Thinking about goats? Bad Idea?

[silkiechicken]

So I was thinking about getting a goat for one purpose, keeping about an acre of black berries down. We are not fenced but also have no predator problems since we are on acreage in the middle of a city (land from 60 years or so ago that didn't develop like the rest of the place.

I was thinking to make a small dog house for it and tether it where I want it to graze during the day.

Else i can rent goats for 25 a week each.

What are some pros and cons of this crazy spur of the moement idea after tiring arms of manually cutting the black berries?

 

[dakinsmimi]

Goats are great for keeping down unwanted brush and weeds. However, they are also masters at escape. I have 14 boer crosses in a farm fence with an electric fence inside that and they can tell when the electric fence is on. When it's off they will go thru any small opening they can find. Don't forget they will also chew/eat ANYTHING. If you tie him out with something like rope he's likely to chew thru it. I know you said you had no predators but even one loose dog is a threat to a goat. Also they're not always easy to catch if they do get loose. Even a very tame one doesn't like to go back up if she has found your neighbors roses/flowers/garden. I'd get a goat (or more) but I would also fence in the area. Let us know what kind you get if you get one.

 

[Judymae]

My concern is dogs too. I've lost one to many goats to my neighbor's dogs. Goats are fun but they have to have a good fence. I had to sell my small herd because of this. No matter what we did they found a way out. I think it's a game to them. Gotta find a way out gotta find a way out! They are stubborn but boy are they loving. Mine always wore dog collars and had names. Very sweet.

The prob with tethering one out is that they can't run from a dog or other predator. They are stuck and a dog knows it. Free food!

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, I don't know if I should get one, fencing would be a hassle on thicket/wooded area. My neighbors are 1, the major highway, 2 woods, 3 a junkyard with a fence, 3 another road. I don't have houses as neighbors as this place is considered commercial property as it is along the highway between large cities.

Wonder how long it would take for one to eat up an acre of black berry thicket. The only problem areas with black berries are the ones that are disturbed. Areas with native plants are just fine.

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
We had a goat that was killed that way. It was tethered to a tree and the neighbor's dog came over and chased it, and the goat ran to the end of it's rope and broke it's neck.

 

[Blondie]

If you only get ONE goat he/she will be lonely. You really need to get at least two. They are herd animals. Maybe you can get pygmy goats? They are smaller than standard. Mine are so cute and sweet. They have a disposition similar to puppies.

Please do not tie up your goat. It's cruel. If you cannot fence him in and only want one goat tied up to a tree -THEN PLEASE DON'T GET A GOAT!!

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, I don't think I will get a goat. It's not going to be feasible to fence them in and once I fence them in, they wont be taking care of the problem I have. I need to find another way to take care of all the black berry bushes and shrubs that go out of hand. My lazy little brother takes a weed whacker to about half of it every two or three weeks or so and we just can't keep it down. The stuff grows like wildfire. All I want is the place to be flat. I wouldn't mind it if as barren at this point!

Any suggestions to how to keep it down besides brute force? Does black berry killer really work? I've never gotten any due to the fact I do like to eat the berries and I don't want other animals to get sick from it. There's a good half acre solid of this stuff if not more all around the house and driveway.