traveling with goats

oceanmist · #1 10/30/07, 11:46 PM

I have been seriously considering a BIG move due to financial reasons.

I could sure use some advice on traveling with 4-5 goats, 2 does that will possibly be a couple months bred.... the trip will be approx 2,300 miles from Oregon to Oklahoma. The climate will change several times inbetween here and there, we will be going over several mountain ranges and some deserts...

I am thinking about using the back of my mini-van to house them using hay bales to seperate us from the back area and then taking them out in the evening to stretch their legs and graze.

I think I can make the trip in 3 days maybe less.

Then there's the arrival, right now we don't have a place to live... I would be making arrangements with someone over there to house my goats until I found my own place... any suggestions on the best way to handle that aspect of all this?

Just needing some input, help, suggestions... thanks a bunch Misty

deafgoatlady · #2 10/31/07, 12:39 AM

I dont know what should I say.. It is going to be VERY stressfull for ur pregnant does that are due in couple of months.. It is up to u.. I hope u can figure out..

Bearfootfarm · #3 10/31/07, 12:58 AM

Rent a trailer. You, the goats, and your VAN will all be better off for it

HazyDay · #4 10/31/07, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

Rent a trailer. You, the goats, and your VAN will all be better off for it

YES YES YES!!! We have taken 1 doe and 2 weaned kids in our van before for 4 HOURS!!!!! Thank was bad, I couldn't see 3 days!!! I would be very cafeful of the pregnet does. it will but very hard on them. :

topside1 · #5 10/31/07, 07:44 AM

Misty. Your possible trip sounds dreadful and nearly impossible. Once you start your committed. Sell the goats or give them away to folks who will love them as much as you do, and press on. As we all know you can't keep them all, regroup at you final destination...good luck....TJ

fishhead · #6 10/31/07, 08:06 AM

Unless you are really attached to your goats I agree with Topside. It would be much less stressful on you and the goats. Then you can focus on the trip with one less major distraction.

Whatever you decide good luck!

oceanmist · #7 10/31/07, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

Misty. Your possible trip sounds dreadful and nearly impossible. Once you start your committed. Sell the goats or give them away to folks who will love them as much as you do, and press on. As we all know you can't keep them all, regroup at you final destination...good luck....TJ

Wellll there's only one huge problem here... selling my dd's goat isn't an option!

About the only thing I can think of is to wait until after they kid and then rent or borrow a trailer to haul them in.
The does are only like 1 month pg and they are both pets. One of them loves to get in the car, it is so funny seeing her! She went for a 45 minute ride with us when we moved her out to my sister's house and never once pottied... she was just so into the adventure and loving being near my dd.

Thanks for the advice,

Misty

gracie88 · #8 10/31/07, 11:09 AM

Can you borrow the trailer ahead of time and get them used to hanging out in it and eating in it? Or maybe going for a few short trips, like driving out to somewhere you can hike and browse, just to get them used to the idea of traveling. I know mine love to travel on foot with their people but a vehicle would take some getting used to.

fishhead · #9 10/31/07, 02:43 PM

This probably isn't an option but it's funny anyway.

http://www.squizzle.com/picview.asp?id=13692

AnnaS · #10 10/31/07, 07:18 PM

I don't think this trip will be as hard as it sounds. I've taken pregnant does on 6 hour road trips with no ill effects. Show herds will make two or three day trips to the Nationals, and plenty of show does are confined in small spaces for days on end at big shows. They are usually just fine.

I'd pick the back of the van instead of a trailer. It's easier to keep an eye on the does and the temp and air circulation can be controlled.

If I was doing this trip, I would cut a cattle panel for a barrier instead of hay bales (takes up less space) and switch the does to alfalfa pellets a month or so before the trip for the same reason. In my car, I put down a tarp, then a rubber stock mat, then a layer of straw or shavings. There are dog barriers for vans/SUVs that also work well.

The stock mat is VERY important. If my goats have good footing, they will lie down and spend most of the trip sleeping & ruminating. If the footing is slippery, they will stay on their feet and get sore and stressed.

Take them on a few trips to get them used to traffic (oncoming semis are scary to does!) and to find out who will fight in close confinement. You might need to make two pens to keep the peace. It's surprising how quickly goats will adjust.

Find out what the State of Oklahoma requires for the importation of breeding stock. You may need health certs. or TB tests. You should get a scrapies id letter if you don't have one already.

oceanmist · #11 11/01/07, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnaS

I don't think this trip will be as hard as it sounds. I've taken pregnant does on 6 hour road trips with no ill effects. Show herds will make two or three day trips to the Nationals, and plenty of show does are confined in small spaces for days on end at big shows. They are usually just fine.

I'd pick the back of the van instead of a trailer. It's easier to keep an eye on the does and the temp and air circulation can be controlled.

