Questions on goats before buying

[lilcheeks]

My wife and I really want to get two pigmy goats for pets, as well as to teach our young child responsibility. We won't be milking them, if that changes anything. Before we go and buy them, I need to know if any one goes on vacation and leaves them unattended for a few days at a time? We don't do a lot of vacations, but usually are gone at least 1 week out of the year, and maybe a weekend or 3 through out the summer. Here are the details:

-no milking needed
-goats will have a large indoor pen (in our barn) with full access to an outdoor pasture (roughly 1/5 acre), can close off if needed as pen will be oversized.
-no other animals will be with them
-deer autofeeder to feed grains (i am handy so I plan to make a deer auto feeder dispense in a tray)
-auto water filler (again, handy and have experience with auto top off water systems)

Does anyone have a similar setup and leave for a few days? We can get a neighbor or something to come over, but there isn't anyone that we feel comfortable with coming every day. Thoughts?

 

[Stacykins]

My wife and I really want to get two pigmy goats for pets, as well as to teach our young child responsibility. We won't be milking them, if that changes anything. Before we go and buy them, I need to know if any one goes on vacation and leaves them unattended for a few days at a time? We don't do a lot of vacations, but usually are gone at least 1 week out of the year, and maybe a weekend or 3 through out the summer. Here are the details:

-no milking needed
-goats will have a large indoor pen (in our barn) with full access to an outdoor pasture (roughly 1/5 acre), can close off if needed as pen will be oversized.
-no other animals will be with them
-deer autofeeder to feed grains (i am handy so I plan to make a deer auto feeder dispense in a tray)
-auto water filler (again, handy and have experience with auto top off water systems)

Does anyone have a similar setup and leave for a few days? We can get a neighbor or something to come over, but there isn't anyone that we feel comfortable with coming every day. Thoughts?

I would not get goats if you plan on leaving for any significant time and cannot get someone to at least check in on them once a day.

What if they get hurt? Who will notice if nobody is around? What if a predator gets in?

What if they knock over their water or soil it (most goats will not drink fouled water)? Who will make sure they have access to fresh water?

What if they escape? Who will notice they are gone?

What if they become ill? For instance, what is that autofeeder malfunctions, dispensing too much grain, so they gorge themselves and bloat?

Is it really that much of a problem that someone can't poke their nose in on the animals once a day to make sure everything is OK?

 

[farm n louisana]

We have a lot of animals if we leave n can't feed them I pay my neighbors kids to feed all our animals there always playing wit our animals so all our animals knw them

 

[H Diamond]

Just a side note, I doubt your pygmies will need much grain. A good hay feeder is what you need to be more concerned with. Generally as a rule, an adult goat that is not doing anything but being a goat (not in milk, pregnant, or breeding) won't really need much in the way of grain. Unless you plan to fee alfalfa pellets, then that feeder would be great.

 

[nayeli]

I think it will be fine, but I would have someone who can check on them every other day at the least!