Goat Thread!

[Serotonin]

Hey everyone, after a busy stint at work that demanded all my attention, I'm back to actively preparing to get our first herd of goats. We're looking to get 2-3 sometime in March. I've got our to-buy list together, we've been patrolling the edges of our fences looking for goat-sized gaps, and I'm looking for hay and vet care providers. A bigger project is making sure that the three-sided barn we're planning on housing them in is suitable for them, as I believe the former land owner used it to house horses.

I've attached a few pictures of it. Obviously I need to clean it out and add shavings, but is there any other adjustments I should make to it, like adding a platform or beds of some sort? We're planning to add a gate to the doorway part to help keep them safe from predators, but do you think I should bar the "window" section too? Living in the very edge of the Sierra foothills, coyotes or roving packs of feral dogs are our major concern here. The half-wall is about 5 feet, so it's not an insignificant height, but I'm not sure if coyotes or dogs are able to scale that.

I am also debating whether I should set up the hay feeder and loose mineral feeder inside the barn or out in the field. What do you all think? The barn is fairly big (it could probably fit two horses underneath comfortably), so there is room for it. But I don't know if that could just create a bigger mess to clean up.

I'm not sure what the best way to adjust the goats to their new home is either. I'm going to try to get the same hay as whatever breeder I do end up going with, but what about the pasture? Should I "ease" the goats into it, only letting them out a bit at a time to eat? I don't want to cause any stomach upset by overloading them with new food sources.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Hey everyone, after a busy stint at work that demanded all my attention, I'm back to actively preparing to get our first herd of goats. We're looking to get 2-3 sometime in March. I've got our to-buy list together, we've been patrolling the edges of our fences looking for goat-sized gaps, and I'm looking for hay and vet care providers. A bigger project is making sure that the three-sided barn we're planning on housing them in is suitable for them, as I believe the former land owner used it to house horses.

I've attached a few pictures of it. Obviously I need to clean it out and add shavings, but is there any other adjustments I should make to it, like adding a platform or beds of some sort? We're planning to add a gate to the doorway part to help keep them safe from predators, but do you think I should bar the "window" section too? Living in the very edge of the Sierra foothills, coyotes or roving packs of feral dogs are our major concern here. The half-wall is about 5 feet, so it's not an insignificant height, but I'm not sure if coyotes or dogs are able to scale that.

I am also debating whether I should set up the hay feeder and loose mineral feeder inside the barn or out in the field. What do you all think? The barn is fairly big (it could probably fit two horses underneath comfortably), so there is room for it. But I don't know if that could just create a bigger mess to clean up.

I'm not sure what the best way to adjust the goats to their new home is either. I'm going to try to get the same hay as whatever breeder I do end up going with, but what about the pasture? Should I "ease" the goats into it, only letting them out a bit at a time to eat? I don't want to cause any stomach upset by overloading them with new food sources.

It looks good to me although that front wall does seem a little low but idk. I would be tempted to add another piece of plywood to it or something. Or maybe just some wire over it? Wire might be better so they can still get sunlight but can’t escape or get attacked or anything.

 

[ShrekDawg]

And coyotes can scale a 6 ft fence easily.

 

[JustBabyMargo]

Are you all familiar with when a goats udder “pops”? The term basically means when the udder grows rapidly in a short amount of time (12-24 hours) to almost twice the size in preparation of labor. So about 12-24 hours after the udder “pops” and their ligaments go away, they should be in labor. I would love second opinions on whether or not Taffy’s udder is looking like it’s getting ready to “pop” or not. Her due date is tomorrow.

Here is Taffy’s udder from yesterday morning (at about 10am). Her udder looked about the same last night (at about 11pm)-

Here is this morning’s (taken at about 10:30am)-

Here is her udder 3 hours later (1:30pm)-

What does everyone think?

 

[ShrekDawg]

It definitely looks like it’s growing to me! But I’m no expert obviously.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

Are you all familiar with when a goats udder “pops”? The term basically means when the udder grows rapidly in a short amount of time (12-24 hours) to almost twice the size in preparation of labor. So about 12-24 hours after the udder “pops” and their ligaments go away, they should be in labor. I would love second opinions on whether or not Taffy’s udder is looking like it’s getting ready to “pop” or not. Her due date is tomorrow.

Here is Taffy’s udder from yesterday morning (at about 10am). Her udder looked about the same last night (at about 11pm)-View attachment 3411105

Here is this morning’s (taken at about 10:30am)-View attachment 3411106

Here is her udder 3 hours later (1:30pm)-View attachment 3411107

What does everyone think?

It definitely looks like it growing to me. But i havent ever raised goats or know barely anything about them.

 

[lomine]

It's getting bigger but doesn't look like she's fully bagged up yet. However, some does don't until after kidding so you can't always go by that.

The waiting is so hard. Last year I had a one go past her due date by TWO weeks. Guess they just needed a little more time baking.

 

[HipMystic]

Are you all familiar with when a goats udder “pops”? The term basically means when the udder grows rapidly in a short amount of time (12-24 hours) to almost twice the size in preparation of labor. So about 12-24 hours after the udder “pops” and their ligaments go away, they should be in labor. I would love second opinions on whether or not Taffy’s udder is looking like it’s getting ready to “pop” or not. Her due date is tomorrow.

Here is Taffy’s udder from yesterday morning (at about 10am). Her udder looked about the same last night (at about 11pm)-View attachment 3411105

Here is this morning’s (taken at about 10:30am)-View attachment 3411106

Here is her udder 3 hours later (1:30pm)-View attachment 3411107

What does everyone think?

Definitely growing, but no “pop” yet

 

[JustBabyMargo]

You all were right, still no “pop”. Taffy is never going to have these babies.

 

[ShrekDawg]

You all were right, still no “pop”. Taffy is never going to have these babies.View attachment 3412020

Yes she will