Goats...tell me about them

[Chatychick]

My goats dont like to get rained on and most of my friends that have goats dont like getting wet either ...mine do drink water...

 

[kinnip]

The hose is the ultimate enforcer.

 

[kwynn's birds Alaska]

I am still learning about goats, but I just got one a few months ago. She's a nigerian dwarf. The fence is four foot hog panels with pine log posts, that we wrapped with chicken wire...to keep the chickens in.

She don't like old water. I change it three times a day, because if there is something in it, she won't drink it. Also I read that goats like warm water. This is true with my goat. Now, that's all she drinks is really warm water. get a food dish that can't be tipped over. someone posted that they are really wastful. They are!! She don't eat a lot, but she wastes a lot.

I feed mine hay, goat pellets, because she likes them, and a little brome hay pellets. she also get textured goat ration, which is grains rolled in molasses. she loves it. I give me chickens a handful every now and then. She likes to shew on birch, alder, willow. the bark and stems too. She eats some green grass, and loves fireweed.

Consider getting more than one. Goats are herd animals...except mine. She was given to me as pet placment, because she was raised with people and dogs, and when the time came to put her with the rest of the goats, she was not happy. She would rather just lay around, in the sun, and chew her hay. they do like to jump and climb on things. mine likes the dog kennel. So i pit that in her pen, and she lays on it all day. Don't put stuff too clost to the fence, so they wont jump out. Also never tie her up and expect her to survive. There are a lot of things that would love to get your goat. My neighborhood had dogs, so I can't do it. She rubs on the chicken wire where I keep my Banties.

Goats hate to be wet. I read where they have a natural instinct to run for cover when it rains, because they can get pneumonia really easy. Baby hates it when it rains. I have to almost drag her out when it is time for milking.

You gotta do hoof trimming as well, I'm still working on that one. Dirt floors are fine, because urine can drain away, but they shouldn't be muddy, because of hoof rot.

She lives in a dog house for the rest of the summer. we did have an area built for her, but she chose the dog house, and since she gets what she wants...

We put the dog house up on a pallet, and she has plenty of straw to keep warm with.

Read up about goats on fiascofarm.com
It's a neat little sight.

They all have their own little personalities. Mine wags her tail when she's happy to see me, she head butts a post when ever my MIL comes around. She loves my husband.
Plus, goat milk is the best. I now think it's better than cow milk, and I havn't bought cow milk since july!

I'm still learning too, anyone have more info...fill me in, or correct me if i'm wrong!

Let me know how it goes!