Got Goats?

[batcon]

The goats' new nemesis arrived in the form of a five-month old border collie that was given to my son. The hilarity starts at feeding time when the goats want to eat and the dog wants to herd. Lots of energy and attempted head butts. Good times.

 

[haryv]

yea, make good lawn enforcers

We have rules where I live that the lawn hight cannot get out of control. Felt like steeling a goat and put him in the neighbors back yard with a sign on him saying "apartment lawn enforcement goat"

A pack of goats will clean up an overgrown property in no time.

 

[agomez]

chuckle.....

 

[D'Animal]

Fainting Goats?

 

[Liam]

Bacton, goats are fun because they all have different personalities and have different little habits that can be amusing or interesting. Goats are very affectionate and especially during the summer, when they are too hot to be active, they like to just hang around people and get a good scratch. Most goats' favorite scratchy spot is around their shoulder but some even liked to be scratched in between their toes. It is very rewarding to see a goat you have raised from a baby grow up and have kids and grandkids of her own. With goats that doesn't have too take too long, maybe about 3 or 4 years at most, because they are able to breed when they are just a year old. It's also neat to learn how to milk or trim hooves and other things that you wouldn't ordinarily be able to do.

however the real fun comes if you plan on breeding them. however there are a few things you need to consider. A dairy goat should weigh at least 80 pounds and be at least 8 months old the first time she is bred. A pygmy goat, which is what you have, should be between 9 and 18 months and a good size for her age. In order for the doe to conceive (become pregnant), she must be in estrus ("heat" or "season".) Signs of estrus include flagging (wagging her tail), mucous discharging from her rear, mounting other goats, and excited behavior if she is near a buck. At first, you'll probably breed your does to a buck of a local breeder, but eventually, you might want to consider owning your own buck or artificial insemination. A good indication that a doe is pregnant is that it does not come into heat on its next cycle, so check your goat carefully three weeks after breeding. It may be hard to determine if a dairy goat is pregnant if it was bred at the end of the breeding season. in any case you'll get the hang of breeding goats.

i hope this helps, happy goating

 

[Gumby]

I'm not into goat breeding.

I hear sheep is the way to go if yer into that.

 

[batcon]

Beaver can be entertaining.

 

[scrapdaddy]

Take a look at their ears, are lack of ears. I believe you have LaMancha goats, a dairy breed. We raise Boer goats for meat. Please be careful with your children around them. They do butt and can break a leg if hit right. My bucks can get to 350 lbs. I never take my eyes off them. LaMancha goats don't get that big, but can still hurt a child. Warning on the Cherry leaves. They are poisonous to goats, if wilted, like from a frost or when you cut one down. Goats get worms real easy, so have that checked alot, if on small acreage. Let me know if you have any questions, maybe I can help.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I forgot one thing. Try not to pet their heads, when young. They like it alot and when full grown, they will try to get you to pet them. Sometimes it will get aggressive. They do make good pets.

 

[batcon]

I had the goats castrated a while back and had all vaccinations and worming done. The vet weighed them and one was 50lbs and the other was 60lbs. They look like they are still growing and getting heavier. The goats are brothers and one doesn't have ears and the other not much. They both are really tame and calm, but I don't take anything for granted. I will watch out for the cherry trees. What about tomato plant leaves? Another mudder said the leaves are poisonous to humans, what about goats?

 

[Liam]

Take a look at their ears, are lack of ears. I believe you have LaMancha goats, a dairy breed. We raise Boer goats for meat. Please be careful with your children around them. They do butt and can break a leg if hit right. My bucks can get to 350 lbs. I never take my eyes off them. LaMancha goats don't get that big, but can still hurt a child. Warning on the Cherry leaves. They are poisonous to goats, if wilted, like from a frost or when you cut one down. Goats get worms real easy, so have that checked alot, if on small acreage. Let me know if you have any questions, maybe I can help.

spot on with the cherry leaves......not sure if i agree on that they are milking goats though. Of course all goats, female goats, produce milk.

here's a fun fact you might not know. a good milking goat can produce 1083 lbs of milk per lactation period.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I beleive the tomatos are fine, unless your wife gets ahold of the goats after eating her plants! Just got out the books and if they are LaManchan, then they are supposed to be one of the most docile breeds and very good milkers. ( not your two wethers )

 

[agomez]

Fainting Goats?

yes sir...