Goats!!!

[CoelhoFamily]

I hadn't heard they had more health problems than any other goat? And even if they did, surely with proper care health problems wouldn't be as likely to develop? Obviously you can't prevent everything but surely they aren't that much more prone to health problems than other goats or people would be talking about it? But I've never had goats so who knows.

As for them serving no purpose, I think people that have them would argue otherwise. They're often pets, for one, which seems like a pretty good purpose to me (most dogs, cats, etc., except for working ones of course, serve no purpose either). But I guess if I had a dairy or breeding operation or something then they'd be somewhat useless since does and bucks can be pets too. But if someone is just getting pets they're fine. And two, they can eat brush, weeds, etc. I know other goats can too but if someone doesn't have a business they don't really "need" to have a "purpose".

I know I, for one, have considered getting wethers because I only want brush clearers and pets and don't want or care about milk. I used to think I wanted milk or to make stuff with it but it'd be too much work for me and bucks can be stinky and aggressive so wethers were the best option for me.

I think they serve just as much of a purpose as any other neutered animal.

That said, if there's something to this more health issues thing I'll reconsider.

But only if you can leave does unbred? I wasn't sure if they'd get sick or like HAD to be bred every year or at all if you have no desire to have milk???

You can leave the does unbred no problem. Only thing that wethers are more prone to is Urinary Calculi. But if you are sure to give them the correct minerals containing ammonium Cloride it prevents this from happening also with any goat or animal make sure they have fresh clean water at all times. Our boys are very healthy and yes they are wethers. They are the sweetest boys you'll ever meet.

 

[waddles99]

DONT get wethers! They are prone to a lot of bad health problems and have no purpose! Get does so you can have milk and encourage others to do the same!

I feel like this person's view on wethers is very narrow minded and opinionated....so allow me to share my view.

Wethers, if properly managed, don't pose any other health problems than other goats. Wethers are notorious for stones, yes, but only if not cared properly. Much like any other livestock, you need to care for their needs. By simply putting ACV in their water, or some other preventative measure, you can avoid stones. My wethers have yet to have any medical problems that a doe couldn't get just as easily. So there goes that silly hypothesis....

As for the latter part, that just tells me you are ignorant. Wethers serve many purposes...commercial and recreational. A lot of people who raise goats for meat wether their goats so they don't get nasty and smell. It is easier to manage a herd of wethers than bucks. Ever wonder why you haven't herd the term "market buck"? Wethers are ideal for meat production. There are large farms in South Africa dedicated to raising herds of market wethers for slaughter. Even some in the US too. Wethers can also be used as companions for bucks. Does cannot be. Also, wethers make great show animals and pets for those who don't want to spend the money for does. They don't go into heat or rut like intact bucks or does. They are a pleasure to work with in the show ring and around the farm.


Please....and I mean this in the nicest way possible....if your opinions are wrong and unhelpful...keep them to yourself.

 

[CoelhoFamily]

I feel like this person's view on wethers is very narrow minded and opinionated....so allow me to share my view. 

Wethers, if properly managed, don't pose any other health problems than other goats. Wethers are notorious for stones, yes, but only if not cared properly. Much like any other livestock, you need to care for their needs. By simply putting ACV in their water, or some other preventative measure, you can avoid stones. My wethers have yet to have any medical problems that a doe couldn't get just as easily. So there goes that silly hypothesis....

As for the latter part, that just tells me you are ignorant. Wethers serve many purposes...commercial and recreational. A lot of people who raise goats for meat wether their goats so they don't get nasty and smell. It is easier to manage a herd of wethers than bucks. Ever wonder why you haven't herd the term "market buck"? Wethers are ideal for meat production. There are large farms in South Africa dedicated to raising herds of market wethers for slaughter. Even some in the US too. Wethers can also be used as companions for bucks. Does cannot be. Also, wethers make great show animals and pets for those who don't want to spend the money for does. They don't go into heat or rut like intact bucks or does. They are a pleasure to work with in the show ring and around the farm. 


