Goat Care & Homesteading Supplies: Recommended by Goats 365 Members

Goat Care Essentials

Keeping goats healthy and easy to manage starts with reliable, well-designed tools. This section highlights the everyday essentials our members depend on for trimming hooves, weighing goats, handling animals safely, and making daily chores run smoothly.

Hongmei Outdoors Hoof Trimmers

These lightweight, carbon-steel hoof trimmers are designed for goats, sheep, alpacas, and other small livestock. The curved handle improves grip, and the half-serrated blade helps prevent slipping during trimming.

Member review:
Judy Brechtel recommends these, saying, “These hoof trimmers are affordable but still very sharp!”

Long-Bladed Multi-Purpose Shears

These durable, all-metal shears feature long, straight high-carbon steel blades designed for tough cutting jobs while maintaining excellent sharpness and leverage. Their extended blade length offers smooth, efficient trimming without sacrificing control.

Member review:
Shawn and Abby Sweeney say: “Nice quality hoof trimmers for the money, great hand leverage for goat hooves, and they get the job done easily. I was a bit worried I wouldn’t like them since the blades are longer than regular hoof trimmers, but to my surprise they worked like a charm!”

VEVOR 1100 lb Digital Livestock Scale

This stainless steel digital livestock scale is built for durability and accuracy, with a large platform suitable for goats and other medium to large animals. It can run on either batteries or AC power, making it easy to use in the barn or the house. The adjustable feet allow you to level it on uneven ground for consistent results.

Member review:
Rachel Barrett recommends this scale: “Having a scale is so useful when you need to give medications and track changes in weight. Tammy (one of the Goats 365 members) suggested I get one, and it’s the best purchase I’ve made for my goats.”

She adds, “It works on batteries or you can plug it in, which is really convenient. The adjustable feet make it easy to level on uneven surfaces, and it’s very accurate — I tested it with known weights. It’s big enough for large goats and even other livestock. It goes up to 1,200 lbs, and the platform is generously sized. For what it is, it’s not overly expensive.”

Redmon Digital Scale

This lightweight digital livestock scale is designed for goats, kids, and other small animals, with a wide, non-skid platform that helps animals step on easily. The large backlit display makes readings quick and simple, and the scale measures in either pounds or kilograms. Its low-profile design keeps it stable and comfortable for animals during weighing.

Member review:

Carla Murphy says this scale is “great for tracking the weight of goats and kids. It’s easy to get them to step onto it, and the display is very easy to read.”

AWS Digital Hanging Scale (110 lb Capacity)

This durable die-cast metal hanging scale is lightweight, portable, and designed to weigh up to 110 lbs with precise accuracy. Its backlit LCD screen and built-in tape measure make it useful for a variety of tasks, from weighing gear to quick on-the-go measurements around the farm.

Member review:
Judy recommends this scale, saying: “This luggage scale is approved for DHIA milk testing, and it’s also perfect for weighing new kids. Luggage too, I guess — but don’t worry about that, because you won’t go anywhere after getting into goats!”

Livestock Scratching Brushes (2-Pack)

These durable nylon livestock scratching brushes are designed to keep goats, sheep, cows, and other animals comfortable by allowing them to scratch naturally. They mount easily on a fence or wall and hold up well to daily use, making them a simple but effective enrichment tool for the barn. Each set includes all the hardware needed for installation.

Member review:
Shawn and Abby recommend these brushes, saying: “Our goats love these livestock scratching brushes. They are very good quality and have lasted two years so far. We’ve purchased six sets for our 70+ goats.”

Hay Ball Feeders

These lightweight rubber hay balls are designed to relieve boredom and encourage gentle activity in goats and horses. They’re soft, durable, and perfect for keeping animals engaged when penned up.

Member review:
Carla shares, “These hay balls keep our girls entertained in their pen.”

Hanging Fence Feeders (4-Pack, 4.5 Quart)

These sturdy BPA-free plastic feeders are designed for versatile use with goats, chickens, ducks, sheep, rabbits, and other livestock. They tolerate extreme temperatures, offer two hanging options (hooks or screws), and provide a raised feeding solution that reduces waste and keeps food off the ground.

Member review:
Denice recommends these feeders, saying: “These feeders are the perfect size, and they hold up to my Boer goats. I’ve had them for several years, and just last week they finally broke the first one out of the 21 or so I have.”

