The Poultry Keeper

ntsmama · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 234

We're thinking of having a pet goat.
Could someone outline what they do daily for their goats and how long it takes please?

We would be getting one female pigmy goat.

thanks

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2370 Location: South Cumbria

I looked into pygmy goats they like to live in a flock ! at least 3 and the shed should have a shelf for them to sleep on !!! still working on my oh though Sad

as I can't tolerate cows milk

ntsmama · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 234

ARGHHH!
Like chicken keeping there seems to be a lot of conflicting info on goat keeping! It's so frustrating - whi are things always so complicated??

BTW, Gilly C I'm not referring to your reply - just info I've read on the net.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2370 Location: South Cumbria

This site says 2 is that better Very Happy

no offence taken

http://www.pygmygoat.co.uk/Goatinformation.htm

debcat · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject:

they are really sociable animals and you need at least 2 - they have a pecking order like chickens do, so one will always be boss
to be honest it doesn't take that long daily, but, I spend ages sitting talking to mine and fussing them

my 2 get hay in the morning and the gate left open so that they can go out if they want to - depending on the weather. If it's nice they spend most of the day grazing
they get goat mix, sugar beet shreds and a handful of alfa a for tea as well as more hay
you have to make sure that they have clean water at all times - they won't drink if it's not clean
I deep litter mine, it's a nightmare when you do muck them out though
I check their feet every few weeks and trim if needed

the more time you spend with them the more friendly they get, they are right characters and brilliant fun to keep

ntsmama · Joined: 06 Dec 2007 Posts: 234

Do they wander far?
We have dry stone walls.
Do they eat everything in sight?

Here's a really naive question: is it possible to have them in the (3/4 acre) garden or do they need a field/paddock?

debcat · Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 6:29 pm Post subject:

I have 5 acres but they never go right to the bottom of the field, they spend more time in the garden, they've eaten their way through the few bushes I had and the massive patch of nettles (in the autumn when they had died down a bit)
I hefted mine before I let them loose and they have never escaped, they do jump from the yard to the field though

hefting (simple terms) is walking them round the perimiter a couple of times so that they know where the boundaries are

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6919 Location: isle of lewis

they are herd animals and need to talk goat ,i held a goat while it was put down 2 weeks ago the goat that was on it's own screamed for 3 days it was heartbreaking to hear till we managed to get a emergency replacement goat ,thanks to deb
they are great fun
i get up ,listen to them screaming that as the alarm has gone off it's time for breakfast ,then they get one scoop of goatfood ,well that's gone up to 11 pounds now ,
1 it's sheep crunch
1 of alpha A
and 1 of sugar beet
then i top up the hay they have corner rack that i had made 2 bales a week
i'd halve that amount at least as mine are productive and big goats ,
i then scrub out the water bowls
spread straw down ,i deep litter as well ,fill water bowls and check feet
lunch time someone goes up and gives them some tree clippings ,or something else (if they can go and come as they please they will not need this ) ,but goats don't really like getting wet so they will need this if it's raining
then in the evening
the same feeding routine ,followed by another scrubbing out of water bowls and refill
you will also need a holding number,herd number and movement and medicine book ,to be honest for pets you will hardly ever fill them in but you must have them for inspection ,if i can manage this bit of it anyone can .
they will need worming and foot trimming which is done about ever 6 weeks ,if you live in an area that suffers from liver fluke they will need liver fluking about every 3 months
oh and a salt lick
that it ,once you get into a routine it's not to bad ,although electric fencing is your best bet ,goats love jumping on stone walls and you will be forever repairing them Wink

,goats are browsers so yep they eat everything ,not that keen on grass ,they like stripping bark off trees
they are great fun ,a good place to start would be a book ,called goat husbandry by david mackenzie ,it covers everything and is cheap on ebay and other book places ,second hand ,you also might have a problem soucing goats depending where you live with the blue tongue problem ,
i hope i haven't put you off ,i really do love them Wink

,you would be able to keep them fine in the size you describe,gilly c you need nice small old english goats , Laughing

,not much bigger than Pygmy's and produce some lovely milk Wink

manic nonie · Posted: Thu Mar 13, 2008 4:51 pm Post subject:

don't quote me here but I think you would have to have more then 1 because of the company rules within herd animals, might be wrong but I think I remember someone telling me that.

Tracey Morris · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 289 Location: South Wales

No doubt I shall get shot down now Embarassed

But My goats roam freely over our 8 acres and the local roads and neighbouring fields! cheers

They have nothing done with them in the morning and are only fed at night. There are 5 girlies total. they are all believed to be in kid due to 'pop' end of April. They have 1 scoop of soaked sugarbeet, 1 large handful of mollichop and 1 scoop of goat mix - between them Shocked

. They forage for the rest and I have had people come up and say that my goats are too fat! Confused

Which I admit they are. Embarassed

I can't NOT feed them in the winter. Crying or Very sad

They have a shed to go into if they want - they don't want Confused

Occasionally they have hay net but they prefer to steel it off the horses angel8

stephen · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 6:51 am Post subject:

Ours get lucern hay in the morning, then a mix of oats, sheep food, sugarbeet pellets and lucern pellets at the end of the morning, then a little more before bedtime.

Sedgewort Bramble · Joined: 13 Feb 2008 Posts: 409

manic nonie · Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject:

I'm inclined to agree with sedgewort bramble to be honest the other thing is is are you not worried about what diseases could be present on the land for example foot rot, sorry just thinking out loud here Wink

.

Tracey Morris · Joined: 04 Nov 2007 Posts: 289 Location: South Wales

I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN Crying or Very sad

Firstly - My goats are happy, well nourished girls. Their feet at trimmed regularly and dipped regularly, they are drenched regularly and they have the most 'natural' lifestyle they can have with the regime we have to live by with the EU. They are pets which can also be utilised to pay for themselves Confused

As for danger and catching illnesses. I have had the goats for four years. They have roamed all over the mountain (following hikers who have given them tidbits Razz

). Luckily we are placed at a junction of country lanes so the locals know about the girls and they have to slow down for the junction Laughing

The ducks have made a 'duck crossing' and all the lane users are aware of it Very Happy

Since the billy has been and 'ahem!' they are all staying at home which can only be a good thing. Very Happy

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6919 Location: isle of lewis

i'm glad that they are staying at home Very Happy

what about the movement book you have to fill it in when ever an animal leaves your holding Wink

to trace the movement of animals ,so anything that might happen can be traced ,not talking about unhealthy animals here just ,things like foot and mouth and anthrax,that might be present in other fields not necessarily your animals
and stand still ,i know i have to work out any animals that go to shows or are sold or go to stud or even move to different grazing ,on different holding number even if numbers are linked (i only have 5 now so i don't have to do it often,but i do tend to do a few agri shows as an educational thing for children and adults ,) so that they do not move off the holding ,onto another holding within the standstill period ,you can cut the stand still time in some cases if your isolation unit is inspected and up to scratch ,here we can move between common grazing and back but still has to be recorded ,no form sent off , though for common grazing or stand still .that's eu law no matter how much i hate it
Rolling Eyes

this is an open forum anyone can read it and the fine for moving without recording is thousands Wink

,

not knocking Very Happy

it's just that when i'm doing the talks and stuff this is what people need to know and somebody new should be given the info Wink

,and i hope that makes sense Very Happy

also it really isn't on to let animals wonder,be they dogs ,chickens or goats ,it also means if an accident happens you could be looking at a legal action for damage to people or property Wink

but i'm glad you have it sorted now Very Happy