Lets talk about goats!

[politicalcenter]

Pygmy Nigerian cross. They are trouble makers but we love em.

 

[GitaBooks]

Glad this was mentioned. Something
I hadn't considered. We want to eventually start with Nigerian Dwarf. But I would like at least one Pygmy Angora because I like to crochet and have many friends who do also. The fiber would be a great asset. But that's a ways off.

Pygora's are really cute and come in so many colors! They eat less for the wool they produce but may have a different personality or wool quality than a pure angora whether.

Why a pygmy angora rather than a straight angora? Angoras are not very big, and if you want one for the fleece, pygmy blood isn't going to improve the fleece any, that's for sure.

No, the adding of pygmies won't help the fleece... but they are so cute too! Also, they can produce good milk, large litters of babies, are easier to handle by children (because of size). However, again, I think their cute size and mixture of colors would likely be the main reason for them.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am new here...and I'm admitting that I haven't read through the thread.

Looks like I'm going to get a couple meat wethers in a couple weeks (one Spanish and one Kiko). These gentlemen will be brush goats in our wooded area and are mature, experience brush boys that are already trained to electronetting.

I'm looking for some ideas for a shelter that is easily movable but tall enough that I can get into it and hang a hay feeder out of the rain when necessary.

So I'd love to see any of your shelters for ideas!

Also - on feeding regular bale hay, I've always thought it needed to be under cover out of the elements. However, I see lots of the large roll hay bales sitting out in goat yards and the goats eating from the end. Can you do that with square bales? What about mold?

 

[politicalcenter]

If you have a lot of brush hay may be a waste of money until the cold hits. Let them eat brush. Water and a three sided shed should do. Try to make sure you don't have cherry trees or other poison plants. I have never had problems with bad weeds however.

 

[GitaBooks]

I am new here...and I'm admitting that I haven't read through the thread.

Looks like I'm going to get a couple meat wethers in a couple weeks (one Spanish and one Kiko). These gentlemen will be brush goats in our wooded area and are mature, experience brush boys that are already trained to electronetting.

I'm looking for some ideas for a shelter that is easily movable but tall enough that I can get into it and hang a hay feeder out of the rain when necessary.

So I'd love to see any of your shelters for ideas!

Also - on feeding regular bale hay, I've always thought it needed to be under cover out of the elements. However, I see lots of the large roll hay bales sitting out in goat yards and the goats eating from the end. Can you do that with square bales? What about mold?

Brush goats are pretty awesome, they love the freedom and space. There are probably thousands of different shelter ideas, from metal hutches to wooden sheds to plastic-wrapped frames. All of them work well, though all have advantages and disadvantages depending on your climate and the weather of your particular season.

We always used loose hay or square bales. The times we used round bales they were picked at some and then used as toys only. Our goats also didn't seem to like weeds or forage and would go for hay, grain or maple leaves. They were pets, however, not brush goats so this could make a difference.

Depending on your pastures size, soil, and water-retention, your goats may need wormed, given extra hay, or given a hoof-trim as needed. It is almost more an art than a science, but be prepared for what they may need. Foraging goats may still need certain minerals your soil does not provide. They may need their pasture mowed every now and again to rejuvinate the plants-life.

I'm no expert on goat keeping, but I hope this gives you some ideas. Also, if you want healthy, easy to handle goats, teaching them to come for treats of stale bread or apples may make it easier to give them any medical care necessary.

Best of luck! : )

 

[chixcoop]

Would it be possible to let my goats free range only in my back yard so they can eat down all the plants and foliage that I don't want growing, or will they wander off into the road?

 

[politicalcenter]

They will roam if not fenced or tethered.

 

[chixcoop]

They will roam if not fenced or tethered.

will they return at night to their pen/hut?

 

[GitaBooks]

will they return at night to their pen/hut?

It depends on the individual. We would round up our goats with grain every night and lock them in a secure pen until morning, when we would let them out. However, if it is chilly at night or if the ground isn't all the comfortable they may choose the shelter just because it is soft, warm and dry. Unlike chickens, however, I don't think they have an ingrained instinct to return to a "roost" each night. They are terribly inclined to escape and get lost, actually. Goats running down the road has happened more than once for us, and for a neighbor as well.

However, I will add, goats can learn routines and they do like familiarity. If a goat escapes alone, it wants to stay with the herd. If it is spooked it wants to return to where it thinks it will be safe. If it is hungry it will want to come and get a meal where it has gotten them before. A scheduled night-time treat may teach the goats to wait for you in the shelter (or at the fence and than follow you to the shelter

).

 

[politicalcenter]

Probably not. You may never see them again.