Lets talk about goats!

[lizardbrains]

The evening that mine kidded, she was pawing at the ground a lot, also bleating very softly. Hoping for an easy delivery for you!

 

[fancychicklady]

So I just came across this thread and I love it! We have chickens and ducks and want to add 2 goats (probably Nigerian dwarfs). My question is if I get babies (around 4 months old) is it okay to only have a lean to for them or do I need a shelter I can lock them in at night? We have been lucky as far as predators go but we have only had chickens/ducks 1 year. I am worried a lean to won't protect them from the threat against possible foxes, coyotes, etc since we live on 15 acres of woods. Thanks in advance!

 

[cassie]

You need a decent shelter and a good fence. Goats are prey to coyotes and dogs. You need a fence that can keep them out.

 

[GitaBooks]

So I just came across this thread and I love it! We have chickens and ducks and want to add 2 goats (probably Nigerian dwarfs). My question is if I get babies (around 4 months old) is it okay to only have a lean to for them or do I need a shelter I can lock them in at night? We have been lucky as far as predators go but we have only had chickens/ducks 1 year. I am worried a lean to won't protect them from the threat against possible foxes, coyotes, etc since we live on 15 acres of woods. Thanks in advance!

Sounds like a great idea!

As far as the shelter, I agree with you, a lean-to may not be enough for a small breed of goat. Coyotes are real tricky and they can get into pens real sneaky like. We always locked our goats up in a completely secure room at night and then would let them roam the barn and pen by day (coyotes don't come around our place by day because of the dogs).
Goats are good at escaping, so a good fence is more important for the goats then the shelter. A shelter should be dry, warm, and protect against the wind, rain, snow, ect. It should also be easy for you to use.
You could buy or build a small, secure shed for a couple of small goats. I've seen garden sheds used for this purpose, and you might even have one around that you could use without buying a new one.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!

 

[fancychicklady]

Ok thanks! I have a 4 ft fenced in area for the ducks and chickens. My chickens fly in and out all day however. I wasn't sure if a lean to was sufficient or if I needed something that I could physically lock them in. I want to make sure they are safe!

 

[alaska6kelly]

Ok thanks!  I have a 4 ft fenced in area for the ducks and chickens.  My chickens fly in and out all day however.  I wasn't sure if a lean to was sufficient or if I needed something that I could physically lock them in.  I want to make sure they are safe!

We use pallets

 

[Bigwig]

I currently have two goats (Little Bit and Peaches) that I hope are pregnant!

Little Bit is an Alpine and it is 105 days since she was bred. She has always been fat but in the last month her belly has been hanging down more and her vulva has been much looser and has gotten puffy and her tail is sticking straight out instead of straight down like it usually is. This is (hopefully) her third pregnancy.

Peaches is a Saanen and it is 103 days since she was bred. She -unlike Little Bit- has always been thin, no matter how much grain and pellets I feed her. But lately she has been putting on a little weight even though her grain rations are lower than they were earlier this season. This is (hopefully) her fourth pregnancy.

Pregnant or not pregnant??????

Any information would be helpful!!

 

[prizepete]

I currently have two goats (Little Bit and Peaches) that I hope are pregnant!

Little Bit is an Alpine and it is 105 days since she was bred. She has always been fat but in the last month her belly has been hanging down more and her vulva has been much looser and has gotten puffy and her tail is sticking straight out instead of straight down like it usually is. This is (hopefully) her third pregnancy.

Peaches is a Saanen and it is 103 days since she was bred. She -unlike Little Bit- has always been thin, no matter how much grain and pellets I feed her. But lately she has been putting on a little weight even though her grain rations are lower than they were earlier this season. This is (hopefully) her fourth pregnancy.

Pregnant or not pregnant??????

Any information would be helpful!!

I see they have a little udder, When did you dry them off?

 

[Bigwig]

I see they have a little udder, When did you dry them off?

Little Bit was dried off about two weeks ago. I stopped milking Peaches several days ago.

 

[prizepete]

Little Bit was dried off about two weeks ago. I stopped milking Peaches several days ago.

ok that makes sense now, their udders are fairly large still, I am expecting my first babies In may, so i am new to this, sorry i can't be more help