Supplying Your Goats with Water  Whether you are raising goats
as part of a sustainable lifestyle or because you like to keep
them as pets, they need a consistent supply of fresh, clean
water to grow properly, stay healthy, and do their best in milk
production. Pregnant and lactating does have the highest water
needs, and when the weather is hot and dry, all goats need more
water. A general rule is to give a goat between a half-gallon to
four gallons each day per goat.  You can get by without a nearby
water supply, but if your barn is any distance from your house,
you'll find that hauling water and equipment back and forth is a
lot of work. Plan ahead, even if it means digging a water line
when you put in a new goat shelter or barn.  Even better is a
sink and faucet with hot water. You can wash feed bowls and
buckets without schlepping them to the house. And with dairy
goats and the equipment they require, it's even more useful.  At
a bare minimum you need a hose that reaches the barn or area
where the goats