Goats!

I'm getting 2 yearling does in a few weeks from a friend. They are half Nubian, half Boer, and he's going to breed them to his Boer buck before I get them. I have a goat book, and of course my friend will help me get started, and said I can call him if I ever need help (like when they are kidding!) My boss also recommended his wife's favorite goat book, Natural Goat Care, so I'm ordering that off Amazon. Just wondering if anyone has any advice they wish they'd known before they got their goats or any supplies that you think are necessities that might not be something a newbie would think of right away. I appreciate any advice.

My plan so far is to make a stall for them in the old tobacco barn that has 2.5 sides. It's plenty big to protect them from the elements, especially if I add a windbreak across the back half where the half side starts, then they'll essentially have a 4 sided space. I was planning on making a hay storage space on one half and making them a smaller space so that they keep each other warmer in the winter. It's about 12 feet across in the back, maybe 20 ft long total. My chicken coop is attached to the back part, so that will also help them keep each other warm. I have a portable electric fence, but will put up something more permanent if those more experience think I should or if that doesn't work out for us. We are renting our house, but our landlord already said it would be great if we got goats. He has over 40 acres here, and he's been fighting a losing battle with the brush overtaking the edges of the pasture. So they will have way more brush, etc, and pasture than they will ever be able to eat. My friend I'm getting them from is going to tell me where he gets his hay and what grain and minerals they're on so I can keep them on that and gradually switch them over if I want to change their feed. I have a cart saved at Hoegger goat supply, but I'm waiting to see my friend's set up and any advice others have before I order so I can take away and add. How sturdy of a stall do I need to make to make sure they don't escape or get into their hay? I have some wooden pallets, but there are plenty of cattle gates lying around the property I could surely use if needed. They look like galvanized steel or aluminum, very heavy, would definitely keep anything in, but it would be easier to use the pallets! There's also a regular 5ft high yard fence gate I can use as a gate in and out. Cheap reusing things is always good.

 

Thanks! I'm getting excited about getting them! I can't wait to get to work on all their stuff, not to mention an area to keep my bantams separate from my LF. Right now they're all free-ranging together. I was planning on halter training them, but my boss says he just leads his around with the feed bucket. LOL. Just like horses, I guess. I didn't know female goats would jump fences, though. Everyone I know with goats only had trouble with the males. We're planning on eating any boys, that's why I was happy with them being bred with his Boer. But thanks for the tip. I was planning on getting another portable electric fence b/c I only have 1 small one. I will make sure to get a taller one for sure! I think mine is only 4 ft high.