Lots of animals can be happy on their own. House cats, dogs, even birds! Some animals however are going to struggle to be on their own. Goats are a herd animal, so if they’re separated from a herd are they going to get lonely? Possibly even die?
No, goats won’t die of loneliness, but they won’t thrive either. Goats are social animals, and do much better when with other goats, or other animals, than on their own.
So goats won’t die of loneliness. Which is great! But are there other effects that loneliness can have on goats? Absolutely. Let’s look into some of the benefits of your goat having a friend!
How To Keep Lone Goats Happy!
If you’re not quite in the place that you can home two goats, there are a number of ways you can keep your single goat happy.
1. Give it certain space!
Goats can feel vulnerable if they’re left out in the open, giving it a fenced in space will allow it to feel safe from any other predators or other animals you may have on your property. We suggest if you’re going to put up a fence, however, make it electric. Goats are incredibly smart and can rub up on it, or even get out of it if they need too. This will avoid not only animals getting in, but your goats getting out!
2. Feed Them a Proper Diet
Feeding goats a proper diet is one of the things that’s going to keep them as happy as possible. In nature, goats would graze all day long. However if you’re in a farm, or a smaller space, you need to attempt to duplicate extra feeding schedules so that the goat itself doesn’t get bored! The more time it spends eating, the less time it’s bored! There are a number of things you can feed goats, though the best things to consider is hay, or any veggies for special occasions!
3. Let Them Shelter!
Giving goats a safe shelter is incredibly important for them. Shelter from the elements and a nice place to sleep will keep your goat happy. If you live in a rainy-er place, goats will relish in having a warm space to stay. Humans and goats are similar in their dislike for being rained on, and having no sheltered space, keeping them in a shelter will be a great way to keep them happy and aloft!
4. Care
Of course, care is going to be one of the biggest ways to keep your goats happy. The more attention they’re given the happier they’re going to be, and one of the best ways to give them attention is through caring for them! Goats need their hooves cleaned every 3 to 4 months. Making sure that your goats are carefully maintained and are well-groomed will give them attention and will avoid them being in any pain or feeling neglected!
5. Other Animals!
While goats may be able to better relate to other goats, that doesn’t mean that they can’t make friends with any other type of animal. Everyone loves an unlikely animal friendship. Goats can make friends with any other animal, dogs, cows, sheep, it doesn’t matter. If you happen to have multiple animals on your property, this can be beneficial to a goat! They’ll make friends with who they can, and even you!
Benefits To Having Multiple Goats!
Health
Goats in a pack are more likely to stay healthy! Much like people, goats can get illnesses. When one goat gets sick, so can another, but they can also begin to build up immunity to sicknesses that they may not otherwise come in contact with. Goats that are around others are more likely to be healthy, and stay healthy. However mental health is just as important in the animal kingdom.
Goats who socialize with each other are happier! This means they’ll maintain healthy diets, and practices, and be more likely to live longer! So if you get another goat for nothing else, get it so your goat has a friend!
Shorter Grass
Lots of people get goats for grass maintenance. They are great at keeping up with yard work, and having multiple is better if you have a larger yard. One goat can sometimes not really impact your grass growth, but multiple can create bald patches within your farm. One to two can be super helpful in your grass abilities, and their growth.
Companionship
If you’re looking to breed your goats, and perhaps make a market out of it, having just one goat isn’t going to work out. Having multiple goats is going to not only make this easier but make it possible. Of course, there are going to be much more steps that go into thriving in this business, but your first step is going to have to get another goat, and specifically one of the same breeds of goat.
So if you’re not in the place to have two goats, you know exactly how to keep your goats happy. Remember that their mental health is just as important as their physical health, and having a happy goat is going to make your life about 10 times easier. They won’t die, no need to worry, but they WILL struggle if they’re by themselves. Everyone needs a friend, even goats.