Weird

goatlover270 · #1 01/29/07, 05:50 PM

It is just the weirdest thing.

goin' out where the goats are and see them eatin' pieces off of their houses. They have got everything they need, water,feed,hay,minerals,etc...
What in the world do they need to do that for

Anyone with ideas or that have goats that do this??? I mean it is nibblin' off tiny pieces at a time and I noticed on one place, they have stripped almost the whole side. They have been eatin' bits off of this one tree,even, but not like constantly eatin', just from time to time they will. And no, it is not so they can get forage, as animals do when they don't have any. As mentioned they have all they need and even still have green grass in the pasture.
A friend told me that she has goats that do thattoo, but hasn't a clue why.

Oldntimes · #2 01/29/07, 05:56 PM

Goats will be goats! they like to exsplore and get into things. Nibble everything just becasue they can LOL!!!!. Don't worry everything is normal just make sure they can not get to anything that may harm them.

Patty0315 · #3 01/29/07, 05:57 PM

They are lacking in something. What kind of minerals?

Patty

goatlover270 · #4 01/29/07, 06:24 PM

Oldntimes, yes that is for sure!! Especially mine LOL LOL
They have had their share of mischief here lately with me being sick and then with the weather and all. They even had to have time out for a day, due to gettin' into so much. ..
About lackin' something, well they shouldn't be ...geeeshh they get everything from vitamins to the mineral/salt and anything else you can think of. What might you think they would be lacking? Please, any idea you have, will be nice. thanks

goatkid · #5 01/30/07, 12:01 AM

I don't think your goats are necessarily lacking anything. Goats love to chew on things. My goats chew on their wooden houses and will chew trees, the garden plants and so on even though they are well fed and are provided with salt, soda and minerals.

ozark_jewels · #6 01/30/07, 06:49 AM

Some goats just chew if they are bored and in a small area. But this sounds excessive. What type of mineral do you have out?? If its high in salt and low in other things, they will probably be lacking something important. Is it block or loose?? What brand??
Only my kids chew on things. My adult does spend their time eating the good stuff. Now, they will chew the bark off of cedar trees as it is one of their favorite foods this time of year, but the sides of the barn?? What are the sides of your barn made of??

southerngurl · #7 01/30/07, 07:01 AM

I would worry what might be in the wood as a preservative that could be harmful.

Amylb999 · #8 01/30/07, 08:34 AM

mine are chewing the bark off of some trees and branches. They never did this in the summer,,but then they had plenty of forage. Maybe they're just bored.

jill.costello · #9 01/30/07, 09:34 AM

Our goats got so bored at one point, they would just lay up against the side of the shed and drag their horns back and forth across the tin....sounded like someone was "playing" an old-fashioned washboard! ALL DAY...

Finally, we just gave them things to "do".....a big chunk of fallen cedar from the woodlot would entertain them all day. A bucket to kick around, a piece of scrap tin to tip-tap over and fight about, a sealed plastic container with a handful of grain in it, etc, etc.

jill.costello · #10 01/30/07, 09:40 AM

...

Pinehillfarm · #11 01/30/07, 11:19 AM

From your postings I think I know what the problem is. They are chewing because they are missing somethng they just don't chew to chew. If you are just giving a minerial salt block they are missing alot of minerials you need to get ground minerial or a minerial block NOT TRACE MINERIAL SALT BLOCK it does not have the minerials in it. Go to your local feed store or farm store and pick one up and I bet they will stop chewing up your barn. At first they will just go crazy over it once they get what they need it will slow down. It is jsut like you when you crave something that is what you want same thing just goats can't talk.

fishhead · #12 01/30/07, 12:31 PM

I watched mine stop browsing and start chewing on some rotten wood half buried in the ground. They seem to like new tastes and sample almost everything they come across.

goatlover270 · #13 01/30/07, 05:26 PM

goatlover270.." It is just the weirdest thing. goin' out where the goats are and see them eatin' pieces off of their houses. They have got everything they need, water,feed,hay,minerals,etc... "

Yea, as I mentioned in this quote from my post, they "HAVE" everything they need, any and everything. They have the mineral/salt blocks and then they have the loose stuff that is mixed in with feed. There is no chance they are lacking salt or minerals. I was just saying how weird it is watchin' them do that. There is no way with all the things they have to eat and play with out there they can be bored LOL If that is what they are sayin' then they can think again

They have boards to play on and things to climb on like houses and stuff and it is just a big play ground out there in the barn, which is plenty of room for us to make a house out of, so they have plenty of room too. Their little houses outside, they are like dog houses, tin roofs on some and some have plastic. I will have to try to get pictures to post. I am still working on getting the pictures from when I posted about being sick... still to come.
Yall have a good one and isn't it nice to know you aren't alone in having weird goats....