Help!! Getting goats unexpectedly and need info on how to house them

[cafarmgirl]

You can run a few strands of hot wire around your pen to discourage dogs and coyotes. One about 8 inches from the ground to discourage digging and one around the top. You may also want to run one about a foot off the ground inside your pen to keep the goats off the fence. They are terribly hard on fencing. My goats eat pasture only for 8 months out of the year. Nov. thru Feb. they get grass or oat hay but they are pets only, we don't milk. They have an open barn with a east and south wall only but has pipe fence and a gate so I can lock them in there at night. Good luck and have fun with your new additions!

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Hi,
I haven't read the entire thread. I'm pressed for time so I'll need to make this brief. DO NOT LET YOUR GOATS EAT OR HAVE ANY ACCESS TO YOUR CHICKEN FEED! It can KILL them - quickly.

16% goat chow/feed is a good start. You can feed against or try to prevent UT stones. If affects bucks and sometimes altered males as
well. Large dog houses can work great...it would be difficult to help the doe while she was kidding inside a dog house though. Good Luck keep us posted on your goats.

 

[jeaucamom]

jojo@rolling acres farm :

Hi,
I haven't read the entire thread. I'm pressed for time so I'll need to make this brief. DO NOT LET YOUR GOATS EAT OR HAVE ANY ACCESS TO YOUR CHICKEN FEED! It can KILL them - quickly.

16% goat chow/feed is a good start. You can feed against or try to prevent UT stones. If affects bucks and sometimes altered males as
well. Large dog houses can work great...it would be difficult to help the doe while she was kidding inside a dog house though. Good Luck keep us posted on your goats.

Any kind of chicken feed or just medicated chick feed?​

 

[ksalvagno]

Any kind of chicken really isn't good for goats. If the goats eat a little unmedicated feed, it probably won't kill them but it is better for them not to have it.

 

[Cara]

Chicken feed can (and often will) cause them to bloat, which is bad news.

I would shut small goats up at night if you are aware of coyotes. I keep my does in the barn at night even though they have a 5-6' fence and are large (150lbs-ish), it's just not a risk I want to take.

I don't know that multiple goats would use separate houses. Mine always want to be together, and I think one would sleep outside to be next to the other. Either a 3-sided shelter, or a 3.5 sided shelter (three walls and just a doorway in the fourth side, not an open side) would be suitable, with plenty of room for you to get inside and a floor that is easily cleaned. They tend to like to always pee in the same spot, which makes dirt floors hard to keep dry and clean.

I feed alfalfa with no issues whatsoever. Dairy goats need good hay to produce good milk, and stay in good shape while they are doing it. There are some weeds that are toxic to goats, but the main concern would be weeds tainting the flavour of the milk. I have three large goats, two does and a buck, and go through a three string bale every week to ten days. I think the bales weigh approximately 100lbs.

 

[cpgracefulhorse]

thank you for all the info we are looking at the goats to day!!!!! ya

we are thinking about milking them....
any ways thank you!!!!

 

[jojo@rolling acres farm]

Any poultry feed is bad for them. Please avoid letting them get into any of it. It is not the medication...that is the issue but the entire formula. Infact, the medication in the feed would actually benefit the goats. You can buy medicated goat feed to guard against cocci. and UT.

Good Luck with your little creatures. Goats are wonderful little things. I just came in from spending the entire morning and early afternoon with mine. Getting ready for the next blast of winter. One of these days...winter really will end. Enjoy your goats. I love mine!

 

[jlapham]

Here at my back to basic homestead I simply love not only my goats,but all my livestock. Their is some great information at this site, if you want to check it out.
The goat that is ready to kid will need to be out of the wind, Here I use a heat lamp in our goat shed (barn). Don't be surprised if you have twins. Goats are great animals and have a lot to offer.

 

[cpgracefulhorse]

This is Jeaucamom... sorry.. just realized Cait is signed in..


But....

THE GOATS ARE ON THEIR WAY....

It is a long story and way more involved, twisted... etc than orignally thought... anyway... thought it in the best interest of the goats to take them now. I will post the whole story after they get here and with pics.

They are two pregnant does and one buck. The buck will be finding a new home ASAP... anyone want a buck???.... And they will be in one pasture until I can fix the other better one tomorrow. YEAH!! Not sure what I am getting into.. same as with chickens, but they are coming!!!!!!