Plastic Chain Goat Collars with Metal Quick Link

These lightweight plastic chain collars are an easy, budget-friendly option for handling and moving goats. Each collar comes with a metal quick link, making it simple to put on and take off as needed. The plastic links are gentle, flexible, and ideal for short-term use during chores or transport.

Member review:
Carla Murphy says, “We use these when we need to move the girls.”

Martingale Collars

These adjustable nylon martingale collars are easy to slip on and gently tighten when pressure is applied, helping prevent animals from slipping out. Lightweight and reliable, they’re useful for handling young goats or sending kids home with new owners.

Member review:
Carla says, “We use these collars and leads when sending kid goats to their new homes. They slip easily over their heads but tighten if the leash is pulled taut.”

Leashes (12-Pack)

These durable 6-foot nylon leashes come in a variety of colors and are designed with a 360° swivel hook to prevent tangling during walks or handling. They’re strong, lightweight, and practical for everyday use, especially when managing multiple goats or sending kids to new homes.

Clicker Training Tool

This simple, handheld clicker provides a clear, consistent sound cue—perfect for positive-reinforcement training. It’s easy to hold, durable, and helps reinforce desired behaviors in a variety of animals.

Member review:
Carla notes, “Clicker training resources. Works for goats too!”

OMAX M82E Series LED Binocular Compound Lab Microscope

This compound LED microscope offers clear, high-resolution viewing with eight magnification levels ranging from 40X to 2000X. Its sturdy metal frame, adjustable binocular head, and smooth mechanical stage make it a reliable choice for routine fecal testing and other home lab work.

Member review:
Shawn and Abby Sweeney share, “I’ve had this microscope for about five years to run our own fecals, and I’ve never had any issues with it. Love it!”

Milking & Cheesemaking Essentials

Milking and cheesemaking go much more smoothly with equipment that’s reliable, well-designed, and easy to use. This section highlights member-recommended tools for milking, handling fresh milk, and crafting both simple and advanced cheeses at home.

Stainless Steel Milk Bucket (1-Quart)

This heavy-duty stainless steel bucket is sturdy, rust-resistant, and easy to clean, making it ideal for milking goats. Its compact size works especially well with smaller breeds, offering plenty of room to maneuver underneath the goat. The flat-sided design also helps prevent tipping during use.

Member review:
Carla recommends this as her go-to milk bucket: “Get two — they nest nicely, so you can bring both out to the milking shed and won’t have to run back to the house when a goat steps in the bucket. This metal bucket is short enough to fit under our Nigerian Dwarf goats while still giving us room to move around.”

Goat Milking Stand

This heavy-duty goat stand features a built-in feed bin, adjustable height, and a sturdy steel frame designed to support up to 600 lbs. Its raised working height makes milking and hoof trimming much easier on your back, while the adjustable headpiece and legs accommodate goats of different sizes. The lightweight design also makes it easy for one person to move and set up.

Member review:
Shawn and Abby Sweeney recommend this stand: “I bought this milking stand because of its price and how high it raises — I don’t have to bend over while milking or trimming hooves. It’s well built and very sturdy.”

1/2% Iodine Teat Dip (Pre- and Post-Milking)

This iodine-based sanitizing teat dip contains 0.5% available iodine with added glycerin to condition the skin while helping reduce the spread of organisms that can cause mastitis.

Member review:
Judy Brechtel uses this as her pre- and post-milking teat dip.

Wide Mouth Mason Jar Lids with Handle (2-Pack)

These BPA-free, heavy-duty plastic lids turn a wide-mouth Mason jar into a convenient pitcher with an easy-grip handle and a lockable flip-top spout. The silicone gasket provides an airtight, leak-proof seal, making them ideal for pouring milk, cold brew, and other liquids without spills.

Member review:
Judy Brechtel recommends these lids, saying: “These jar lids have an easy-to-grip handle and a flip-top opening. I’m much less likely to spill my hard-earned goat milk using these.”

Wide Mouth Plastic Mason Jar Lids with Silicone Rings (12-Pack)

These upgraded, food-grade plastic lids are thicker, sturdier, and designed with a built-in ring to hold the silicone gasket securely in place for excellent leak-proof performance. They fit standard wide-mouth Mason jars and are BPA-free, reusable, and easy to clean — perfect for everyday kitchen or fridge storage.

