I have a GOAT question

[04SportsterChick]

My mother just bought a new house on 2.75 ac about a mile away from me. She has a huge over grown kennel in her back yard. When I say over grown I mean you can hardly see the fence. We were thinking of a little pygmy goat or two too clean up the kennel. They would of course be pets but a big help in cleaning up some of the yard. The kennel is about 30ft x 40 ft. That should be enough room to keep a goat? Which brings me to my next question I have read goats need a companion but it doesn't have to be a goat. Besides a donky what could you get? Thanks so much!!

 

[Sword]

30x40 is plenty of space for a couple of pygmies. They'd really do best with another goat, I'd get a pair of wethers if I were you.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I'd get two goats too. They can become friends with other animals but seem to be happiest with a buddy their own kind. Other animals just don't seem to enjoy the head butting kind of play that goats love!

You'll want to make sure there's no poisonous plants in the area you have planned for them. Can probably Google a list. And read up on goat care such as hoof trimming, vaccination's, deworming etc.

 

[debilorrah]

I agree with getting two goats. Pygmys hardly eat anything anyways. My dog and my goats were babies at the same time and all three bonded to each other. They are two years old now and the dog eats hay...

 

[misfitfarm]

one of my pygmys pal around with a chinese brown goose. They can be friends with just about anything including dogs. But yes don't have just one at least get it a friend of some sort.

 

[misfitfarm]

sorry but forgot 30 x 40 could house at least 10-15 pygmy's. I am down to three now and even though there are 3 houses for them they all stay together in a small one about 5 x 8. They just prefer it.

 

[Johndeere96]

I recommend getting boers they are the best clearers you can get

 

[1MrsMagoo]

I have four goats and the least picky, best forager is the Boer goat. My mini Nubian is the next least picky, but my two spanish/myatonic mixes are pathetic babies: I had to cut them paths into the woods before they would go in to eat. Even then, I find those two eating dried leaves rather than browsing the lush, green vegetation that is readily available to them...goofy goats.

I will say that I gave the four of them an area that is 100x300 and was overgrown up to nearly 5' tall in spots and in less than 6 months grass was growing in areas that hadn't seen sun in a very long time. Now, three years later, it is cleared of everything other than the large mature trees and I have to herd them to other pastures to eat....since nothing has a chance to grow with them there.

Please keep that in mind before committing to getting goats: After they have cleared the 30x40 area, you will need to feed them something. Also, if they manage to get loose, please be prepared to lose the plants you like the best in your yard. Every time mine have ever gotten loose I lose a fruit tree or two. It's as if they are drawn to them and will pass by every other plant on our 7 acres and head straight for my youngest, and obviously tastiest fruit trees.

I want to be mad at them, and manage to be really upset for a while, but at the end of the day, they are just goats doing what goats do best.

 

[hlf1996]

You should get two, they love each others company. And they are very entertaining to watch.
Here is a picture of my goats-

 

[misfitfarm]

awww cute goats! Pygmys are not good foragers

We have to cut the pature they are in before they will eat it. spoiled I guess