Hey, Y'all! We's gots goats!

[Marveltone]

After a long summer of fencing, building pens and delays, we finally got our goats. Three little half-pygmy nannies are now grazing on our hillside and sharing the "critter cabin" with the chickens. We went to a neighboring farm five miles down the road to pick them up on Sunday. My daughter and I led them into the pasture on their leads, waited for a bit, then let them loose. They immediately bolted for the gate and dove for the gap at the bottom rung, popping it open as they did. :shocked: The chase was on! We eventually got them turned around in the wheat field 1/2 mile from the pasture. Have I mentioned that I just found out I can still run a 1/2 mile?:laughing: We slowly herded them back to the yard and after a few back-and-forth games, we got them back into the pasture. I then proceeded to extend the lower portion of the gate with a couple pieces of u-post and some barbed wire.

Since that first episode, they've come nose to nose with the hot electric fence wires and have learned to respect it. They've since resigned themselves to stay put. They're obviously a bit nervous in the new surroundings, but they'll settle down soon enough. It helps that we've been bribing them with hand-fed treats.

Chickens and goats living together... mass hysteria! This place is finally starting to look and sound like a farm.

Joe

 

[dave1949]

Looks good!

 

[RickS]

Cool! We have goats, sheep and chickens. Lots of fun and frustration.

 

[LJH]

They look nice & healthy! Goats are a project, that's for sure. Congratulations from the Haphazard Homestead duo, Sid & Nancy:

 

[Depmandog]

Goats have been making the news, not to mention making the dough. Here is an outfit that offers grazing services....$800 per acre.

HOLY COW..(or would that be Holy Goat???)

http://www.goatsrus.com/faq.htm

I have seen several news articles in recent weeks involving goat grazing in lieu of mowing. Ohara airport is one.

Have I given you any ideas for future plans for your goats???

 

[Larro Darro]

When we used to have goats, we found putting one strand of wire low down against your steel posts as a ground would make for a better shock. Ours were the bigger goats, but they could jump like a deer and climb like a cat. After they had ate the flowers, or what ever else it was they wanted, they would jump back over the fence to go back in their pasture.

 

[creekbend]

I haven't been around goats much since I was young. When I was young, I always heard that they would eat anything, including tin cans. I found out the answer. They don't eat the cans, but they sure do love licking the labels on the empty cans. It seems that the goats love licking the sticky adhesive that is used in applying the labels. Dad's goats were great at clearing steep banks and slopes.

 

[forgeblast]

My daughters day-care just got a pair of goats. The way she's been talking we will be getting goats (lol). Enjoy them they look like they are a blast.

 

[john40981]

Goats are great fun, even more if you have them tame, keep hand feeding treats. We have 12 that are a combination of breeds and just last week purchased a young 4 month old billy to breed next season, hopefully. We also have two horses, (one is an ex race horse that broke down) and one sheep. They are all one big family, the horses and the sheep look after and protect the goats. It's fun and amazing watching them all interact. They are even starting to get used to our dog and not trying to head but here as much, she is very happy about that I am sure.

I know how everyone likes pictures so there is a couple of our little zoo

 

[houstonscott]

We also have goats. They are fun to watch. Enjoy.


HS