Member review:
Carla says, “These Mason jar lids are perfect for storing milk in the fridge. I love that we can use dry-erase markers on them to date the milk.”

Dissolvable Canning Labels (500-Pack)

These self-adhesive dissolvable labels stick securely to jars, containers, and bags but wash away cleanly with water—leaving no residue behind. They’re perfect for organizing food storage, labeling dates, and keeping your pantry, fridge, or freezer neatly arranged.

Member review:
Judy says, “I love these dissolvable labels and use them constantly to write dates on jars of milk, containers of leftovers, and more. They dissolve on contact with water.”

ThermoPro Digital Hygrometers (3-Pack)

These compact digital hygrometers refresh readings every 10 seconds to provide accurate, easy-to-read temperature and humidity updates. With multiple placement options and a clear LCD display, they’re ideal for monitoring small, controlled environments.

Member review:
Carla says, “This thermometer/hygrometer is perfect for your cheese cave. You can check the accuracy of the temperature and monitor the humidity inside your cave.”

pH Meter for Cheesemaking

This waterproof pH meter provides fast, accurate readings and includes a flat-surface electrode ideal for testing liquids, semi-solids, and cheese curds. Its compact design, clear display, and reliable performance make it a helpful tool for monitoring acidity in small-batch cheesemaking.

Member review:
Carla notes that this is the pH meter she uses for cheesemaking.

Scandicrafts Stainless Steel 18 Inch Cheese Wire

This stainless steel cheese wire features a 17 3/4-inch cutting strand designed for slicing through firm and aged cheeses with ease. Its long length makes it ideal for cutting wide cheese wheels that standard knives can’t handle.

Member review:
Carla says, “This cheese wire is perfect for cutting hard, aged cheeses. Our cheese knife isn’t long enough to cut the width of our wheels, but this wire cuts like butter!”

LANE LINEN Cotton Kitchen Towels (12-Pack)

These 100% cotton kitchen towels are soft, absorbent, and durable, making them ideal for frequent use in the kitchen. Their generous size and quick-drying fabric make them especially handy for cheesemaking and other tasks that require clean, lint-free cloths.

Member review:
Carla says these cotton towels are perfect for cheesemaking. She keeps a dedicated stack just for cheese, reminding everyone: “Kitchen towels for cheese and only cheese… Don’t touch these towels with your dirty hands, please!”

Tosnail Clear Mesh Canvas Sheets

These clear plastic mesh sheets are durable, easy to cut, and designed for a wide variety of craft and household uses. Their smooth-edged holes prevent snagging, and the flexible material can be trimmed to fit any shape or size needed.

Member review:
Carla uses these as cheese mats for aging, saying they “keep your cheese up off solid surfaces and away from moisture.”

Regency Wraps Ultra-Fine 100% Cotton Cheesecloth (5-Pack)

This ultra-fine, unbleached cotton cheesecloth is food-safe, tightly woven, and versatile enough for cheesemaking, straining, canning, and other kitchen tasks. Its 90-grade weave provides excellent filtration, and each 36″ x 36″ sheet can be cut and sized to fit any form or project.

Member review:
Carla explains: “Each piece comes 36” x 36”, and I cut it down and serge the edges to fit my cheese forms. When using it in a cheese press, it isn’t quite dense enough to prevent curds from squeezing through, so I use a double layer. Otherwise, it works great for hanging cheese to drain.”

Small Cheese Molds (Set of 10)

These sturdy polypropylene cheese molds are designed for small-batch cheesemaking and work well for soft, semi-soft, and hard cheeses. Each mold includes a follower and is sized perfectly for draining and shaping individual portions, making them ideal for home cheesemakers.

Member review:
Carla says these are “the perfect size for draining serving portions of chèvre.”

Small Pyramid Cheese Molds (7-Pack)

These compact 0.45-quart pyramid molds are designed for making small batches of soft cheeses such as ricotta, feta, cream cheese, and other fresh varieties. Made from durable, food-safe materials, they drain evenly and help create beautifully shaped cheeses right at home.

Member review:
Carla identifies these as her Valençay cheese forms.

Stainless Steel Stockpots (8-, 12-, and 16-Quart Options)

These mirror-polished 18/10 stainless steel stockpots have heavy aluminum disc bottoms that heat evenly, making them ideal for warming milk during cheesemaking. They’re durable, induction-compatible, and stack neatly for easy storage.

