Goat induced *SIGHING*

I have to vent, and ask a few questions too.

Read my blog post first, then answer questions below

https://wanderinghollowfarm.wordpress.com/2016/10/18/goats/

How can I help a reluctant milker??

Whats a wonderful, jump-over proof, AND strangling proof fence?

Does anyone put goats in gardens for winter?

I think thats all... Any more advice would be great!!

~Savannah

ANYBODY??

Go back to your TSC and pick up a bunch of these: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/cca-pressure-treated-wood-post-35-in-x-65-ft
Make sure you look at the pieces at the store before you buy and pick only straight ones....because some of them are curved.
Sink them 2 feet in the ground and use this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Quikrete-50-lb-Fast-Setting-Concrete-Mix-100450/100318521 to cement the posts into place. The holes should be 6-8" wide.
Wait overnight for them to dry. Get some of this: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/goat-fence-48-in-x-330-ft and nail it to posts with some of these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Grip-Rit...HGPNS1/100148501?keyword=chicken+wire+staples
Then you'll need to put a strand of electric wire over the top of the fence, heres what you'll need:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/know-how_farm-ranch_fencing_electric-fencing
http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/ca...anch-_-SubCategory-_-Fencing+Electric_Fencing
For a gate, I would use this: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/wire-filled-gate-4-ft It comes with mounting hardware so all you'll need is a drill and a bit.

As far as milking, I am less than useless on the matter. Hopefully someone will respond about that.

Quote: From your blog, I assume you are trying to milk Clover. Was she sold to you as having been hand-milked? Does she have a kid on her now? Where are you trying to milk her - tied to a fence? in a stanchion/head gate/stand?

I use several different types of fencing for my goats. I have 2x4 WOVEN wire (NOT welded, goats will destroy welded wire), cattle panels, horse panels (similar to cattle panels but smaller holes) and electrified netting. My favorite is the netting - goats touch it once and never want to go near it again, and it is SO EASY to move it around. No matter what fence you use, you do have to be vigilant about checking the goats twice a day or so - they can be very suicidal animals and find ways to hurt themselves that you never imagined.

If you do use woven wire, you do NOT need wood posts anywhere but the corners and gates. You will need to brace corners and gates, too, or they will just lean. Bracing is something you need to look up and research - it is utterly useless if done incorrectly. I generally do H-braces with diagonal cable/wire bracing. All of your line posts can be T-posts, which will be much easier to deal with in rocky WV soil. The trick with woven wire is to keep it flush with the ground and pull it TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT so it makes a "wall" that the goats just bounce off. If you are sloppy on your install, the goats will just push on it until there is a gap under it that they can crawl thru. If you cannot sink wood posts, TSC also has hardware to make corner and end braces out of T-posts. They work well, I have used them several times, but you cannot get the same amount of tension on the fence as you do with wood posts.

I do not put any animals in the garden, ever, except the chickens who have free access over winter. The chickens do a great job of "turning over" the garden and keeping it loose and light. Hooved animals will pack the garden soil down, and their droppings and wasted feed/hay will be too "fresh" to really benefit the garden when growing season arrives. You are better off starting a manure pile and letting it cook and compost over the winter. Turn it often, and you will have wonderful compost to add to the garden next spring. Goat berries can be hard to pick up, sometimes it is just easiest to rake them in a pile with a fine tine rake or manure fork, and scoop them up with a grain shovel.

res said:

From your blog, I assume you are trying to milk Clover. Was she sold to you as having been hand-milked? Does she have a kid on her now? Where are you trying to milk her - tied to a fence? in a stanchion/head gate/stand?

I use several different types of fencing for my goats. I have 2x4 WOVEN wire (NOT welded, goats will destroy welded wire), cattle panels, horse panels (similar to cattle panels but smaller holes) and electrified netting. My favorite is the netting - goats touch it once and never want to go near it again, and it is SO EASY to move it around. No matter what fence you use, you do have to be vigilant about checking the goats twice a day or so - they can be very suicidal animals and find ways to hurt themselves that you never imagined.

If you do use woven wire, you do NOT need wood posts anywhere but the corners and gates. You will need to brace corners and gates, too, or they will just lean. Bracing is something you need to look up and research - it is utterly useless if done incorrectly. I generally do H-braces with diagonal cable/wire bracing. All of your line posts can be T-posts, which will be much easier to deal with in rocky WV soil. The trick with woven wire is to keep it flush with the ground and pull it TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT so it makes a "wall" that the goats just bounce off. If you are sloppy on your install, the goats will just push on it until there is a gap under it that they can crawl thru. If you cannot sink wood posts, TSC also has hardware to make corner and end braces out of T-posts. They work well, I have used them several times, but you cannot get the same amount of tension on the fence as you do with wood posts.

I do not put any animals in the garden, ever, except the chickens who have free access over winter. The chickens do a great job of "turning over" the garden and keeping it loose and light. Hooved animals will pack the garden soil down, and their droppings and wasted feed/hay will be too "fresh" to really benefit the garden when growing season arrives. You are better off starting a manure pile and letting it cook and compost over the winter. Turn it often, and you will have wonderful compost to add to the garden next spring. Goat berries can be hard to pick up, sometimes it is just easiest to rake them in a pile with a fine tine rake or manure fork, and scoop them up with a grain shovel.

Click to expand...

I don't know if she was hand milked . She had 2 kids on her, but they were nursing for just comfort .we have a makeshift milkstand, and we have someone hold and scratch her while another milks.

You will just have to milk her whether she wants to be milked or not. Either she will get used to it or she won't.