Our First Year Raising Goats: What We Learned

It's hard to believe now, but there was a time when I was a brand-new goat owner.  Like many people, it started with a vision of a happy goat grazing in the pasture, fresh milk in the pail, and a simpler connection to the land. I researched online and read everything I could get my hands on, but there wasn't as much information available on dairy goats 20 years ago. 

Then I found one Nigerian Dwarf doeling for sale.  Her name was Daisy and I was hooked.  She came to the farm, but we knew she needed a friend.  Goats are herd animals and are not happy without friends.  I found another doeling and then of course we needed a buck.  If you've ever owned goats, you already know what happened next.

The goats had ideas of their own.

Looking back more than twenty years later, there are a few lessons from that first year that still stick with us today.

Goats Are Smarter Than You Think

One of the first things we learned was that goats are incredibly intelligent.

Unfortunately, they often use that intelligence for mischief. A fence that looked perfectly secure suddenly became a challenge to solve. Gates had to be latched properly. Feed bins needed sturdy lids. Anything left within reach became a potential toy or part of their favorite game "Can I Eat It?"

We quickly discovered that goat ownership often involves standing in the yard asking, "How did you even do that?"

To this day, goats continue to surprise us.

Fences Are More Important Than Almost Anything Else

Before getting goats, we thought fencing was mostly about keeping predators out. After getting goats, we realized fencing is also about keeping goats in. A determined goat views a fence as a suggestion rather than a boundary.

Good fencing saves countless headaches, protects your animals, and gives you peace of mind. If there's one place new goat owners should invest their time and money, it's building secure fencing from the beginning.

Every Goat Has a Personality

This may have been the biggest surprise. I expected goats to behave like a herd. What we discovered was a herd made up of individuals. Some were friendly. Some were stubborn. Some wanted constant attention. Others preferred to keep their distance.

Over the years we've had goats that acted like puppies, goats that acted like escape artists, and goats that seemed convinced they were in charge of the entire farm. Learning their personalities became one of the most rewarding parts of raising them.  They have a lot more personality than you would ever think.

You Never Stop Learning

When we bought our first goats, we thought we'd eventually figure everything out. The truth is that livestock constantly teaches you something new.

Nutrition, health, breeding, kidding, pasture management, weather challenges—there is always something to learn. Even after twenty years, we're still learning. In many ways, that's part of what makes farming so rewarding, but it is also a huge challenge.  Lessons don't always end the way we want or with the outcome we hope for.

Things Don't Always Go According to Plan

Goats have a way of humbling even the most organized person. Sometimes a breeding doesn't take. Sometimes a kidding doesn't happen when expected. Sometimes a perfectly healthy goat finds a creative way to get itself into trouble. That first year taught us flexibility.

Animals don't always follow schedules, and farming rarely goes exactly according to plan. Learning to adapt is one of the most valuable skills you can develop.

The Daily Routine Becomes Something You Love

At first, chores feel like work and honestly some times they still do. There was feeding, watering, cleaning, and checking on everyone. Over time, those routines became something I looked forward to.  

Some days it feels like too much work, but regular chores can also be one of the most relaxing parts of my day.  A few minutes to sit and watch to make sure all the goats are acting normal can be my favorite part of the day.

Many of our favorite farm memories aren't the big milestones. They're the ordinary moments that became part of everyday life. Watching the babies run around in the evening or the girls out grazing can be some of the best moments.

Goats Teach Patience

Goats rarely do things on your timeline. They teach patience when you're training them.

Patience when you're waiting for kids to arrive.

Patience when you're repairing a fence for the millionth time.

Patience when you're trying to catch the goat that absolutely does not want to be caught.

Looking back, goats may have taught us as much as we taught them.

The Rewards Are Worth the Challenges

That first year came with plenty of mistakes. There were things I would do differently now. There were lessons learned the hard way. There were moments of frustration.

But there were also baby goats bouncing through the pasture. Quiet evenings in the barn. Reading a book while waiting on babies.  The satisfaction of caring for animals every day. And of course, the fresh goat milk that became Wyldewood Soap Works.

The challenges fade over time. The memories tend to stay.

Final Thoughts

If you're thinking about raising goats, know this: you won't do everything perfectly. No one does. You'll make mistakes, learn as you go, and discover that goats are equal parts livestock, comedians, and professional troublemakers. Twenty years later, I'm still grateful I took the leap.

That first year taught me more than I ever expected—not just about goats, but about patience, responsibility, resilience, and finding joy in the daily rhythms of farm life.

And honestly, I would do it all over again.