OP
RayCo
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Some great info here, as always. Thank y'all!
Looking into getting goats
- Thread starter RayCo
- Start date
- Views: 2726
MikeInEburg
Veteran Member
If they are yard pets, keep in mind that your wife's prize roses taste really good to a goat. And goats don't understand "no". That said, they make pretty good pets. I don't think they like truck rides like a dog.
RichZ
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- Apr 4, 2001
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Well Mike, yes and no. Sometimes our goats have gotten into our gardens and the results weren't pretty. But some of my goats LOVE a ride in the truck. They go in the back of my cargo van, and love looking out the window. They are great pets, and can learn lots of commands. They also learn lots of stuff that you don't want them to. I had to move the light switches in my barn to where they couldn't reach them, as they love to learn the lights on. And when you work the gate latches, you have to make sure they aren't watching you, as they'll learn to open the most complicated latches. Goats are very intelligent, and full of mischief.
Larry Caldwell
Elite Member
You do NOT want a buck. They stink. They pee on everything. They are aggressive. If you just want pets, get wethers.
Many years ago I cleared several acres of trees and brush with goats and hogs. The hogs plowed the ground and the goats ate everything as high as they could reach on their hind legs, about 5'. Land that was too thick to walk through turned into a park.
Many years ago I cleared several acres of trees and brush with goats and hogs. The hogs plowed the ground and the goats ate everything as high as they could reach on their hind legs, about 5'. Land that was too thick to walk through turned into a park.
How much land do I need?
Not a lot - we have 5-8 goats in a 1/2 acre area and it works well.
And, would my goats enjoy a partially wooded area, since most of my property is woods? Yes they love to browse, but expect the wooded area to get cleared out pretty quickly.
What do I do to winterize my goats in southeastern PA?
Just basic shelter to get out of the wind, they are hearty animals. A 4'x4' 3-sided lean-to is fine for a couple goats.
Are goats good with kids? Mine are 6 and 1. Generally, yes they are. Does or whethers are not usually aggressive and usually very friendly and like attention. It's best if you buy bottle-fed kids, they will be much more human-friendly. Kids raised with little human intervention can be skittish. For interaction with small kids, the smaller goats would be better, the large breeds can be over 100lbs and could injure a small child accidentally.
If I do not have desire for milk, can I get virgin goats and keep them from producing milk? Like any mammal a goat only has milk after giving birth and only for a short time - less than a year. You can get a doe who has had kids and she won't have milk agian unless you breed her.
Will my wife kick my rear when I come home and surprise her with my new goats? No Comment!
Do goats have the right personality to be yard companions, or are they victims of generations of being told that they are nothing but livestock? See previous comment about bottle raised kids.
Will they get along with my cats? Never had cats with ours but don't see why it would be a problem.
Other considerations:
Fencing - you need good fencing. Goats have a reputation as escape artists. We have never had an escape, but we did spend money on good fencing. You'll want 48" woven wire or 5-wire high-tensile electric. I suggest putting an electric strand over the woven wire to prevent them rubbing on it and stretching the fabric.
Health - the primary concerns will be hoof care and parasite management. Trim hoofs every couple months, monitor parasite load by having a fecal run and worm as appropriate. There are a couple of diseases to watch out for, the most important is CAE which causes crippling arthritis, make *SURE* your kids pet goats come from a CAE-free herd (see testing paperwork) or you'll be in for heartbreak in a couple years when the have to be put down.
Not a lot - we have 5-8 goats in a 1/2 acre area and it works well.
And, would my goats enjoy a partially wooded area, since most of my property is woods? Yes they love to browse, but expect the wooded area to get cleared out pretty quickly.
What do I do to winterize my goats in southeastern PA?
Just basic shelter to get out of the wind, they are hearty animals. A 4'x4' 3-sided lean-to is fine for a couple goats.
Are goats good with kids? Mine are 6 and 1. Generally, yes they are. Does or whethers are not usually aggressive and usually very friendly and like attention. It's best if you buy bottle-fed kids, they will be much more human-friendly. Kids raised with little human intervention can be skittish. For interaction with small kids, the smaller goats would be better, the large breeds can be over 100lbs and could injure a small child accidentally.
If I do not have desire for milk, can I get virgin goats and keep them from producing milk? Like any mammal a goat only has milk after giving birth and only for a short time - less than a year. You can get a doe who has had kids and she won't have milk agian unless you breed her.
Will my wife kick my rear when I come home and surprise her with my new goats? No Comment!
Do goats have the right personality to be yard companions, or are they victims of generations of being told that they are nothing but livestock? See previous comment about bottle raised kids.
