Update! We have goats!

midnyte · 07-15-2008, 04:00 PM

OK, I'm nervous and excited at the same time. We are taking the plunge and getting 3 French Alpine dairy goats from a local dairy farm...a culled adult doe and 2 very young bucks that we plan to have gelded...neutered...whatever- soon. We solved our fencing problem for a pen by using and connecting our old 6 foot high chain link dog pens. Its about a 20 by 40 pen and we've rigged a shelter using the pen frames and tarp. Any suggestions/tips for some seriously new goat owners? I promise to upload photos when they arrive! I'm already nervous about their care and I have visions of goats living in the house....

Sassy · 07-15-2008, 04:03 PM

Goats are a great deal of fun. I think from the sounds of it you have things well in hand already. I can't offer much in the way of advice sorry. We have owned a few goats but no expert at all

. Can't wait to see pictures!

leslie645 · 07-15-2008, 04:47 PM

Hi,
goats are cool! they need to be wormed and hoof trimmed etc. Also, to help control bloat, leave a bowl of baking soda (free choice) in their pen. They need a place to stay dry.
They love to play! Its common to see even the old nannies playing...bags a -flyin' LOL. A really good toy for them are very large wooden spools that you can usually find at places like the electric company. They are about 3 feet by 3 feet. Or take a wooden pallet and nail on some plywood. They love to jump on stuff that makes sound. Goats definatly have pecking orders too. My Nubians never wandered far from the "lead nannie" so I taught her to lead and all the others would follow.
Good luck and enjoy them, they are definatly a trippy animal!
L

farmergal · 07-15-2008, 09:21 PM

Congratulations on goat ownership. They can be a delight to own.

If they have horns they can get caught in the fence. Otherwise I don't see a problem with it. You'll be replacing the tarp. When you do make it a tall shelter or they will be jumping up on it. Good luck and have fun.

paso_lover · 07-16-2008, 06:52 AM

Love love love my new goat

. She is such a ham, thinks she's a dog and all we can do is laugh. Just the other the 4 dogs......and the goat got into my boarders mom car

. Somehow they got the goat out but the dogs refused and next thing you know she was ON the car. Guess they all wanted to go for a car ride no matter where they sat

farmergal · 07-16-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by midnyte

I have visions of goats living in the house....

I've heard of people doing it so ya it can be done.

I had my babies in my bathroom last winter when I was bottle feeding them. They were litter box trained.

Hubby said they had to go back outside. I guess he didn't like it when they would leap up on his lap.

midnyte · 07-20-2008, 11:27 PM

We came home today with three 2-month old adorable French Alpine Dairy goat boys! One black and white with striped ears, the boys named "Oreo", one is deer/antelope colored and is named "Rocky", and the third is a coal-black sweetheart which was named by my 6 yr old son. Hold on to your hats: his name is Burrito.

I'm hoping for a more dignified name than that, but for now its "Little B" or Little Burrito. "Little" Burrito will mature to around 34 inches at the shoulder someday.

They are so cute, they run with my sons through their yard. The boys dismantled, carried, and then rebuilt their Little Tikes plastic slide in the goat pen. The babies love it! They jump up to the "tree house" part, then actually bound/slide down the slide! Its a hoot to watch! We bottle-fed them tonight and will be feeding them this way for another month. They are eating some forage and hay but its not full-time yet. I will get photos up soon...new computer and all. Not sure where the photo software is yet.
Let's hope the 6 ft. chain link fence with hotwires on the outside top and bottom will deter any predators.
Welcome Rocky, Oreo and "Little B", Burrito

leslie645 · 07-21-2008, 02:44 PM

Awww I love 'Lil burrito. that's so cute. cant wait to see pics.

Have lots of fun!!!

farmergal · 07-21-2008, 02:53 PM

I hope your boys are banned.

You know fixed, turned into withers.
Billy goats stink.

Having said that you are going to have so much fun.

Can't wait to see pics.

midnyte · 07-21-2008, 09:33 PM

Oh, yes! They will be neutered and become wethers.... We haven't bred any of our pets (even my two show champion Siberian Huskies were neutered after finishing their championships, as well will be my next show ring hopeful when he's finished.) We have fun with our guys, nothing more. Our property's too small for reproduction of any kind!

My goats' breeder has a couple of wethers that are trained for pulling carts, which sounds like fun. I have a dogsled...I wonder how they'd do pulling that? Can't you just imagine? Anyways, it was either a pet home or the meat market for these little guys, and their wonderful breeder preferred they'd go to pet homes. We feel so lucky!

Pony express · 07-21-2008, 09:47 PM

Congrats, but be careful.......goats are highly addictive! Pictures would be good!

