If you’ve ever raised goats, you know just how quickly they’ll trot across the pasture the moment they hear the rustle of a feed bucket or the creak of the barn door. Store-bought treats exist, but as someone who spends every day on a working ranch surrounded by goats, I’ve found that making my own treats gives me peace of mind.
These aren’t a replacement for their regular diet, but a little something extra to make training and enrichment more rewarding. I usually offer just one treat per goat and break it into pieces so they get the fun without overindulging. It’s a small gesture that goes a long way in building trust and connection.
My Experience Testing This Recipe
I’ve tested this recipe with our herd at Humberstone Ranch, and let me tell you—there’s no tougher taste panel than goats. If something’s not to their liking, they’ll simply spit it out and give me the stink eye. This recipe, though, passed the test with flying colors.
Even our pickier goats (who usually nose through hay for only the choicest bits) came running back for seconds.
During testing, I learned two things:
- Texture matters. If the treats are too dry, they’ll crumble in your pocket. If they’re too wet, they don’t hold shape. The sweet spot is a firm dough that still has a little moisture.
- Batch size counts. I started small to make sure my goats liked them before scaling up. Once I saw how well they were received, I made a larger batch to keep on hand for training sessions and enrichment time.
Each ingredient serves a purpose—nothing is there just for filler
Key Ingredients and Why They Work
Oats – A fiber-rich base that most goats love.
Fruit, Veggies & Add-Ins – Apples, carrots, raisons and sunflower kernels give natural sweetness.
Binders – Eggs and molasses help hold everything together while adding a boost.
Flavor Boosters – Unsweetened applesauce makes them more enticing.
Storage and Feeding Tips
Keep treats in an airtight container. At room temperature, they’ll last about four days. For longer storage, refrigerate up to a week or freeze for up to a month.
Think of these as a treat, not a main feed source. Our goats get unlimited hay and water as well as feed in the mornings. When they’re visited by guests on farm tours they typically are fed romaine lettuce, carrots or another veggie.
Always introduce new foods gradually. What’s fine for one goat might not sit well with another, especially if they’re not used to extras beyond hay and grain. If in doubt, talk to your vet.
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