for example, sheep or cows, they will still need a reasonable

amount of indoors (shed) space and for outdoors grazing. Exact space

requirements will vary depending on the variety you choose – pygmy

goats, for example, will need less space than larger types.

While not the most obvious addition to a garden, perhaps, goats can become a useful part of a garden ecosystem and, when properly cared for, can be a pleasing animal to keep.