Pet goat?

[aaronzclark]

Quote:
i would put a fence up or something so it does not drown

 

[bantamsrus]

After my husband's rhodesian ridgeback (dog) died he "replaced" it with this cute, tiny, bottle-baby goat that fit in a cat carrier. Well-that thing turned into a 250lb alpine goat that still thinks its a ity-bity lap cat. But, my husband loves his "dog replacement" to death.

Just make sure you know what you're bringing home

 

[griffin45]

You really should log on to www.backyardherds.com and ask this question in the goat forum. At this very moment I have about 20 goats in my backyard. Do you have trees? Trees that you like? Wrap them in tin or a goat will strip the bark right off. Goats are herd animals and really should have another goat to hang out with. Kind of like people, goats really like each other. They are also very cliquey. Nigerians with Nigerians, Pygmies with Pygmies, Ect. I wish I could show them in action somehow. It is kind of like a high school cafeteria when I open the back yard to them. One group here, one group there and they all take turns destroying my lone apple tree.

Get some! You won't ever regret it!

Chris

 

[tiffanyh]

I have goats in a small yard, they have somewhere between .1 and .25 area paddock. They are small-pygmy and nigerian. The area has no grass left in it obviously but they have fun on all the toys in there.

Here is a picture, my goats are up in the background up on the hill. There are two houses for them and I have concrete stairs that go right up to the top.

 

[gsmom329]

I LOVE my goats but please do some reasearch first. My husband had goats as a kid and told me oh their easy to take care of. Well there not as easy as a cat or dog and they eat everthing and climb on everything and have certain diseases you must find out about and protect against. We had a baby La Mancha that got tetanus - at the time I had no idea what it was- by the time we figured it out it was too late. That was the most awfull thing I've ever seen. So please talk with other goat people first backyardherds forum is a good start. Also talk with a local vet and local goat owners for tips. That said don't let this discourage you from not getting one just do your research first. Prepare a place for them to run and play with stuff to climb on that is safe. As I said above I love my goats. We now have 10 with their own yard snd play area for when were not home. I let them out when I am home and can watch them. However keep in mind they climb on anything I'm continually pushing them off my car. Now it's a game they get on the hood and when I start towards them they jump off and run. Good thing it's an old beater. Oh and if you have flowers your fond off put a fence around them

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
I dont agree!Nigerians are way better then pygmies

They're feed to milk ratio is #1 making them cost effecient~

 

[hikerchick]

Quote:
I dont agree!Nigerians are way better then pygmies

They're feed to milk ratio is #1 making them cost effecient~

That may well be true but if you are looking for a pet and aren't interested in milk, nothing is more fun than a pygmy goat.

 

[hearthnsoul]

I am so glad to see this thread and the backyardherd.com I have spent the last week researching to death dwarf and pygmy goats because last october we started to talk about getting one. We saw the nigerians where we go apple picking. I sort of take a long time to think about things. When someone thinks I made a flash in the pan decision, like the chicks, well let me say the idea was years in the making, it is just when I make up my mind that it seems to work like a flash. I decided on the goats,..but now I am researching the necessities of it all. I am back and forth on the combo, I know it will be two of them. I am still thinking out whether milking will be a criteria or just plain cuteness. I tend to think in the end I will want utility as well. But I figure now that I decided, it's probably good to still not have a plan etched in stone which leaves me open to possibilities.
Anyhow I just want to say how much I love this site,...always food for thought!

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
I dont agree!Nigerians are way better then pygmies

They're feed to milk ratio is #1 making them cost effecient~

That may well be true but if you are looking for a pet and aren't interested in milk, nothing is more fun than a pygmy goat.

IDk my nigerians are fuuuunnnyyy! But honestly all goats are funny. they are like silly kids that had way to much candy! I personally love nubians until i found out how big they got, holy smokes! i decided to pass on that small pony!
My wether billy likes to play chase with us , then head bunt us till we fall

 

[KinderKorner]

*coughs*

I have personally had a pet goat and I will share my information. It will be long so bear with me.

I got mine as a 2 day old bottle baby. Mine was a pygmy/fainting cross. She did not get very big at all. And she got along fine with my dog. Infact to this day years later she still believes she is a dog and NOT a goat.

Mine lived in the house, and YES! Absolutely she was potty trained. Never had an accident in the house. Just make sure you walk them outside, just as you would a dog. Only more often. Mine never went to the bathroom in her sleeping crate either.

I lived in a residental subdivison. And She got to run free outside with my dog, and she would stay in the yard and come back when called. We just left the back door open and she came in and out as she liked.

They are very very funny. But once she got bigger than a few months old she wasn't allowed in the house anymore. They can cause a lot of damage, jumping on things, eating anything. So ours lived in the garage.

Mine truely believed I was her mother, she went everywhere with me. She still loves loves loves riding in the car. And as long as she was a house pet we were enough family for her.

But once we moved to a farm and she went outside, we decided she needed a friend. So we bought her another goat. Well the first thing she did was smell it then spit all over and throw a big fit. We have gotten 7 more goats over the years. And I must say. My little Goatie still hates all goats. She is above them. She is aggressive and head butts them if they get in her space. She has gotten out around 500 times. She usually just runs free with our new dog. She sleeps on the porch. But she will eat anything and everything. So every flower, garden, tree had to be fenced around. She can open all our shed doors and has maded many many messes. She used to jump on cars, but after some training she has stopped.

She is sometimes a nuisance, and she pretty rude to anyone but me. But I must say she is the most delightful pet I have ever had the pleasure of owning. And I have over 200. Although she isn't as spoiled as she used to be when she lived in the house.

She still goes on car rides at least once a month, I take her to all parades, picnic, fairs, parties. And any event outside as if I would a dog. She walks very very well on a leash, answers and comes when I call her name. She has a very funny cry because I used to 'nah' to her all the time and she mimiced it. So she sounds like a horrible human trying to sound like a goat.

She can pull a cart, and pulled me around on a sled this winter. She can shake her head yes and no when you ask her questions. Rear, moonwalk, dance, bow, shake hands. I feel she is way smarter than my new dog.

It took us 9 months with a billy goat to get her bred. She would not let him near her.

But she was a lot of detication, and a lot of bad times. She can be very fustrating at times. When she eats everthing in the shed, or all the new flowers, or tap dances on the new car, or screams back at you when you yell at her, or opens the gate and lets her and the rest of the herd out.

So a pet goat is one of the most amazing things you can own. But it really is harder than a normal pet like a dog. So it's a big decision. I will not ever train another goat to be like her. She is the most special thing I have ever met. But it's not something that you do twice in a lifetime.

If you have questions feel free to ask me, I feel pretty experienced in the matter. And I feel I have one if not THE most 'pet' goat that has existed. No kidding.

((She is pretty moody right now. She is due to kid in a few weeks. And all those raging hormones got her all gr))