Goats!!!

[kristastites4]

I am thinking of getting two or three pygmy goat. But was wanting to know if there is a site like byc to help New goat paren? Can anyone help me?

 

[Chaos18]

I am thinking of getting two or three pygmy goat. But was wanting to know if there is a site like byc to help New goat paren? Can anyone help me?

www.backyardherds.com

 

[minichicks05]

I am thinking of getting two or three pygmy goat. But was wanting to know if there is a site like byc to help New goat paren? Can anyone help me?

I found better hens and garden a good website for goats. You can just search that on Google. And if you are getting a boy you will want to get him banded/nurtured it can lead to bad behavior.

 

[sweitzerA2]

I am wanting to get into goats, pygmys specifically, I found two does I'm looking at getting to start off. But I need to know what they need, and if my plan will work. I have a fenced in area(10x25), the grass is mostly eaten down, but we have a huge property that I could stake them on for a couple hours at a time. We also make our own hay, so they could have as much as they need of it. I'm not planning on having kids, and they will have access to water at all times. Is there anything else they need to have?

 

[waddles99]

I am wanting to get into goats, pygmys specifically, I found two does I'm looking at getting to start off. But I need to know what they need, and if my plan will work. I have a fenced in area(10x25), the grass is mostly eaten down, but we have a huge property that I could stake them on for a couple hours at a time. We also make our own hay, so they could have as much as they need of it. I'm not planning on having kids, and they will have access to water at all times. Is there anything else they need to have?

10 x 25 is really small. Like, REALLY small. It will work, but that is really pushing it. I like to use the 500 sq ft per goat rule space wise outdoors. They might get bored with that space. I had my goats in a 30 x 30 area and they were bored. Provide them stuff to jump up on and play in and they wont be as bored. They will need access to a free choice loose or block mineral. It is really personal preference. My goats prefer the block so they get the block. Also, you will need to offer baking soda free choice to keep their rumen in order. This should go without saying, but provide them a dry, covered area on 3 sides for them to go in. An old shed would work fine. If you have predators in your area it might be a good idea to lock it at night. Where I am the worst things are foxes, so we don't lock them in. A fox really wont want to try anything with a 150 lb goat. Since yours are pygmys and smaller, I would lock them in. The fencing should be appropriate for goats so they can't get their heads stuck or escape. Use 4 x 4 or 2 x 4 welded wire. I don't know what your current setup is but goats will try and escape. If you use 6 x 6 or 8 x 8 fencing, they can get their heads stuck. If you leave any gaps, they will get through. There was a gap about 1' underneath the gate for the goat pen that lead to the other pen. Imagine my surprise when I saw a goat in the other pen calmy eating corn with a cow and horse 10x his size. He squeezed through the gap under the fence. Luckily into another pen...with (somewhat) harmless animals. But if yours got out they could wander off and get eaten. Don't leave any gaps for them to squeeze through or get their heads stuck.

 

[minichicks05]

Yes locking them up at night is a must for me. We put out a trap and caught two huge foxes! So I would definitely want a secure place. Make sure the water is always clean! They don't drink water if it is dirty. I always say would I want to drink that water before giving it to them. And get toys they get bored easily. I use little tikes from garage sales and they hold up well and they have tons of fun with that. And make sure to get goats that are used to humans otherwise they are very very hard to train!

 

[waddles99]

Yes locking them up at night is a must for me. We put out a trap and caught two huge foxes! So I would definitely want a secure place. Make sure the water is always clean! They don't drink water if it is dirty. I always say would I want to drink that water before giving it to them. And get toys they get bored easily. I use little tikes from garage sales and they hold up well and they have tons of fun with that. And make sure to get goats that are used to humans otherwise they are very very hard to train!

I built something like this for my goats: http://www.doubledurangofarm.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/kidsplaygroundeee.jpg and they loved it. The little tikes playgrounds are a great idea. I never used them because i thought it would be an eyesore.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

This is what mine have. waddles99 your link didn't work for me.

 

[waddles99]

Thats a lot more elaborate than mine was. I don't have it anymore. Got rid of it when we moved. Now its just a couple tires and rocks. Too much effort to build something than have them just use random objects.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's really nice. Goats just like being off the ground when they lay down to chew their cud. My husband came up with the tall design. I have had a few scares when goats have jumped off the top, but no broken goats. Thankfully it only happened when I had kids. The adults know better.