Batch sizes:

• 8-Quart: Great for 1-gallon batches
• 12-Quart: Ideal for 2-gallon makes
• 16-Quart: Perfect for larger batches

Member review:
Carla says, “These heavy-bottom pots are excellent for cheesemaking. Milk doesn’t scorch with these heavy-bottom pots, they nest nicely for storage, and they even hang easily by their lids.”

Stainless Steel Shaker/Sifter Dispenser

This compact stainless steel shaker has a fine mesh screen and a protective plastic lid, making it perfect for dusting powders evenly and keeping them fresh. Its small size is easy to hold, simple to refill, and doesn’t take up much space in the kitchen.

Member review:
Carla uses this as a sifter for charcoal when making Valençay or Selles-sur-Cher cheese.

Fine Mesh Strainer Set (3-Pack)

This set of stainless steel fine-mesh strainers includes three useful sizes for all kinds of kitchen tasks—sifting, straining, rinsing, or filtering even very small ingredients. The reinforced frame and long handles make them sturdy, easy to use, and simple to clean.

Member review:
Carla recommends these, saying they’re perfect for straining ricotta—no cheesecloth to wash!

Stainless Steel Mini Gravy Ladle

This compact 18/10 stainless steel ladle is sturdy, rust-resistant, and designed for smooth, precise pouring of small amounts of liquids like sauces, gravies, or soups. Its polished finish and durable construction make it a reliable tool for everyday kitchen tasks.

Member review:
Carla uses this mini ladle for skimming cream off whey, noting that it “fits through a wide-mouth mason jar opening and works perfectly for making butter.”

Anchor Hocking 1-Cup Glass Storage Containers (Set of 6)

These durable 1-cup glass containers are made from recyclable glass and are oven, microwave, freezer, and dishwasher safe, with BPA-free lids for secure storage. They resist staining, odors, and warping, making them ideal for storing small batches of food—or fresh homemade cheese.

Member review:
Carla says these containers “fit the chèvre that pops out of the chèvre cheese forms,” and she pairs them with her cheesemaking equipment for easy storage.

Compostable Portion Cups with Lids (100-Pack)

These 4.5 oz bagasse cups are made from renewable sugarcane fiber and are sturdy, microwavable, and freezer safe. Their leak-resistant design makes them perfect for sauces, dressings, small portions—or sharing samples of homemade treats.

Member review:
Carla uses these as sample cups for gifting cheese to neighbors, joking that it helps keep everyone happy about having goats in a suburban backyard!

General Homesteading Tools

A well-run homestead needs durable, hardworking tools that can keep up with daily chores. From carts to waterers to lighting, these community favorites are built for real farm life and help make tough jobs easier.

Gorilla Carts Heavy-Duty Poly Dump Cart (7 cu. ft.)

This heavy-duty garden cart features a rust-resistant poly tub, a quick-release dumping system, and maintenance-free no-flat tires designed to handle rough terrain with ease. With a 1,200-pound capacity and a tight-turning steering design, it’s built for hauling heavy loads and tackling a wide range of farm and homestead tasks.

Member review:
Shawn and Abby recommend this cart, saying: “We just love this cart. It comes with tires that can’t go flat, which is a huge plus. It holds a lot of weight, and it also dumps. We use it for multiple jobs around the farm.”

Little Giant Float-Controlled Automatic Waterer (4 Gallon)

This heavy-duty automatic waterer refills itself using a float-controlled system and connects easily to a standard 3/4-inch garden hose. With a 4-gallon capacity and included mounting brackets, it’s ideal for providing consistent, clean water to livestock with minimal upkeep.

Member review:
Judy says, “I have several of these automatic water buckets. I don’t have to remember to water, and I don’t have to remember to turn the water off! They screw onto a water hose and are easy to clean.”

Little Giant Muck Cart (350 lb Capacity)

This sturdy two-wheeled utility cart is designed to carry up to 350 pounds and works with most 70-quart muck tubs. It features a drop-down retaining ring for securing large loads, plus an adjustable handle and fold-down design for easy storage and transport—perfect for daily barn and homestead chores.

Member review:
Donna Kelly shares, “My hay and water are not in my goat barns, so I use a variety of wagons and carriers—especially in winter. I use this cart for both moving a hay bale and carrying warm water.”

