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Post by ottawagardener on Jun 21, 2011 15:03:37 GMT -5
I'm going to see some pgymy goats this Thursday and some regular sized ones soon too that will be enlisted to clear out some poison ivy and raspberry along with whatever else is there. For the summer, we plan on building them a lean too and getting a large watering trough. For winter, I hear they need an insulated, draft free shelter, yes? The thing is that I lean toward self sufficiency in animals so I don't want anything to delicate. At the same time, I don't want to overly neglect animals. Okay, you know what I'd really like? A few mountain goats that can be caged in  a large area. I've brought up the semi-feral animal thing before but how can we apply this to goats? |
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 21, 2011 17:15:15 GMT -5
Oh, I would puffy pink heart some goats to clear blackberries and poison oak off my ravine!!! Unfortunately, goats are escape artists. Until Moneyman is on board with goats, no goats will live here.  In my research, I have found that domestic goats aren't as easy as we non-goat-types think... Foot trimming, vaccinations, weird digestive issues, and on and on. Blah. I still want them, though. Would you keep them for milk, as well? I would, if I could convince my husband that it would be such a great thing to process goats' milk into cheese and soap all during the milk season. Fat chance of that happening!
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Post by seedywen on Jun 21, 2011 17:51:39 GMT -5
Goats are generally hardy creatures but like you mentioned in your climate they will need an insulated draft-proof shelter.
Goats in my experience are quite fussy about the cleanliness of their drinking water so give some thought to where their water bucket will be placed so it doesn't spill, get hay chaff or manure pellets in it. And it will freeze so if you're like me, I haul water to my four dairy goats 2x a day most of the winter.
Also build them a hay manager preferably of the 'key-hole' kind so they can get their heads in to eat but can't drag a lot of extra hay out trying to get the most tasty bits and waste the hay. Once the hay gets soiled in any way, the goats won't touch it. They can also eat evergreen branches and will strip the bark and relish it off of any fruit tree or many other hardwood trees you might like to give them. They will also strip the bark off of living trees and you could lose quite a few over time.
Good fencing is important if you don't want them going where they shouldn't, like onto your neighbour's land or nibbling your favorite shrubs, perennials etc.
There is also a pecking order among goats. One will want to be lead goat and the temperament and action of this animal will influence your small herd significantly. In other words, I'm suggesting take a cautionary approach to the 'nature' or character of the goats, you purchase or even ones that someone wants to give you.
If dairy goats are in your long-range livestock management plan, you may find that raising related goats, sisters or mother/daughter/granddaughters will lead to more peace in the goat kingdom.
I love my goats. They are however intelligent animals and like raising intelligent children, they will provide challenging moments.
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Post by steev on Jun 21, 2011 20:01:02 GMT -5
So long as they don't want to "borrow" the truck on Saturday night, we'd get along.
I've seen them ringbark oaks when their herder didn't pay attention; wouldn't say I've not done much the same when nobody was paying attention.
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Post by seedywen on Jun 22, 2011 9:11:39 GMT -5
So long as they don't want to "borrow" the truck on Saturday night, we'd get along. I've seen them ringbark oaks when their herder didn't pay attention; wouldn't say I've not done much the same when nobody was paying attention. LOL, steev! Must admit I formed a prejudice against pygmy goats, after seeing two,regularily, commander the roof-top of their owner's car. The dents never did come out. |
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Post by lavandulagirl on Jun 22, 2011 9:25:05 GMT -5
Ugh! None of you EVER repeat the top-of-the-car story to my husband, or I'll NEVER get goats! 
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Post by johno on Jun 22, 2011 9:57:38 GMT -5
Ugh! None of you EVER repeat the top-of-the-car story to my husband, or I'll NEVER get goats! You best have a well-researched plan for preventing goats on top of the car, or you won't have them for long. They love to play King of the Mountain. |
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Post by steev on Jun 22, 2011 10:48:00 GMT -5
Poor stubby-legged pygmy goats just want to see what's over there. Goats aren't really pasture critters. Notice that there aren't many "mountain cows" or "mountain horses".
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Post by ottawagardener on Jun 22, 2011 12:35:52 GMT -5
I have lots of rocks? I also have two vehicles...
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Post by steev on Jun 22, 2011 17:13:16 GMT -5
That's what's happened to all the millstones! They're being used as anchors to keep the goats off the car.
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Post by seedywen on Jun 22, 2011 19:43:11 GMT -5
I keep my millstones, safely strung around my neck:)
Keep the goats from accessing your cars/trucks/tractors helps.
4 foot page wire fences work. Most of the time, more as a psychological barrier than physical. When my goats have fled a bear they have cleared those 4 foot fences with a single bound. Like deer.
Fortunately if they have plenty of suitable graze and are healthy and happy, memory of those perilous moments seems forgotten. Although I boarded a wether for someone who cleared those 4 foot fences one night and by morning, had ringed my five new apple trees.
Had he been mine, his name would have become, 'Birria', the next day!
Make sure also, that no convenient, 'launch' platforms get situated anywhere near your fence, like mounds of dirt, old stumps, machinery etc. Playing King of the Mountain, will invariably tempt, the conquering of new territory.
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Post by steev on Jun 22, 2011 20:08:28 GMT -5
I'm sure I could also clear a 4' fence were I chased by a bear; I'm not so sure that a bear intent on biting my succulent butt would even notice most wire fence, though; their eyes aren't all that keen. Mostly they hunt by scent, which is why they'll raid your garbage even when you've put up "do not feed bears" signs. It's not that they can't read, they just don't see well, especially in the dark. I can empathize.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jun 23, 2011 9:08:08 GMT -5
I think I could clear an 8 foot fence though there would be some vertical scrambling involved.
Bears can read? If I put up signs that say: keep away deer, will they listen?
As a child, we used electric fencing and tethering. Is it cruel to tether, ie. tie up the goat? We used to use a log, metal dog chain. You had to check on the darlings to make sure they didn't get tangled of course.
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Post by steev on Jun 23, 2011 19:34:59 GMT -5
"Keep away deer" will only work if they think you have a headache.
The question is not whether bondage is cruel to the goat, but does the goat consent and enjoy it?
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Post by seedywen on Jun 23, 2011 19:49:24 GMT -5
Here's a link to my current favorite goat information site. Only got directed there by a friend and wished had known about the site earlier. Fifteen years earlier. fiascofarm.com/sitemap.htmTried tethering a young billy goat some years ago. Count the ways, he could get the rope tangled! Since then, the only tethering have been to loop the end of a long dog leash with a clip to a goat's (strong) collar over a fence post and let her browse (prune) some prolific shrubs like buddelia, wild roses, hazel nut trees etc. For a few hours at a time. |
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a large area. 
In my research, I have found that domestic goats aren't as easy as we non-goat-types think... Foot trimming, vaccinations, weird digestive issues, and on and on. Blah. I still want them, though. Would you keep them for milk, as well? I would, if I could convince my husband that it would be such a great thing to process goats' milk into cheese and soap all during the milk season. Fat chance of that happening!
