A goat's rumen contains micro-organisms that thrive within a narrow acidity range. Feeds that ferment rapidly in the rumen increase its acidity. When acidity gets too high too fast, the micro-organisms multiply faster than usual, the rumen's balance becomes upset, and the goat gets sick. A goat's health therefore depends upon proper acidity. An alkaline substance such as sodium bicarbonate, or common baking soda, keeps acidity in check. A goat eats soda to keep the acidity within the proper range. Goats know when they need soda, and how much they need. All you have to do is make sure that they can get it when they need it. A goat will eat an average of 3 tablespoons of soda per day, however they may need more during hot or humid weather. Higher temperatures cause the rumen to be more active, thus increasing acidity. At other times of the year they may eat little or no soda.

Provide baking soda (found in any feed or grocery store) free choice just as you would trace mineral salt. Inexpensive plastic feeders can be purchased to dispense both soda and mineral salt.

Clean and refill the feeder often. Salt attracts moisture which will cause it to crust over. Also both salt and soda will get lumpy from water dripping from the chin of a goat that has just drank water. The feeder can also collect goat faeces. Because goats are finicky eaters, any of the above will cause them to reduce consumption of these two very important substances, thus increasing the risk of other problems.

Bucks may exhibit active fighting behavior - Watch out on this one!

The all-time favorite goat toy: a wooden spool that once held electrical cable.

This is not a silly question; some goats, particularly angoras, may look like sheep. Goats have 60 chromosomes; sheep have 54. Fertile goat-sheep hybrids, geeps?!, are rare. The major difference is feeding behavior - sheep are grazing animals while goats are browsers. Goats, although very social animals, are not as flock-oriented as sheep. Goats are more likely to seek shelter in wet weather than sheep. Male goats will rear up on their hind legs and lunge downward to butt heads while male sheep will run at, or charge, each other to butt heads. If you mix male goats and sheep, the sheep will dominate because they don't play by the same rules and will charge the goats while they are rearing up. Goats have an erect tail, sheep have hangy-down tails. Most goats have beards. Sheep do not have beards.