Goats

goats

Maybe, you've heard that goats will basically eat anything they can put in their mouth. This might give you the impression that they're simple animals to take care of, but this isn't the case. Goats need proper nutrition and enough space, among other things, to grow strong and healthy. Therefore, before you get a goat, you should know what to expect, how to prepare, and the proper care techniques.

Housing

While goats need room to roam freely, well as free as a fenced-in area allows, they also need outdoor housing. This keeps them safe from the elements, and they can rest somewhere safe. You may use a dog house or choose to build them a shelter. If you live in an area with many wild animals, you may want to get them a shelter with a door that you can latch at night to keep predators out.

Bedding

Goats don't require any type of special bedding. Straw will work fine to keep them comfortable and warm. You'll need to put down a new layer every few days to keep it clean.

Fencing

To keep your goats at home, you'll need a fenced-in area for them to roam. Make sure you contact your local government to figure how much room you need per goat. Ultimately, you want to fence off as much space as you can.

Make sure when you build their fence that it's at least four feet high. It may help to build the fence six feet tall to ensure they can't jump the fence as they grow.

Food

When goats are still babies, they need milk. Ideally, you want to feed them milk from a mother goat. If this isn't possible though, you can purchase milk for goat kids at a store.

Once they get older, you'll be surprised to see how picky goats are -- nothing like the reputation they have. They don't eat just anything you put down for them. They, however, enjoy grazing. They also enjoy eating hay. Alfalfa and grains are also options, but you need to watch the amount of grains you feed them. They also like fruits and veggies.

You'll enjoy getting to watch goats grow. You'll even get to experiment with the different types of foods your goats enjoys. The most important aspect of raising your goats is making sure they have a safe space outside, including a house and a fenced-in yard.

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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

7:30 am-5:30 pm

Tuesday:

7:30 am-5:30 pm

Wednesday:

7:30 am-5:30 pm

Thursday:

7:30 am-5:30 pm

Friday:

7:30 am-5:30 pm

Saturday:

Open 1st & 3rd Saturdays of each month. Closed 2nd & 4th Saturdays of each month.

8:00 am-2:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

Read What Our Clients Say

  • "We have a new 8 week Boston Terrier that we took to Springfield Vet yesterday for the first time. Absolutely pleased with the service, attitudes and genuine care shown to our little boy. The whole team was so professional, but took time to talk to you and explain everything. Dr Cynthia Wiseman is so wonderful, she sat in the floor did Logan's exam and played with him. What bedside manners. I will continue to use them, I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a caring and professional vet."
    Roi W.
  • "We absolutely love this vet clinic and the staff! The facilities are modern and always clean. Everyone is always so friendly and genuinely care for you and your animal- they make you feel as if you are apart of their family.

    Our boy, Samson, is a Rottie (and quite the problem child). We are usually in the clinic almost every other month for something and they are always so helpful and show great care and love for our pup! We are very picky/protective puppy parents, so we were very grateful to have found both Dr. Cynthia and Dr. Heath shortly after getting Samson.

    We have definitely found our "home" in the vet world, and would highly recommend to anyone who is currently looking!"
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  • "We decided to start taking our new kitty here this past fall and we love it! He was not on his best behavior (to say the least) for his first appointment, and the staff was so patient and was still able to safely run his bloodwork and give him his vaccinations. Every service has been reasonably priced, and they did everything they possibly could to make sure that our little guy was off to a healthy start after we adopted him. What I love is that they really seem to focus on the small details, too, like trimming our cat's nails after remembering that I had expressed interest in doing so at a previous appointment, or supplementing his flea treatment with something to safely speed up the process. We will definitely keep coming here as long as we live in Springfield!"
    Megan J.
  • "I have been taking my dog to SVC since 2012 and when I adopted my cat in 2015. I have never had a bad experience. We have seen Drs. Heath & Cynthia Wiseman and I love them both. Always professional, always take their time when looking my pets over, asking questions, and answering mine."
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  • "We’ve been taking our Moose there for a few years now. After swallowing a toy when he was a puppy, getting fixed, having surgery on his eyelids a couple times, and most recently having a breed specific illness; I can I say I would recommend everyone to go here. They’ve taken the best care of our boy time and time again and went above and beyond."
    Ashley J.
  • "We’ve been taking our Moose there for a few years now. After swallowing a toy when he was a puppy, getting fixed, having surgery on his eyelids a couple times, and most recently having a breed specific illness; I can I say I would recommend everyone to go here. They’ve taken the best care of our boy time and time again and went above and beyond."
    Ashley J.
  • "Pleasant staff.,very informative. Great environment for your pets, including own room for cats to play so as they aren't stressed out."
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  • "Dr. Cynthia Wiseman has helped my little Shiba dog with chronic hip problems tremendously with consistent acupuncture therapy! So thankful for this practice and the high quality of care they offer my pets!"
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