GOATS!

[journey11]

Thistle - I'm glad to hear about the cattle panels! I was looking at those online, and they seem affordable enough and easy enough to move on a regular basis. We definitely can not afford to do chain link or any permanent type fencing on our land. DH still keeps insisting that we can put them on a picket, but I really don't like that idea. I work from home, so I can kinda keep an eye on them, but I do need to actually get work done, not constantly be out there untangling the goats. I was considering wethers, but once the new house is built and I actually have some space, I'd consider milking them. Goaty or not, I LOVE goat cheese! I'm leaning towards Saanens or Alpines, but we'll see. I read that Nubians can be high-strung. Is that accurate?

I know, I wish I could do the chainlink too. Definitely couldn't afford it new and they go pretty quickly in the trader's guide ads. I am not on the ball enough to keep my eye out for some. We decided on 4"x4" field fencing and a couple strands of electric. If you can keep checking, like Nyboy said, chainlink does routinely show up on there.

We had Cloud on a tether and she was NOT happy. She got tangled all the time and eventually wore out the chain (which had held my pitbull for 3 years!) and then she started escaping daily. I don't blame her one bit though. It was not an ideal life for a goat, so we knew we couldn't keep her like that. (I hated keeping the dog outside on a chain too, but had no choice at the time because we didn't own our own home. )

You run into a little different challenge keeping goats on a small acreage. Since they are browsers, they want to be out and about nibbling on everything. We will have to confine ours to a relatively small area, about 1/6 of our acre, and that requires tighter security because they are going to get bored and want out. Some farmers down the road from me have 20+ goats on their large farm, loosely fenced, and they have so much to eat that they never go anywhere. Unfortunately there is a very tempting brushy overgrown 11-acre pasture on my neighbor's land bordering ours. If they get out, at least I know where to go looking for them!

That does sound like a delightful childhood, Thistle! I get a chuckle imagining the goat licking your ice cream. I am all for spoiling the pets we love! :happy_flower

 

[thistlebloom]

Another problem with tethering a goat, besides the incessant untangling, is how vulnerable it makes them to dog attacks. In a pen they have at least a first line of protection. Goats, being herd animals, are also much happier with at least one other goat. They can adjust to being alone, but seem to pine for a buddy.

Journey, if they have a buddy to play with and a few "toys", like stumps or something similar to jump on, they are surprisingly content and won't be looking for adventure outside their pen. We also give ours the prunings to work at. They will eat the leaves and strip the bark off tree and brush cuttings. That seems to satisfy their browsing instinct.

 

[journey11]

I have heard that they love to "recycle" Christmas trees too.

 

[thistlebloom]

Ha! Yeah, this spring one of my customers still had their Christmas tree waiting to be hauled off, so I went ahead and did it for them ( I actually think they were hoping I'd do that ).
I just brought it home and tossed it into their pen. I let them work it over for about a week before I hauled it out to the burn pile.

 

[peteyfoozer]

As far as smaller goats being easier to contain, not so. Goats go over, under and through so smaller goats can squeeze through smaller spaces. Perhaps you can find some people with different breeds and see what you like as they are all so different.
I love the milk Nubians give but they are drama queens. One the other hand, they don't fit through smaller holes so I don't need as tight of fencing. They are also quite large so they tend to drag me around if they want to.

I have a little Alpine that is really laid back, but not as agressive at foraging as the Nubians. Boer goats, which are meat goats are cute and might bring better prices if you are breeding them. You just have to see what suits you. Premier 1 has a nifty electric netting that folds up easily and is pretty effective and super easy to move. If mine didn't free range, I would go that route. It will also help protect them from predators. We have coyotes and cougars here, so it wasn't safe to put anything out without Guardian Dogs.

My goats are just for personal milk and milk for soapmaking, so I only have 2 now. I have found I have better luck with hair sheep . The little Dorpers are just about as good as goats at grazing...they are like pasture pirhanas and they dont tend to climb over and thru fences like goats will and the lamb is fantastic. No muttony flavor because they don't have the lanolin of the wool sheep, no shearing, no tail docking and mine are mighty friendly and whatever I sell brings a lot better price for me than goats...oh, and the rams don't smell nasty like a buck would.

 

[curly_kate]

You guys are giving me plenty of ammo to use with DH about the fence! Our neighbor has 2 dogs that we have had trouble with in the past because they've attacked our chickens. I wouldn't put it past them to go after the goats. There is a boxed who I'm sure thinks he's just "having fun" with them, and my guess is that goats would be irresistible. And thanks for the info about small breeds, Petey! DH also thinks we should do a couple of small ones because they'd be easier than big ones. I want some nice big dairy goats. The battle continues!

 

[peteyfoozer]

If you want dairy goats, then I would really look at Nubians. Saanens and LaManchas are nice too, but Nubies are the cadillac if you don't mind the drama. My girls were pitiful, although I am sure not every single Nubian would be typecast for Scarlett O'Hara...just all that I have met. Again, I'd opt for the Premier 1 fencing for safety and ease of moving. I think its about $165 for a 40x40 with everything built in and you just roll it up and move it. Just add a solar charge. Electric has worked great on goats for me.

 

[journey11]

Cute lambie pic there, Petey!

I saw a Great Pyr for free to a good home on Craigslist the other day. I was so tempted! But right now, I don't have anything for him to guard really.

 

[MontyJ]

While it is interesting and tempting, I'll have to pass on goats for now. I could not possibly commit to milking.

But, after reading this:

Picture edited to save embarrassment.

I had to go pee over the hill!

 

[OldGuy43]

I know very little about goats, but I love to post. Here's what I do know:

1. Many people who are allergic to cows milk can tolerate goats milk. I used to know a man who kept goats for that very reason.

2. The goats milk that I drank at his home had a stronger flavor than store-bought cows milk.

3. Goats will eat almost anything:
♬
Bill Grogan's goat
Was feeling fine
Ate three red shirts
Right off the line
♬

4. However, contrary to popular belief they will not eat tin cans. They'll eat the labels off of them though.

5. Butting is the way goats play. It can be a pain as some are most insistent when they are ready to play.

6. Goat cheese is delicious.

7. If you don't breed your goats they won't lactate and milking will not be necessary. However, they are livestock and require care. They will severely restrict any travel plans you might wish to make.

I know this was kinda useless, but it makes me feel as if I'm contributing.