How many gallons of water does a goat drink in a day???

[Willow's Meadow]

I might get goats in the summer for their milk but I don't know much about caring for them so I am researching it a little bit. I have chickens and they live in the backyard in my barn.....the barn does not have running water. I just fill up a gallon of water everyday and bring it down their.....a gallon usually lasts the day and night. But I am just wondering if I would have to put a water line in if I wanted to have goats. How many gallons of water does a goat drink in a day???

 

[key west chick]

My 5 Nigis go through about 6 gallons a day during the summer. I have 3, 2 gallon buckets they use.

 

[PuppyBantamCochin]

I think each of my miniature cross goats drink at least a pint per goat, per day in cold weather, more when it's hot. I keep a 2gallon bucket in their pen which lasts around 2days IF they don't get hay or something else in it. Male goats, pregnant and lactating goats need the most water, so it's important to keep clean water available at all times.
And during the winter, if there's no heat source to keep the water from freezing, you'll need to bring warm water to them at least once a day.


Good luck!

F.V.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Right now my 6 pregnant Boers are drinking about 10 gallons a day.

 

[dewey]

Just thought of mentioning that if it's too far to run water hoses and if running a water line of some sort isn't a priority, a rolling water container might work, even a simple homemade one, but they can be purchased for around $50.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

1-2 gallons a day in the summer. Not as much in winter.

 

[Willow's Meadow]

Oh YAY!!!!! lol Thank you!!!! That sounds great!!! lol I think I can manage that!!!! And the one person that said there 6 goats drink 10 gallons of water......that sounds good because I won't have 6 goats I'll probably just have 2. So it will be less water. So that would be 3-5 gallons a day. Thats not that bad.....and eventually we pobably will run a water line down their but temporary I think it'll be okay.

And we have this pasture right next to our house that is half way fenced in (we need to fix/finish the fence) so I will probably put a big water trough in their and that would only be a few feet away from the house and the hose so I can fill that up too. Is electric fencing good for goats??? We have a split rail fence but we will probably put a electric fence up too. Also are goats easy to lead if they are trained??? Because I think they section of the barn that I am going to put them in is not going to be right next to the pasture....so I might have to lead them through the barn to get them out to the pasture....and maybe from the barn to the pasture(which is only a few feet away) unless I connect the fence to the barn.

 

[Lifesong Farm]

I would put up something more than just electric fence. Half my herd stays in and the other half runs through it. I have one doe that will start running at the fence and starts yelling before she hits. I was used to goats who listened to the electric and now I have to go and redo it with field fence.
Goats do learn to lead easily. They are also greedy things and will chase you down for food. I have had to move the herd all at once before and I used thier grain to do it. They almost knocked me down before I got them put up.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Ahh, goats and fencing! Also known as "giant pain in the backside"! Definitely don't depend on the split rail fence and a hot wire to keep them in. Put up some field fence/horse fence on the rail fence and then still run a hot wire around the inside to keep them off the fence. Otherwise they will stand on it with their front hooves, scratch themselves on it ect etc until it's a mess. This will also keep dogs out of your pasture.

 

[Hound]

There's a saying that goes along with building fence for goats; if it holds water it might contain a goat.