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At our hobby farm in northern Colorado we breed and raise the Barnyard Buddies Miniature Fainting Goat Herd. Everyone who meets our goats falls in love with them --They have become quite famous! We specialize in breeding miniature fainting goats which have been selectivity bred to achieve considerably smaller size.
Breed specifications:
Lifespan - Average 10 - 12 years - can live up to 15 years!
Height - Our miniature fainting goat's average height is about 19" at withers
Weight - Our Mini fainting goats average weight is about 55-60 pounds
Fainting goats are a very amazing breed that - as you probably already know - faint when startled or overly excited. While it really does appear as a real faint - they do not actually lose consciousness at all. Fainting goats have a genetic condition called myotonia, which causes their skeletal muscles to instantly contract in certain situations -- most often resulting in a lot of laughter! The "faint" lasts about 10 seconds, after which they get back on their feet and go about their goatly affairs ~ as if nothing ever even happened.
A lot of people ask if this is harmful or painful to the goats and as far as we know, the answer is no. Humans with a very similar form of myotonia known as Thomsen's disease report no pain or trauma when they experience involuntary muscle contractions. While it is true a human with this condition could easily be harmed from a fall, goats fall over in a much different way than people and being on four legs they are much closer to the ground ~ In general, fainting goats are very tough animals.
Fainting goats are very friendly and social animals, and if well socialized and treated kindly they are very safe with young children. They are often kept as pets, show animals and sometimes bred as meat goats and are also used for weed control. They are easy to care for, a lot of fun to have around and unlike regular goats, they cannot climb verys well or escape fencing very easily.
We have tons of great pictures on our website: Barnyard Buddies.
Fainting goats are considered a rare species by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and currently on their "watch list". We would like to see fainting goats protected and preserved as a true breed for our future. Who knows what someone might someday discover about this amazing breed that may help a person with a severe debilitating muscle disease.
To begin keeping fainting goats you need to consider that they are herd animals and do not do well on their own. A minimum of two or three fainting goats should be kept together to keep them happy and healthy!
You will need:
-Fenced Pen
-Shelter
-Food
-Fresh water supply
-Vaccinations
-Veterinary care when necessary
Breed specifications:
Lifespan - Average 10 - 12 years - can live up to 15 years!
Height - Our miniature fainting goat's average height is about 19" at withers
Weight - Our Mini fainting goats average weight is about 55-60 pounds
Fainting goats are a very amazing breed that - as you probably already know - faint when startled or overly excited. While it really does appear as a real faint - they do not actually lose consciousness at all. Fainting goats have a genetic condition called myotonia, which causes their skeletal muscles to instantly contract in certain situations -- most often resulting in a lot of laughter! The "faint" lasts about 10 seconds, after which they get back on their feet and go about their goatly affairs ~ as if nothing ever even happened.
A lot of people ask if this is harmful or painful to the goats and as far as we know, the answer is no. Humans with a very similar form of myotonia known as Thomsen's disease report no pain or trauma when they experience involuntary muscle contractions. While it is true a human with this condition could easily be harmed from a fall, goats fall over in a much different way than people and being on four legs they are much closer to the ground ~ In general, fainting goats are very tough animals.
Fainting goats are very friendly and social animals, and if well socialized and treated kindly they are very safe with young children. They are often kept as pets, show animals and sometimes bred as meat goats and are also used for weed control. They are easy to care for, a lot of fun to have around and unlike regular goats, they cannot climb verys well or escape fencing very easily.
We have tons of great pictures on our website: Barnyard Buddies.
Fainting goats are considered a rare species by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy and currently on their "watch list". We would like to see fainting goats protected and preserved as a true breed for our future. Who knows what someone might someday discover about this amazing breed that may help a person with a severe debilitating muscle disease.
To begin keeping fainting goats you need to consider that they are herd animals and do not do well on their own. A minimum of two or three fainting goats should be kept together to keep them happy and healthy!
You will need:
-Fenced Pen
-Shelter
-Food
-Fresh water supply
-Vaccinations
-Veterinary care when necessary
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Signing UpStep 1Pen Construction
Your goats need a bit of room -- An area of 30 square feet of pasture or paddock space per goat. Overcrowding leads to increased risk of parasite infestation, lice, and stress.
Your pen must be goat safe and secure -- No barbed wire and dangerous fencing -- Keep your goats in, and predators and other dangers out! Fainting goats have a numerous amount of predators. Coyotes, wolves, bobcats and mountain lions are always looking for a meal. Fencing is very important to keep your fainting goats safe.
We fence with a three rail wooden fence and a top board. We then line the wooden fence with hog panels to make it much more difficult for possible predators to get in the pens. All metal gates are also lined with hog panels.
The hog panels also keep your "kids" from escaping. Babies can squeeze out of some pretty small spaces. We have never lost a goat to a predator or a baby escaping.
Fainting goats love to climb and play! Easy to climb structures encourages exercise and minimizes boredom.
Your pen must be goat safe and secure -- No barbed wire and dangerous fencing -- Keep your goats in, and predators and other dangers out! Fainting goats have a numerous amount of predators. Coyotes, wolves, bobcats and mountain lions are always looking for a meal. Fencing is very important to keep your fainting goats safe.
We fence with a three rail wooden fence and a top board. We then line the wooden fence with hog panels to make it much more difficult for possible predators to get in the pens. All metal gates are also lined with hog panels.
The hog panels also keep your "kids" from escaping. Babies can squeeze out of some pretty small spaces. We have never lost a goat to a predator or a baby escaping.
Fainting goats love to climb and play! Easy to climb structures encourages exercise and minimizes boredom.
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To answer your question, fainting goats normally live about 10 - 12 years. This is pretty typical of all goat breeds and -as far as I know- fainting goats do not have a shorter than normal lifespan for a goat.