MUCK Women’s Arctic Sport II Mid Boots

These 100% waterproof winter boots feature 5 mm neoprene for comfort, flexibility, and warmth, with a rugged rubber exterior built to withstand tough farm conditions. The soft fleece lining and cushioned insole provide excellent insulation and support, while the slip-resistant outsole ensures traction in snow, mud, and slick surfaces.

Member review:
Donna Kelly says, “I wear my Muck boots every single day. My feet don’t get sweaty in summer, yet they are surprisingly warm in winter. I highly recommend these! This link is for an Arctic boot—I only wear the regular Mucks—but the Arctic would make a great Christmas gift.”

Xasla Electric Boot & Glove Dryer

This energy-efficient dryer uses gentle warmed air and quiet convection technology to dry boots, gloves, hats, and other gear without damaging materials. Its articulated ports reach deep into the toe box, helping eliminate moisture and reduce odors while keeping footwear fresh.

Member review:
Shawn and Abby share: “My feet sweat in muck boots and this boot dryer is awesome! It does take 6–8 hours to dry my boots overnight — but again, my boots get wet. Well worth the low price!”

RESCUE! Reusable Fly Trap Refills (6-Pack)

These water-soluble attractant refills are designed for use with the RESCUE! Reusable Fly Trap and lure a wide range of nuisance and filth flies, including house flies, bottle flies, blow flies, and more. They’re simple to use—just drop a pouch into the trap, add water, and hang it outdoors at least 20 feet from living areas.

Member review:
Carla says these refills are “stinky but they work… in addition to Arbico’s Fly Predators.”

Bottle Cleaning Brush Set (5-Pack)

This set includes five different bottle and tube brushes designed to clean hard-to-reach places—perfect for narrow-neck bottles, water bottles, canning jars, spouts, lids, and other tricky equipment. Made from BPA-free, food-grade polypropylene, the brushes are sturdy, flexible, and easy to hang for drying and storage.

Member review:
Carla says these bottle brushes are essential for cleaning milking supplies: “It’s a set of 5, but we use these two the most for cleaning our milking equipment.”

Expo Magnetic Dry Erase Markers

These fine-tip, low-odor markers come with built-in cap erasers and magnets that let you store them directly on metal surfaces. The set includes eight bold colors, making note-taking and labeling quick, clear, and convenient.

Member recommendation:
Carla recommends these markers.

Solar-Powered Coop & Shed Light

This rechargeable LED light offers dependable illumination in spaces without electricity, with multiple brightness levels, timer settings, and both solar and USB charging options—perfect for sheds, coops, or emergency use.

Member review:
Carla shares, “Lights for a non-electrified goat shed. We use the USB to recharge.”

NEBO Slim Pocket Flashlight

This compact, ultra-bright rechargeable pocket light delivers up to 500 lumens, with a magnetic base, hanging hook, and dimmable settings for hands-free visibility during nighttime chores.

Member review:
Denice Duane recommends this NEBO pocket flashlight, saying: “These lights are awesome. You can change the brightness, they have a magnet on the back and bottom, and they clip or hang, too. We use them any time we have to go outside after dark — and they’re rechargeable.”

Books & Learning Resources

Whether you’re expanding your knowledge or exploring new skills, these books provide helpful information and enjoyable reading.

Natural Small Batch Cheesemaking

This one is great if you want to cultivate your own cultures.

Cooking with Whey

A cheesemaker’s guide to using whey in drinks, savory dishes, and treats.

200 Easy Homemade Cheese Recipes

This one has a great variety of recipes to choose from.

The Very Hungry Goat – A Parody

A fun goat-themed children’s book.

Escape Goat

A funny, heartwarming picture book about a goat who keeps getting blamed for everything—and the family who eventually learns the importance of honesty and taking responsibility.

Member review:
 Marit Hickman recommends this book, saying: “Our library has the Vox Book edition of Escape Goat. It’s a kids’ parable about taking responsibility for your mistakes (and not blaming the innocent goat).”

Clicker Training for Dogs

Positive reinforcement training that works for goats too. Carla used this book for training her goats, as well as the next one on the list here!

Don’t Shoot the Dog: The Art of Teaching and Training

A classic on behavior and training all animals and even people.

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