Something to Eat Paddock

[mychookau]

Where I want my chook and duck barns to go, is thick grass and weeds, almost higher than me. We do have a tractor with a slasher but the blades need sharpening and my husband is not going to do it before he goes away next week. And knowing I want the paddock for more animals, he won't be in a hurry to slash it for me, and I haven't learnt how to use the tractor. Grass is too long for an ordinary mower.

So, I was wondering if you farmies know if sheep or goats would enjoy mowing it down for me? Even if it is weedy and taller than they are?

If you can give me a yes for them to go in this paddock, what are they like as far as trying to go through fencing? The paddock is fenced with strand wire. Should I go around the fence with some mesh to keep them in or would they not try to get out?

 

[yomama]

I currently own 4 large goats (Nubian/Boer mixes) and 1 really large Suffolk mix ewe. As for "would they eat it?" I would pretty much bank on it! My goats are pigs, and love just about anything. You just need to makes sure nothing in that area is toxic ie: Tansy, Rhodies, Azaleas, etc. However, depending on the size of goats/sheep you might use, durable fencing is a must. In my experience, goats are harder to contain. They will climb, go under, or just plow over easy fencing. My ewe is pretty big, apx 250lbs, but she doesn't climb. Now, my goats are kind of big, ranging from just over 100lbs being the smallest, to the boys that are around 200ish. I've had to switch from field fencing to cattle panels in some areas, because they will stand on the fence, trying to reach up and or over for food. This completely destroyed the fencing. The cattle panels have withstood them for a year so far.Guess you could run some hot wire if need be. Not sure a mesh would work. They probably would just go right through it, or try to chew it up. I've seen farmers use portable electric type "strands" for allowing sheep to graze in certain areas. You might consider this.I'm going to guess that if it is just weeds and grass, and somewhat flimsy fencing, sheep might be a better answer. Hard to say without seeing the fencing, though. Good luck

 

[mychookau]

Your goats sound notoriously naughty. Easy for me to laugh, probably not funny for you. Sounds like the sheep might be better. Ppl around our neighbourhood have tethered goats but I can't stand seeing animals tied up like that. I will also check out the hot fence thing too. How easy are they to install? I have seen how simple they are to use, but it would need wiring to power which means lenghty power wire or cables running from paddock to power box? I have no idea. Might google that now and check them out.

I couldn't help chuckling at your goats standing ON the fence. That sounds very funny ans mischievious.

 

[yomama]

Here are my naughty monsters, before they annihilated the fence and we had to put up the cattle panels. The three on the fence are the boys, the worst climbers of them all. Those three always seem to find trouble

As for the temporary electric fencing, I do think you have to run an electric cord to it. I think it is basically like hot wire tape that you can put on stakes. The sheep seem to respect it pretty good. I know my boys wouldn't though, lol!

 

[ChickenPeep]

Agreed.
Get a goat!

 

[they'reHISchickens]

Goats are notorious for eating all sorts fo bruch and being difficult to contain. I would tether and move the tether every day. Better than chasing them all over the county!

 

[yomama]

Goats are notorious for eating all sorts fo bruch and being difficult to contain. I would tether and move the tether every day. Better than chasing them all over the county!

Unless your going to be able to supervise them, I worry about any kind of animal, especially a goat, being tied up. Years ago, my hubby did this every once in a while to eat back some berry bushes, while we were home. It never failed that they would get themselves tangled on something. Alot of the times, they tangled up their own legs, pretty much hogtying themselves. Depending on what you use to tie them, that could really injure them. Just a thought.

 

[Kara515]

Yomama, your goats are beautiful! I also have 3 boer boys but mine are not de-horned! I do use cattle panels for the areas I let the boys go in when I am around. I can't let them be in without checking on them for very long though because they WILL get their heads stuck in the cattle panels because the weeds are always yummier on the other side of the fence!! LOL

 

[mychookau]

I still think the goats sound too naughty for me to handle at the moment....lol....I love them though. Yomama your goats are gorgeous. And how white do they look? You must look after them very well. They should be more grateful and behave themselves... haha

I might look around for some lambs that I can raise up to keep them friendly, or some older, friendly ones. I don't want ones that will run away from us, and end up running through the fence from fear. Then I will work on a goat proof fence around my farm shed for a couple of these fellas, too.

Do sheep have to be shawn? Or can they survive happy enough without ever seeing a set of shears?

 

[CluckyJay]

Tying a goat out depends on the goat. Some are excellent tied out, others will kill themselves. Maa and Bay are good tied, ShyShy well, not so much! I tie maa and bay and move them all over the property with their dog house. They get the best food that way. ShyShy is a naughty goat and has to be properly contained, lol. If you can do goats, they are excellent at eating ...EVERYTHING.