grannys gone and done it

[napdognewfie]

I will pass this on to DD but she probably knows. lol

My cousins had a big goat that used to get loose and chase us when I was little. That buck would butt you and after you were on the ground, he climbed on top of you and peed. Sharp hooves.

They lived in a 3 sided shed and I don't remember them ever being wormed and those suckers stayed healthy. They had no choice. lol

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

eta: I agree with enola. depending on the type of fencing, you will be forever pulling their stuck heads out.


we've never had issues with our goats injuring the our kiddoes with their horns, just getting their heads stuck all the time....

Always amazed you don't see more goat skeletons hanging from fences the way they get their fool heads through there, and equally amazed how quickly and accurately they can turn their heads just right and yank them back through when you become convinced they are stuck and go to help them. Risk of injury isn't all that big with them, but it does provide a greater chance that *if* there is contact between head and human more of a lasting impression will be made with that increased hard, bony structure. Only real "injury" I've had from a goat horn was while being a good neighbor - driving home from work and noticed a goat out down the road a piece from our place. Pulled over and set to getting her back to where she belonged, but she was not the most cooperative goat (is there such a thing??) so there was a lot of pulling, lifting, dragging (and huffing and puffing) to get her the few hundred feet to the nearest gate - she was not amused and did manage to pull her head back at one point in such a way as I took the brunt of the end of a horn in my upper arm -- left one heck of an ugly bruise! Just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished.

 

[campingshaws]

I got overwhelmed looking at breeds so we'll probably go with pygmies for now. It's been a 20-yr dream of mine to have fiber goats, but I need to get my feet wet and see how the pygmies do. At least 2, maybe 3 to start. I have tons of questions so I'm off to do my research. e

 

[napdognewfie]

Mare, I'm good. Getting ready to start cardiac rehab.

Sorry it's been rough for you. I think ROTC does transfer though.

I had a mean little bantam roo that used to bloody my ankles. I kept a bushel basket outside the run and covered him with that or a box as I went in. I had a roo that impaled my friend's thumb. RIP Colonel Sanders. lol

 

[campingshaws]

I had to back read to find the post about fencing. We were already planning to use the 2x4 welded wire and a hot wire for the chickens. That would still work for goats? The lady up the road uses 4x4 fencing and a hot wire and hers stay put.

 

[enola]

Mate, I know exactly how you feel and what you are going through. I am packing up to go. I think Mike is in denial. He says he is coming along later. I guess I will see. Regardless, I am going...... Daughter will be here Sunday to help me load the truck. Wednesday we are leaving. My land lord is being a Sh!t head of the first degree. He is not going to pasture my mate for me. So I am scurrying trying to find a place to keep her until I find a place in PA.

But, that's ok, I have survived @ssholes before. He is mad because I didn't give him 30 days notice. He says this doesn't give him time to get another renter by the first. What he doesn't realize is, this county has a new regulation in place that requires an examination of all residences before electricity and water can be turned on for new occupancy. This house will not pass inspection. He remodeled it with no permits of any type. The plumbing is not up to code, neither is the electricity and there is sewage running out on the ground beside the house. The electric wiring to the barn is nailed to the board fencing for the pasture.

I wish him luck...... Done venting now, back to regularly scheduled programming ......

I miss my chickens! I sure hope Grandchildren can distract me .......

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Also, if you want to breed you don't *have* to keep a billy -- plenty of folks who do keep them will gladly let you have their billy cover your girls (for a price, of course). Yes, there are health and logistic issues using this approach, but it can be worth it for keeping a very small herd and to not have to deal with the billy yourself -- it also allows for more genetic diversity without having to sell/buy new billies as you can just find yourself a new stud from different lines to take the girls to.

 

[campingshaws]

My head is spinning...

 

[enola]

Fencing for goats needs to be strong enough that they can't "walk it down". Goats stand on fencing a lot. If the wire is not strong enough the fence sags and breaks.

 

[Tumbling K]

I had to back read to find the post about fencing. We were already planning to use the 2x4 welded wire and a hot wire for the chickens. That would still work for goats? The lady up the road uses 4x4 fencing and a hot wire and hers stay put.

4x2 with a hot wire would be good......

enola, she will be running a hot wire.

camping I'm assuming on the inside? hot wire on the outside will not keep goats from standing on the wire.......in which case you'll need something stronger.