Hi everybody - I have a million questions about goats. We want to get some, but it probably won't be until next year since we have lots of projects to get squared away first...finish the bigger chicken pen and bigger coop, some gates and things for the garden, and then put up fencing and finish the shelter that will be for the goats.
Sorry this is going to be really long - thanks for bearing with me, because I need lots of help. Trying to do the right thing and find out all we can before we take the goat plunge!
First, what breed to get?
We don't want to milk or breed them to start with, though that might change when we both retire (6-12 years from now) we just want pets for now while we learn, goats who can help keep our blackberries under control - an ongoing issue in Western Washington. I was wanting a bigger breed like Alpines who could learn to carry packs or pull a cart, but my partner prefers small ones, so I'm willing to go along with that, especially after reading from you folks how even the small ones can be hard to contain. So I think we're going to go with Nigerians, unless some of you could suggest other smallish breeds that would work for us. I have a hankering for Angoras or small Angora crosses or some other small fiber goat. At this point, I know nothing about fiber arts, but I love DIY and crafting and would love to learn and eventually make it a retirement pastime. I know "Nigoras" and "Pygoras" exist, but where to find them?
Where to get them?
There are several reputable breeders around here who test their herds for CAE/CL/Johnes and whose herds are registered, but those tend to be expensive. Still, some of those breeders sell non-show-quality wether kids for hobbyist prices. I would definitely want to look at their vet records if we went that route. There are also goat rescues nearby who have apparently done all the vetting, their adoption fees are less expensive, but their goats tend to be older. There are also random sellers on Craigslist. I think we should avoid those, unless they link to a reputable breeder's site.
How old ?
My partner wants young goats who will bond with us, but he's also pretty cheap, LOL. How long do goats live, in general? I get a lot of conflicting information on different websites. Say we got a five-year-old goat, healthy and friendly, from a rescue, would you goat peeps consider that old, youngish or middle-aged? Do the different-sized breeds have different lifespans, like dogs? We definitely don't have time for bottle babies currently, they need to be weaned and eating hay.
How much space do they need?
Once again, different websites are telling me conflicting things. One says they need an inside shelter of 20 ft-sq per goat plus only 30 ft-sq per goat for outside pasture, which seems very small. Another site says they need outside pasture of one acre per goat?! Holy Toledo. The inside shelter seems legit, so an 8' x8' stall with a hay rack and water half-barrel seems a good size for 2-3 goats, which is our tentative plan for their shed. Our tentative plan for their pasture is about 60' x 100', fenced in by woven-wire 4' horse fence with wooden posts on the corners as well as every 32 feet, and metal T-posts every 8 feet in between the wooden ones. With an electric Hotwire above on the inside, and possibly another low down on the outside to deter predators. Which, one again, seems like overkill according to some websites, and an invitation to our goats escaping on to the road and getting run over, according to other websites.
Within this 60' by 100' field, we intend to divide it off in various ways so as to rotate the pasture, either with an electric netting fence that can be moved around, or getting creative with regular electric fencing and temporary T-posts.
My primary concern is keeping them contained. We live on two acres adjacent to a river, wilderness area and neighborhood trail, but part of our property is within the city limits of a small town. The town ordinances specify that any animal over 300 pounds needs at least 1 acre per individual animal. Animals under 300 lbs (like goats and chickens) are allowed, as long as their shelter is 10 feet from the neighbor's property line and any complaints from neighbors will be treated on an individual basis. So though we have a decent amount of land to keep goats and our city allows it, any goat who escapes, especially if they end up on the road or in some suburban neighbor's flower garden, will ruin it for us, as well as for our other neighbors who keep livestock on nearby small acreages.
What should they eat?
Wow, there's so much conflicting information between different websites, people at the feed store, people who care for goats. They need alfalfa, they should never eat alfalfa. Milking or pregnant does need alfalfa, wethers who eat alfalfa will get bladder stones due to too much calcium. They should all get free-choice local grass hay, 3-4 pounds each per day, plus free-choice loose goat minerals and baking soda. A goat-mineral salt-block is necessary, or maybe harmful. Different mixtures of grains are either necessary or harmful.
Our future plan at this point is to feed them local grass hay once per day, along with the browsing shrubs in their paddock, plus maybe a handful of grain or treats per day just to encourage them to like us, plus a feeder with goat mineral salt block mixed with baking soda.
Lots of other questions, but this is already too long.
Please, all of you goat folks, feel free with your opinions about fences, feeding, breeds, pretty much everything you can advise me about caring for goats. I need valuable, experienced advice from you before I get goats.
Any websites you recommend? Too many conflict with each other.
Love all of your posts, whether they're from experience or from learning - thank you.
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