I've finally lost it...anyone want two goats?

[petchickenlover]

So earlier I looked outside to see my 4 goats all standing right next to the road. I found the place where i thought they'd gotten out, and spent about 30 minutes trying to fix it. I turn to go to the house, and they're by the road again!

So I had to herd them inside and find where they'd gotten out, again. I find where they got out and they'd pushed the fence almost all the way to the ground. I ended up having to get another fencepost to fix it.

Why did i have to get goats?!

 

[coberdor]

Goats are great escape artists.

Electric Fence is a must. The will push and shove all other fencing. The electric fencing is the only thing that mine respect. I have 9 dairy goats.

Good luck on keeping them in.

 

[hennyannie]

Yeah, for the most part mine are free-range!LOL

 

[petchickenlover]

Quote:
I do have electric fence but it appears its shorted out somewhere and i've had trouble locating where. Been around the fence a dozen times with no luck locating it.

 

[glenolam]

Here's a question - what do you have INSIDE their pen to keep them busy?

I know goats can and are kept in smaller pens/dog kennel areas and that's fine, but it's like putting a baby in a play pen and leaving it there. Eventually it's gonna get bored and try to wander off.

I have electric inside my goat pen and have just turned it back on after being off all winter long. I'm actually debating on saving electricity and keeping it off and see how they do. I have full sized goats, Nubians, Saanans, and crosses so they're fully able to jump over the 4' fencing I have. But they don't (or haven't yet). I have plenty of "toys" for them in their pen - which is rather large, I will admit (it's just under an acre). But the idea is that they have stuff to keep them busy - huge wooden electrical spools, a balance beam made from a 2x4, stumps, rocks to play king of the mountian, old little tykes toys I found at the dump, etc.

 

[Jaehon_geek]

Ahhh goats.. they need fences like cattle/hog panels, and things to climb, browse on and things to do..
or they find things...
Wish you were closer.. I would love some goats.

Sherry

 

[petchickenlover]

Quote:
At that moment they had a manger full of hay

I have been meaning to get them something to play with. They roam on about 4 acres with two horses and a llama.

 

[glenolam]

At the risk of sounding rude, I'm going to say you need to get them some toys ASAP.

Seriously, though, I've found (the hard way!) that the more you treat them like toddlers the better YOU'RE going to be. I've even seen people toss a ball in their pen and the goats "kick" it around. If you dig up a few big rocks, toss them in the pasture somewhere one rock at a time. Eventually you'll end up with a mountain that they'll love.

 

[TinaSwarr]

good luck with your goats, my grandmother had 3 goats when i was growing up, these goats were the reason i learned so many cuss words at a young age,

 

[lockedhearts]

Two Words........


Cattle Panels



My goats are in a relatively small area, using cattle panels, they are content. They only "get" put when I open the gate and let them.