GOATS!

[curly_kate]

So I think I must have been fretting too much about our new house getting built because DH came home the other day & suggested I go ahead and find out about getting goats! I've been talking about it for a few years now, but he's always put me off. Anyway, I'm hoping the goat experts in TEG-land can help me make some decisions. First is the breed: at this point, I'm not interested in milk or meat, but more for something that can keep the brush down (and entertain me!). What breeds would fit the bill and be easygoing enough for a beginner like me? We're going to start off with just a pair. Then there's the question of fencing. I'd like something that we could move periodically to keep the goats in weeds. I know you can do electric, but I heard it's not always good at keeping them in. Plus, we'd need a solar charger, and I think a good one is pretty expensive. I also read about using steel livestock panels and joining them at the corners to create a pen. What are the pros & cons of these? And any other tips/suggestions/advice you have would be much appreciated!!

(I feel like I may have asked this question before, but I didn't see it when I did a search. But I apologize if I'm being repetitive!!)

 

[canesisters]

OH CONGRATS!!!! How exciting.

I don't know very much at all about them - only 'borrowed' a trio for a few months a while back - but for simple brush eating and entertainment should look into fainting goats. They're sort of small - so MIGHT be easier to contain. I've only met a few but they were all super friendly. And when they're young, if they get startled they stiffen up and fall over.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not one of your goat experts, but don't get a Billy. They are just too hard to control and contain until you get experience. Two Nanny's will work out fine, just don't get a Billy to start with.

 

[baymule]

Backyardherds.com link at bottom of this page has a very active goat forum. I don't know anything much about goats but I like to lurk on BYH in the sheep and goat forum. Congrats on getting goats!

 

[bj taylor]

we're getting goats too! our fence is almost up. hubby says he's NEVER building a fence again. we have brush and intruders. it's also a fire hazard, so we decided on goats. we're going to get meat goats (I can't commit to milking). i'll do most of the handling so I was trying to find a smallish goat. the myotonic (fainting goats) look pretty interesting.

best of luck with your goat endeavor. maybe we can help each other along the learning curve

 

[thistlebloom]

Oh boy Kate! You're in for some fun!
I am a goat lover from waaay back, when I was the family milk maid. The only breeds I have actual experience with are Nubians and Saanens. There seems to be so many more breeds available now thirty something years later!


Fencing will be the biggest focus, because goats are hard on enclosures. They love to stand on the wire to look over the top, so anything lightweight is going to sag and bend and look like last years underwear. They also love to lean against it and rub their body along the length of it to get at any itchy spot, so that will also tend to make it bow out and stretch.

At my folks we had mostly chainlink fencing, which was strong and held up well to keep them enclosed but did get the bulges from being stretched by their rubbing.

These days our pens are made from cattle panels which seem to be the best economically as well as strong enough to withstand all the standing and rubbing the boys can throw at it. They would also be a good option for moveable temporary pens to change where you want them to eat brush. You could attach them to T-posts at the corners, and in the middle of a panel for more stability.
One thing to note, goats are browsers, not grazers so don't expect them to crop weeds down to the ground, I have found them to be a lot more picky than the sheep we used to have.

Some breeds are jumpers, I've heard of Nigerians that could jump/climb out of a 5 foot fence, but I don't think that's very common.

You may want to start with a pair of wethers, they are easy going, and no worries about temperament or attitude changes like you would get with a doe. On the other hand, if you thought you might someday like to have milk you could start with does. As Ridge said, a buck would be a poor idea, for many reasons.

I have a pair of miniature Nubian wethers now, mostly for pets, but they do a fair job at clearing the underbrush when they are penned in one spot long enough. Be aware though that they love trees, and if you pen them with any trees that you want to keep you will have to make fortifications around it. They will bark it and stand on their hind legs to eat anything they can reach.

Goats are curious fun companion animals that definitely have a mischievous streak that will make you laugh and /or pull your hair out!

We take our guys hiking with us. They walk well on a leash, and climb in the back of the Jeep to ride to wherever we are going to hike.

Here's a shot of all of my "old goats".

Picture edited to save embarrassment

 

[MontyJ]

Beautiful pic Thistle! But I have to ask...is everyone peeing over the hill?

 

[journey11]

How much fun is that, hiking with your goats! I've heard they are good to carry a small pack too, if they are trained to it.

Are you saying the Nigerian Dwarves tend to be jumpers, Thistle? That's the breed we've been thinking about, hoping that a goat of smaller statue would be easier to keep in. And they are supposed to make very good milk. Cloud, the half boer/nubian we "fostered" a couple years ago wore us out jumping the 4' fence. She was a good girl at first, then started trying to make a break for it day after day, so we had to get rid of her. Couldn't have her eating my neighbor's garden!

We're also considering miniture Nubians. I just like their looks and the milk fat percentage is supposed to be higher. A friend of mine has Saaneens they are breeding and selling now out of their Grade A goat dairy. Those would be the easiest for me to obtain a nice quality milk goat. So that's another possibility. On my small parcel with so many neighbors nearby, I really need a breed that will be easier to contain. :/

I have surveyor coming to mark my property lines this week and we're putting up our new fence and another small barn around the last week of this month. I am that much closer to my goat-owning dreams! Hopefully this fall I will be able to buy a pair of bred does.

Can't wait to hear what breed you decide on Kate. Goats make for some awfully cute pics to share!

 

[baymule]

Peeing over the hill?

 

[MontyJ]

OK Journey, what does goat milk taste like? I have had a goat cheese and it was nasty. I have also eaten goat, also nasty.

And sorry Bay, but that's what it looks like! I mean heck, if I was there, I would pee over the hill.