How Much Does a Pygmy Goat Cost? (Price Guide)

Pygmy goats are small goats that grow up to 70 pounds and are often kept as pets or companions. 

If you are a beginner goat owner, it’s essential to be aware of exactly how much they may cost to be sure you’re able to afford one before you buy. 

While a Pygmy goat can make a great backyard pet, there are also many costs. 

Purchasing a Pygmy goat can cost up to $400 just for the goat itself, and regular monthly costs can reach up to $600 depending on your goat’s health and the type of feed and bedding you choose. 

Make sure you are prepared to take on these costs before purchasing a goat, as you will not want to be in a position where it’s impossible to no longer care for your beloved pet. 

To learn more in-depth about the costs of owning Pygmy goats, keep reading! 

You need to be aware of many one-time and ongoing costs associated with owning Pygmy goats when purchasing a Pygmy goat. 

pygmy goat price

Quick Table For The Costs Of Owning A Pygmy Goat

ItemCostFrequency
Pygmy goat purchase$400One-time
Shelter$500One-time
Food$50Monthly
Vet/Grooming$150Monthly
Bedding$35Monthly

What Are the Costs of Owning a Pygmy Goat?

The initial costs of bringing home a new Pygmy goat are fairly low, making them an affordable option for new goat owners;

There are ongoing costs of owning a Pygmy goat which are often surprisingly high for first-time goat owners. 

This section will cover the one-time and ongoing costs of owning a Pygmy goat. 

Initial Cost of Owning a Pygmy Goat 

Purchasing the Pygmy goat itself is the most obvious start-up cost of owning a Pygmy goat. 

Most Pygmy goats run from $100-$400 for an adult goat.

A baby pygmy goat may cost less, but you’ll have to do more to care for them. 

Depending on what breeder you choose and the color, size, and pedigree of the goat, this cost may be more or less. 

Some rare coat colors are more expensive than the common colors of Pygmy goats. 

Look around at livestock auctions and local farms with goats for sale to save some money. 

Another one-time cost of owning a Pygmy goat is building or purchasing their housing. 

While Pygmy goats do not require much to live healthy and happy lives, they need heated shelter in the winter and shade in the summer to keep their body temperatures reasonable. 

Expect to spend up to $500 on a pen and a shelter for your goat, especially if your goat will not be a house goat.

If your goat is living in your house, the cost of shelter will be less as you will already have heated shelter available for them. 

But be aware, Pygmy goats do best if they can spend time outside in a pasture or pen built for them, so it is better to build your goat a space just for them. 

Monthly Cost of Owning a Pygmy Goat 

The ongoing costs of owning a Pygmy goat are much higher than the initial costs of purchasing a Pygmy goat and setting up their pen or pasture. 

Expect to spend at least $200 per month on your goat and up to $600 depending on what type of feed you use and how many veterinary visits your goat requires. 

Goats’ health care is one of the most expensive parts of owning a goat. 

Budget up to $150 per month for veterinary visits and grooming. 

If your goat has health issues such as intestinal parasites, the costs might be even higher until the health issues are dealt with. 

Pygmy goats require regular hoof trimming and grooming, which adds up quickly. 

Food is an obvious cost associated with owning Pygmy goats. 

While this goat breed does eat grass, which is an essential part of a balanced diet, they also need hay and grains for proper nutrition. 

The feed cost is up to $50 per month, depending on how much grain or alfalfa hay mix you feed.  

Bedding for goats is another essential part of owning a Pygmy goat. 

Buying fresh bedding for your goat is essential for its health and can cost up to $35 per month. 

Finally, toys and other entertainment for your goat can run you up to $20 per month, depending on what toys you choose for your goat.

Overall, the monthly costs of owning a Pygmy goat can reach as high as $600, although it is typically closer to $300 for a healthy goat using high-quality grain and bedding. 

If you live in an area with fresh water costs, you’ll need to keep this in mind. 

Goats should be provided with clean water at all times. 

What Are the Benefits of Owning a Pygmy Goat?

One major benefit of owning Pygmy goats is that they are miniature goats, reaching only about 70 pounds. 

Pet goats make great companions because of their small size, allowing them to be housed in smaller pens than regular goats. 

While larger breeds can require large amounts of space and more feed, Pygmy goats are easy to care for and cheaper than other goats because of their small size. 

Other benefits of owning Pygmy goats include the ability to get goat milk from your goat, keeping Pygmy goats for breeding purposes, and Pygmy goats are adorable animals. 

Pygmy goats also have amiable dispositions, making them good companion animals with children and other pets.

These aren’t meat goats, though, so don’t count on this pay-out at the end of the day. 

What Are the Difficulties of Owning a Pygmy Goat?

One difficulty of owning Pygmy goats is they are herd animals, meaning they should be purchased in groups of a couple of goats or more. 

While purchasing just one goat as a pet is a popular choice, it is not best for the goats. 

Additionally, Pygmy goats do not produce as much milk as traditional dairy goats because they are so small, meaning they produce less milk per day than standard dairy goats. 

If you want to own goats for their milk production, Pygmy goats may not be the right choice. 

Finally, if you do not have a lot of yard space for the goat to live in, it is difficult to keep a Pygmy goat. 

Pygmy goats require a fair amount of space for romping around and sleeping in, so owning a Pygmy goat will be difficult for you if you don’t have this space. 

Do Pygmy Goats Make Good Pets?

Overall, Pygmy goats can make excellent pets if you are prepared for their costs. 

They are affectionate and sweet goats and can make great backyard buddies if cared for properly. 

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Author

Growing up amidst the sprawling farms of the South, Wesley developed a profound connection with farm animals from a young age. His childhood experiences instilled in him a deep respect for sustainable and humane farming practices. Today, through Farmpertise.com, Wesley shares his rich knowledge, aiming to inspire and educate others about the joys and intricacies of rural life.

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