COVER
Get your goat
What it’s like to add a kid (or other farm animals) to the family ing,” she said. “Pigs and goats can cost between $800 to $1,000 a year without any catastrophic vet bills.” Here are a few additional considerWhile dogs and cats tend to get most of the attention when it comes to preferred ations based on animal type. pets, there are alternatives that can make a great addition to your family. Goats According to Michelle Murch, Equine Ideal amount of space: Depending on and Farm Program Manager at the New the context, a goat does not need a lot of Hampshire SPCA, some of the animals space, but it depends on the town. Resourcthey adopt out include horses, pigs, goats, es include Massachusetts Farm Bureau or chickens, roosters and ducks. If you are New Hampshire Farm Bureau Federation. considering one of these types of “farm” “Wether goats — castrated male goats — animals, she said the first thing to do is to make the quietest pets and need a shelter see if they are allowed in your town and that is what type of restrictions exist. warm and dry,” said Michelle Aulson of “Many towns allow you to have chick- Goats to Go, located at Great Rock Farm in ens and not roosters because roosters are Georgetown, Mass. “A south-facing shelloud,” she said. “Some don’t allow for ter with an enclosure around is best. It does farm animals at not have to be a all.” huge space. They For those who just need to get can have such aniout and entertain mals in their town, themselves. Murch said a few What they do major factors drive most of the time: It people’s interest in depends on why you owning them. have them. “People like “You want to give uniqueness, and them toys and things these animals are to jump on or eat, super cute when and you need goatthey are little, but safe fencing,” said they don’t stay litAulson. “They can tle,” she said. escape from differWhile some want ent things and they these animals to Goat pose during Great Rock Farm’s Goat Yoga. like to jump. They happily live out- Courtesy photo. can wiggle through side, she said other or jump through reasons include companionship, especial- fencing. You can let them get out and run ly when it comes to horses. around out of their everyday routine.” “Same idea of adopting a cat or dog as Their needs: Goats need fresh water, a companion could go for a horse,” she free of parasites. If you have wethers, you said. can feed them hay. According to children’s book author “We use alfalfa hay because it is the richDiane Robbins Jones, whose horse Rudy est and most nutritious hay, but you need a is the star of a book series with the same manger type of container that catches the name, a good owner learns how to speak hay that falls,” said Aulson. “You cannot ‘horse’ and stop speaking ‘human.’ feed them moldy hay, or dusty hay, because “Rudy interprets body language and they will cough. It has to be quality hay.” facial expressions to determine how you According to Aulson, you also always are that day,” she said. need at least two goats to keep each othFor those interested in chickens and er company. ducks, Murch said they make good pets if “They can get socially depressed if they you socialize them. are alone,” she said. “Goats are fun, mis“Ducks can pick up behaviors as can chievous, curious creatures. They are a fun goats and horses,” she noted. animal to have as a pet. We always tell peoFor the general cost to maintain farm ple, ‘Don’t build an enclosure for two goats animals as pets, Murch said a rule of because you’ll probably want eight or nine thumb is that the larger the animal the or 10.’” more expensive the bills. What you need to do for them: If a goat “For example, there’s the cost of the is lethargic, it can be socially depressed horse alone and then you have board- or might have a parasite and need to be
By Rob Levey & Matt Ingersoll
SEACOAST SCENE | JUNE 3 - 9, 2021 | PAGE 4
Diane Robbins Jones with her horse Rudy. Courtesy photo.
dewormed. “You also need to clip their hooves and may need to treat for basic lice or ticks,” Aulson said. “You need clean, dry areas for the goats because they do not like mud and do not like to get their feet wet.” Cost: Goats to Go sells wethers for $275 and females does for $375. Lifespan: Roughly 13 to 15 years.
Fun fact: “My mother, Maureen, has sold some of our fainting goats to Dr. D with Animal Planet, and they are now living in Alaska,” she said. “She also sold some most recently to Jonathan Knight of New Kids on the Block and HGTV’s Farmhouse Fixer. Some of our goats — and me — were also on the second episode of that show.”