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07-15-2008, 04:00 PM
midnyte Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 153	Update! We have goats! OK, I'm nervous and excited at the same time. We are taking the plunge and getting 3 French Alpine dairy goats from a local dairy farm...a culled adult doe and 2 very young bucks that we plan to have gelded...neutered...whatever- soon. We solved our fencing problem for a pen by using and connecting our old 6 foot high chain link dog pens. Its about a 20 by 40 pen and we've rigged a shelter using the pen frames and tarp. Any suggestions/tips for some seriously new goat owners? I promise to upload photos when they arrive! I'm already nervous about their care and I have visions of goats living in the house.... Last edited by midnyte : 07-20-2008 at 11:30 PM. Reason: update

07-15-2008, 04:03 PM
Sassy Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,332	Goats are a great deal of fun. I think from the sounds of it you have things well in hand already. I can't offer much in the way of advice sorry. We have owned a few goats but no expert at all. Can't wait to see pictures! __________________ A horse which stops dead just before a jump and thus propels its rider into a graceful arc provides a splendid excuse for general merriment. ~ DUKE OF ENDINBURGH ~

07-15-2008, 04:47 PM
leslie645 Halter broke Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 84	Hi, goats are cool! they need to be wormed and hoof trimmed etc. Also, to help control bloat, leave a bowl of baking soda (free choice) in their pen. They need a place to stay dry. They love to play! Its common to see even the old nannies playing...bags a -flyin' LOL. A really good toy for them are very large wooden spools that you can usually find at places like the electric company. They are about 3 feet by 3 feet. Or take a wooden pallet and nail on some plywood. They love to jump on stuff that makes sound. Goats definatly have pecking orders too. My Nubians never wandered far from the "lead nannie" so I taught her to lead and all the others would follow. Good luck and enjoy them, they are definatly a trippy animal! L

07-15-2008, 09:21 PM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,818	Congratulations on goat ownership. They can be a delight to own. If they have horns they can get caught in the fence. Otherwise I don't see a problem with it. You'll be replacing the tarp. When you do make it a tall shelter or they will be jumping up on it. Good luck and have fun. __________________

07-16-2008, 06:52 AM
paso_lover Seasoned Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sudbury Ontario Canada Posts: 4,579	Love love love my new goat . She is such a ham, thinks she's a dog and all we can do is laugh. Just the other the 4 dogs......and the goat got into my boarders mom car . Somehow they got the goat out but the dogs refused and next thing you know she was ON the car. Guess they all wanted to go for a car ride no matter where they sat __________________ "I wish I was half the rider she thinks she is" \"Some people feel compelled to cut off the heads of others in order to make themselves appear taller\" ---Paramahansa Yoginanda

07-20-2008, 11:27 PM
midnyte Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 153	UPDATE--We have goats! We came home today with three 2-month old adorable French Alpine Dairy goat boys! One black and white with striped ears, the boys named "Oreo", one is deer/antelope colored and is named "Rocky", and the third is a coal-black sweetheart which was named by my 6 yr old son. Hold on to your hats: his name is Burrito. I'm hoping for a more dignified name than that, but for now its "Little B" or Little Burrito. "Little" Burrito will mature to around 34 inches at the shoulder someday. They are so cute, they run with my sons through their yard. The boys dismantled, carried, and then rebuilt their Little Tikes plastic slide in the goat pen. The babies love it! They jump up to the "tree house" part, then actually bound/slide down the slide! Its a hoot to watch! We bottle-fed them tonight and will be feeding them this way for another month. They are eating some forage and hay but its not full-time yet. I will get photos up soon...new computer and all. Not sure where the photo software is yet. Let's hope the 6 ft. chain link fence with hotwires on the outside top and bottom will deter any predators. Welcome Rocky, Oreo and "Little B", Burrito

07-21-2008, 02:44 PM
leslie645 Halter broke Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 84	Awww I love 'Lil burrito. that's so cute. cant wait to see pics. Have lots of fun!!!

07-21-2008, 02:53 PM
farmergal Seasoned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New York Posts: 4,818	I hope your boys are banned. You know fixed, turned into withers. Billy goats stink. Having said that you are going to have so much fun. Can't wait to see pics. __________________

07-21-2008, 09:33 PM
midnyte Halter broke Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 153	Oh, yes! They will be neutered and become wethers.... We haven't bred any of our pets (even my two show champion Siberian Huskies were neutered after finishing their championships, as well will be my next show ring hopeful when he's finished.) We have fun with our guys, nothing more. Our property's too small for reproduction of any kind! My goats' breeder has a couple of wethers that are trained for pulling carts, which sounds like fun. I have a dogsled...I wonder how they'd do pulling that? Can't you just imagine? Anyways, it was either a pet home or the meat market for these little guys, and their wonderful breeder preferred they'd go to pet homes. We feel so lucky!

07-21-2008, 09:47 PM
Pony express Started Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Mid Michigan Posts: 2,421	Congrats, but be careful.......goats are highly addictive! Pictures would be good! __________________ I don't regret the things I've done. I regret the things I didn't do when I had the chance.