Goats ate the invasives
- Thread starter RalphVa
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Slowpoke Slim
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We never had goats when I was growing up, but one of my best friend's did on their farm.
They used to be little escape artists. Almost like mice, in that if they could fit their head through the space, they would somehow figure out how to get their whole body through the opening. They were constantly (it seemed anyway) getting out.
They used to be little escape artists. Almost like mice, in that if they could fit their head through the space, they would somehow figure out how to get their whole body through the opening. They were constantly (it seemed anyway) getting out.
ultrarunner
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Amazing how two or three herding dogs can control a flock and in new surroundings almost daily...
Watched the flock load up to move to another contract location and the dogs did it all... except drive the truck!
Watched the flock load up to move to another contract location and the dogs did it all... except drive the truck!
DieselBound
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I'd talked to one person who provided this service. They used an LGD (Livestock Guard Dog) and a Llama or two.
Kschwennsen
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Can you just stake them in the woods with a chain and let them clear out a circle and move them every couple days? Kinda Jurassic park style?
DieselBound
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It'll work until they wrap themselves up and kill themselves.
Goats have a death wish!
I recommend NEVER staking out any animals unless there's supervision.
ultrarunner
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We have coyote and mountain lions and this is within city limits...
Even young a young calf was preyed upon...
Even young a young calf was preyed upon...
DieselBound
Elite Member
One of the owners of a local feed producer told me that she'd seen/had a California Golden Eagle drop down and feast on a newly born calf (they raise prize cattle). Nothing they can do about it. For me, I'm a HUGE believer in dogs: I've had an incredible dog who would chase off ANY ground-based or aerial predator: a neighbor has a full fledged LGD [Great Pyrenees] and said that it would watch eagles pick off their chickens; my shelter-rescue mutt was the greatest $72 I ever spent.
Anyway... It's a big deal ensuring that you protect your animals. They're under your care. But, sigh, with goats it's not enough to protect them from predators, you've got to also protect them from THEMSELVES! (pigs are also escape artists, but they don't try to kill themselves)
Anyway... It's a big deal ensuring that you protect your animals. They're under your care. But, sigh, with goats it's not enough to protect them from predators, you've got to also protect them from THEMSELVES! (pigs are also escape artists, but they don't try to kill themselves)
Our Nubian goats all have very distinct personalities, come when called, know their names and love getting rubbed on and scratched behind the ears. They're genuinely excited when they see you and they love to play too, with people or other goats. Much like any animal, I suspect you get out of them what you put in. This is an interesting article if you're curious about goats:
Goats Are as Smart And Loving as Dogs, According to Science
I probably wouldn't take any of my goats duck hunting or let them sleep in the house but when we first got them I was surprised at how much like dogs they were.
EddieWalker
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Back in the 90s, I knew a Professional Trapper for the State of California. Most of his work in dealing with Mountain Lions was in Crow Canyon, but there where Lions all over the East Bay. It was common for a Lion to kill a dozen or more goats or sheep and not eat any of them. Pets disappear every night from Lions. Every year, more problem Lions are killed by Professional Trappers then the yearly total from when it was legal to hunt them.