Please....and I mean this in the nicest way possible....if your opinions are wrong and unhelpful...keep them to yourself. 

Very well said. I haven't added ACV to their water yet but I will look into it. I read about ACV being used to clean the buckets but not actually as a drink. I always do health checks on our small herd daily, this includes watching everyone pee. So far so good. We have lost 2 since getting into goats so I am always monitoring them closely. Mostly due to guilt I believe. But I love them so much and it's all worth it.

 

[cassie]

DONT get wethers! They are prone to a lot of bad health problems and have no purpose! Get does so you can have milk and encourage others to do the same!

Say WHAT?? Not everyone wants a milk goat. Wethers make fine pets. They can be used as companion animals for bucks, does, or race horses. They are also used as pack animals, brush goats, and in the case of angoras, mohair. And of course they are also used for meat.

 

[kysilkies]

DONT get wethers! They are prone to a lot of bad health problems and have no purpose! Get does so you can have milk and encourage others to do the same!

No purpose? I can't even articulate the amount of love and joy our little wether has given us! He's laying at my feet keeping them warm as I type! No purpose, there's two right there, Pfffft.

 

[kysilkies]

We got piccolo a buddy! Another weather about 2mths older and is an Alpine/Dwarf mix! Same person we got piccolo from!

She's buying another incubator from us for cash and goat!

 

[kysilkies]

Lazarus will be here today! We built them an outdoor shelter but were hoping to see other people's food setup for their goats. Do we need baking soda out there still or was that just as a baby? Thank you in advance!

 

[waddles99]

Lazarus will be here today! We built them an outdoor shelter but were hoping to see other people's food setup for their goats. Do we need baking soda out there still or was that just as a baby? Thank you in advance!

I dont offer grain/feed out all the time. Its not healthy for the goat, not to mention can pose serious health problems from them overeating. What I do is fill up an individual bucket for each goat with their allowed amount, 2x a day, and place it out for each goat. This way I know who is getting how much and make sure they are all eating the proper amount. I also put in some BOSS for coat health in with their ration. You don't have to do it, its mainly just a preference. I fed Purina Goat Chow, in case you were wondering. They liked it and it was a pretty good ration for pet goats.

As far as minerals and baking soda, get something like this: http://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/pr...l-feeder-2x175-qt-capacity-black?cm_vc=-10005 . I would tie it to the fence with zip ties, and then every time it rained it would give me an opportunity to clean it out. I only did this because they were in an outside pen with no coverage from rain, and i didn't want it in the barn because they only went there in the night. Put half goat mineral supplement and half baking soda. They do not ever outgrow the need for baking soda. Ever.

You will also need to provide some forage for him throughout the day. Goats are browsers, so they will not eat the grass as a first choice. If you have a pen with some pushes and trees, thats perfect. If not, just give them free choice hay. They shouldn't be too picky about their hay, but it depends on the goat. Ive seen my goat eat straw used for bedding. If you can get a covered hay feeder, that would be best.

Good luck!

 

[HnkyDnkyZZFarm]

We trimmed hooves today. Yay. Everyone looked surprisingly good considering how long it's been. Even weirder, my friendly girl decided to kick and fuss and generally act like a goat, but everyone else was perfectly happy to be trimmed, and some even came back and hovered and tried to squirm in when it wasn't their turn.

I figured the sheep would be utter chaos and struggle, but it went so well I clipped some wool around bellies and legs that had picked up so much lanolin, hay and seed that I just couldn't take it anymore.


Mac and Cheese in the foreground, Mac is black, Sugar the not so sweet right behind the fence and Lucky Stars in the background



Mac Attack



Sugar and Spice(white star) are everything nice...

 

[kysilkies]

Do you lock goats up at night? Main area in enclosed by fence, we built them a hut but don't know whether to put door on it or not, do you?