Will they get along with my cats? Never had cats with ours but don't see why it would be a problem.
Other considerations:
Fencing - you need good fencing. Goats have a reputation as escape artists. We have never had an escape, but we did spend money on good fencing. You'll want 48" woven wire or 5-wire high-tensile electric. I suggest putting an electric strand over the woven wire to prevent them rubbing on it and stretching the fabric.
Health - the primary concerns will be hoof care and parasite management. Trim hoofs every couple months, monitor parasite load by having a fecal run and worm as appropriate. There are a couple of diseases to watch out for, the most important is CAE which causes crippling arthritis, make *SURE* your kids pet goats come from a CAE-free herd (see testing paperwork) or you'll be in for heartbreak in a couple years when the have to be put down.
czechsonofagun
Elite Member
Best definition I ever heard! :thumbsup:
We had a goat named Jill, real character and after a year of struggle, I was happy to give her to a neighbor.
dkizerian
Bronze Member
Thanks for all the great info! My wife and I are also looking at getting 2-3 goats for pets in the next year or so. Nigerian dwarves seem to be the goats we'll likely end up with.
They'll have 1/2 acre all to themselves, but I'm torn between making this just one big pen, or sectioning off about 40x60 area as their regular pen, and then using electric fence to rotate them through the rest of the area in an attempt to let the plants that are there stay alive, and supplement their feed.
They'll have 1/2 acre all to themselves, but I'm torn between making this just one big pen, or sectioning off about 40x60 area as their regular pen, and then using electric fence to rotate them through the rest of the area in an attempt to let the plants that are there stay alive, and supplement their feed.
Unless you place your electric fence wire 4 inches apart up to 4 feet high it will not work. Woven wire horse fence worked well for me as does chain link. I had two Nubians for the great tasting milk. Made a milking stand using Mother Earth News plans. 10 bales of hay lasted all winter. Wish I still had them for the milk as I cannot drink cows milk.
On the farm they climbed the corn picker spout onto the rafters and instead of pigeon droppings we had goat beans everywhere. Any car in the driveway was fair game including eating the soft tops when available. Mom always threatened to shoot them cuz they eat everything in the yard and garden. Told dad either the goats or he (dad) had to go. Dad dropped them off in the furthest field from the house. They came back in the middle of the night. Mom gave them away when dad was at an auction spending her money. Fair trade???
Anyhow,,, have fun you will learn and enjoy from the experience.
On the farm they climbed the corn picker spout onto the rafters and instead of pigeon droppings we had goat beans everywhere. Any car in the driveway was fair game including eating the soft tops when available. Mom always threatened to shoot them cuz they eat everything in the yard and garden. Told dad either the goats or he (dad) had to go. Dad dropped them off in the furthest field from the house. They came back in the middle of the night. Mom gave them away when dad was at an auction spending her money. Fair trade???
Anyhow,,, have fun you will learn and enjoy from the experience.
Learning to Farm
Silver Member
- Joined
- May 24, 2011
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- 209
- Tractor
- Kubota L3750
It seems like everytime I have a question someone on TBN has asked it or started a thread.
So, the farm has 3 dwarf sheep and 2 mini sheep (all gelded) and I want to use to do some clearing in a 1/4 acre wooded section of a pasture. (I can't stand seeing lazy "jobless" animals, I personally would have had them with curry years ago). I was wondering can I run just one line of electric around the parameter? It is lush and I just want them to get started. The pen that their owner is keeping them in has been grazed to nothing, so it is win-win. Will they stay in and eat, the electric would just be to keep them grouped while they are watched, it is not meant for 24/7 containment. They have never been electric trained. On the other hand can I shepherd them? They are all collarable, I took the one I like out this morning just on a lead and other than being a bit nervous he did his job like a champ. But, I don't want to try to walk them all at once... haha.
Just call me Hedi, haha!
So, the farm has 3 dwarf sheep and 2 mini sheep (all gelded) and I want to use to do some clearing in a 1/4 acre wooded section of a pasture. (I can't stand seeing lazy "jobless" animals, I personally would have had them with curry years ago). I was wondering can I run just one line of electric around the parameter? It is lush and I just want them to get started. The pen that their owner is keeping them in has been grazed to nothing, so it is win-win. Will they stay in and eat, the electric would just be to keep them grouped while they are watched, it is not meant for 24/7 containment. They have never been electric trained. On the other hand can I shepherd them? They are all collarable, I took the one I like out this morning just on a lead and other than being a bit nervous he did his job like a champ. But, I don't want to try to walk them all at once... haha.
Just call me Hedi, haha!
