Wether Goats

[EddieWalker]

So we went and picked up to young female pygmy/nigerian cross goats a month ago. Our fencing is for the horses, and just like everyone said, they walk right through the fence like its not there. But they love the horses and follow them around without getting to far away from them. Best part is seeing them wonder off into the black berries and other weeds that the horses ignore. We want to get more goats with the hope that if we get one at a time, it will stick with the first two and follow them around. These are strictly for weed eating and we have no desire to get into breeding or selling of goats. We also thought that we should stick with all females, but they are hard to find. Not impossible, just seems that they are sold in groups with males, or we have been too slow in calling about them and somebody else has already picked them up.

I've seen sever wether goats for sale and was wondering how they are? I imagine that they wouldn't have the aggressive tenancies, or the smell. Would it be safe to hope that if he is tame and friendly, that he would stick around with the horses like the other goats do? Good idea or bad idea?

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[Threepoint]

Can't answer your question on wether goats, Eddie, but I love those little Nigerian pygmies and wanted to comment. When my wife and I built our place many years ago we planned on having them, then decided against it because of potential risks to them in our increasingly less rural area. Ended up with horses, more work as you know, but easier to keep fenced in, and less vulnerable to attack from stray dogs. Also, poachers. Goat is a delicacy for some folks, and the little pygmies are so friendly and curious they're an easy mark. May not be an issue in your neck of the woods. Have fun with the little guys. I'm a bit envious. And they sure are weed-eating machines.

 

[KubotaToy]

We raise registered Lamancha's and fainting goats, and keep a few wethered goats for buck companions, they turn into pets as that is about all they are good for. I usually band the ones I wether about 6-8 weeks old, some folks do it earlier, some later. They tend to not be as aggressive if banded around this time but the biggest advantage is they do not smell like a buck.

TX is goat country, should be able to find some cross breeds for reasonable prices. Keep a check on craigslist.

BTW-We do not keep goats with horses anymore, had a very friendly mare kill several goats one time, my goat vet warned me that horses will sometimes do that. We do keep a few heifers in the field to eat the grass since the goats will pass on grass to eat almost everything else. There is some evidence that if horses or cows eat the parasites that affect goats that it breaks the cycle. My vet keeps cows with her goats for the same reason.

 

[Bird]

had a very friendly mare kill several goats one time

I had a little donkey grab a full grown female goat by the neck, whip her back and forth over his back and broke her neck.

 

[KevT]

Wow, surprised to hear that Bird, our Mini Donk protects and even heard our goats around. If the dog barks at them the Donk will charge the fence... LOL didn't take the dog long to quit barking

 

[KubotaToy]

I had a little donkey grab a full grown female goat by the neck, whip her back and forth over his back and broke her neck.

I have seen that happen once when I visited to look at a goat, did not kill the goat but it was bad hurt. Folks do keep donkeys and horses with goats, I spend to much to keep my goats healthy to take a chance. I use LGDs for protection.

 

[weldingisfun]

I had a little donkey grab a full grown female goat by the neck, whip her back and forth over his back and broke her neck.

The word that identified the reason that happened was "his". That is what jack donkeys do. And, that is how they kill predators along with stomping on them. Jacks are good only for breeding. They are NOT good guard animals. :2cents:

 

[weldingisfun]

So we went and picked up to young female pygmy/nigerian cross goats a month ago. Our fencing is for the horses, and just like everyone said, they walk right through the fence like its not there. But they love the horses and follow them around without getting to far away from them. Best part is seeing them wonder off into the black berries and other weeds that the horses ignore. We want to get more goats with the hope that if we get one at a time, it will stick with the first two and follow them around. These are strictly for weed eating and we have no desire to get into breeding or selling of goats. We also thought that we should stick with all females, but they are hard to find. Not impossible, just seems that they are sold in groups with males, or we have been too slow in calling about them and somebody else has already picked them up.

I've seen sever wether goats for sale and was wondering how they are? I imagine that they wouldn't have the aggressive tenancies, or the smell. Would it be safe to hope that if he is tame and friendly, that he would stick around with the horses like the other goats do? Good idea or bad idea?

Thank you,
Eddie

Eddie, I would suggest buying new goats two at a time and preferably two from the same farm. Your older girls will gang up on a newcomer as they establish or maintain their pecking order. Having two newcomers helps.

Regards wethers, should not be a problem for you. Can't understand why you are having difficulty finding pygmy/nigerian goats up your way. There are plenty listed on CL down here.

 

[blueriver]

The word that identified the reason that happened was "his". That is what jack donkeys do. And, that is how they kill predators along with stomping on them. Jacks are good only for breeding. They are NOT good guard animals. :2cents:

Yep ... a Jack is dangerous around sheep, goats, piglets and even calves. I had a John mule that also did the same.

 

[Mousefield]

We have mostly Nubian goats that we breed every year as they are milking does. The boys are usually turned into wethers and we hopefully sell them as pets or companions. Otherwise they end up for meat. We find our wethers are good natured and do make great pets/companions. As goats are herd animals we always make sure we do not sell a goat where it would be an only animal. There should be lots of wethers around (until they get big enough for the meat market) as most people do not keep bucks or if they do one buck can look after a lot of does.