Calling all Goat keepers...

[Pouncer1]

We are moving soon and will have about half an acre garden. We are considering buying a goat although we are country bumpkins we don't have any experience with them. What is the best breed to buy? Ideally a smaller breed with good temperament as we have DC. Thank you.

Apparently pygmy ones are prone to all manner of health problems, but I don't have personal experience.

I looked after a herd of 13 goats for about 3 years and they were an absolute joy, there were a couple of pygmy's and they were actually the healthiest, they're still going now so must be about 15yrs old. Find your nearest goat sanctuary, to talk to them. The most important things for goats are secure fencing and gates, making sure they have shelter, as unlike sheep they are not waterproof so need to either have a shelter in their field to get out of the weather in, or you need to put them away in their stable or whatever every time the weather gets bad, whichever suits. Thirdly, they aren't grazers as such they're browsers, so they love trees and shrubs and weeds as well as grass. They also like things like old palates and platforms made into climbing frames, as they love to jump and climb. I find them great cheeky personalities and I'd love to have some!