>>>If I was doing this trip, I would cut a cattle panel for a barrier instead of hay bales (takes up less space) and switch the does to alfalfa pellets a month or so before the trip for the same reason.
>>The stock mat is VERY important.
>>>Find out what the State of Oklahoma requires for the importation of breeding stock. You may need health certs. or TB tests. You should get a scrapies id letter if you don't have one already.

There are so many things I haven't thought of! I would have never thought about using a cattle panel or a stock mat... thanks!

I kinda thought that using the hay would buffer any rough stops and give them something to eat during the drive and also enable me to switch them over to new food. I didn't want to have to rent a trailer to haul hay in or put in on the top of my van to be rained on. So I just thought about doing a 2 bale high stack right behind our seats or even behind the middle seat as I probably don't want them to have too much room to slip and slide around back there.

I also thought that the back of the van would be less stressful because there they could see and hear us.. and all the temp/ air stuff too..

If I were going to move it would have to be in the next 4-5 weeks because I dont' want to move them after the 3rd month of pregnancy.

I would have never thought about the health certifications either! Yikes! I know one doe has her scrapies tag, not on, but I have it and the other doe doesn't have one at all. Is that a national requirement for bringing bred does into a new state?

Thanks Misty

Alice In TX/MO · #12 11/01/07, 06:29 AM

I'd go with the back of the van, too. We've transported ours 14 hours from Missouri to Texas in a trailer, and it's not my favorite sport.

You can't control the temperature or the wind in a trailer. Pulling a trailer isn't easy. The suspension of a trailer isn't as comfortable as a passenger vehicle.

I like my goats. I'd rather have them in my van.

Liese · #13 11/01/07, 07:25 AM

The weather is going to play a major role - if it's raining or snowing how are you going to keep them at night when you stop? Maybe you are planning to drive more or less straight thru? Definitely if you are looking to board them somewhere until settled they'll want a health cert. from your vet at the very least. Perhaps you could leave the goats with friends until you get settled then go back ... more expense but the boarding isn't going to be free either ... unless you have good friends on that end. We moved just an hour and a half from the old farm to the new. We took a month to do it - getting up fencing, renovating a tractor shed, etc. The day we moved the goats, sheep and llamas was the last and only thing we did. The logistics of what you are considering will certainly have to be planned like an army campaign! Good Luck!

topside1 · #14 11/01/07, 07:47 AM

Misty. If you do decide to relocate and use your van as a hauler, remember take some before and after photos.

daxelsen · #15 11/01/07, 08:12 AM

I moved my goats from Utah to Missouri and it took three days. I kept them in a trailer where they had plenty of room to move around. I kept plenty of food and water for them. I makde a lot of stops to check on them. They did really well. Make sure you have health certificates for them because you have to stop at port of entries in some states.

Scrounger · #16 11/01/07, 08:39 AM

Can you go first and "scope out" a new place? It might save you (and the goats) a headache in the long run. Since they are pets, you may not want to board them with someone else'e herd (and a suitable place in the right area might be harder to find then you think). I'd see if you could find a place to live before the move, if possible. I'd also vote for the trailer.

johnsmb · #17 11/02/07, 12:16 PM

I am in the process of doing the very long move, too! We leave in 3 weeks. The trip should take a full 3 days of driving.

We found a rental with 2 acres that will take the goats. However, I did also find a few people that were willing to take the goats temporarily, too.

I looked into a trailer, but I would have to get a hitch and that with the trailer would be around $400 or more. So, they are going in the back of my suv. I ordered a large wire dog kennel, that they will stay in at least over night, if not all day. I plan to use puppy pee-pads on the bottom - I hope that works!! I'm worried about the smell and noise, but the kennel ought to keep them from chewing the car up. Can you buy or build a few kennels/cages for your goats, or are they too big?

topside1 · #18 11/02/07, 12:35 PM

Johnsmb, I want pictures from you too....don't blame you for not spending $$$ on the hitch....You and Misty must surely be a lot younger than me. Enjoy the trip.....If you are passing through Tennessee and run into trouble give me a call 931-644-0478.

fishhead · #19 11/02/07, 12:51 PM

I don't see why you couldn't take some welded wire mesh and make cages. You could put the cages in place and then put the goats into them so they wouldn't have to be too rigid. By fastening them together they will all be stronger.

oceanmist · #20 11/03/07, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnsmb

I am in the process of doing the very long move, too! We leave in 3 weeks. The trip should take a full 3 days of driving.

We found a rental with 2 acres that will take the goats. However, I did also find a few people that were willing to take the goats temporarily, too.

I looked into a trailer, but I would have to get a hitch and that with the trailer would be around $400 or more. So, they are going in the back of my suv. I ordered a large wire dog kennel, that they will stay in at least over night, if not all day. I plan to use puppy pee-pads on the bottom - I hope that works!! I'm worried about the smell and noise, but the kennel ought to keep them from chewing the car up. Can you buy or build a few kennels/cages for your goats, or are they too big?

what state are you relocating to?

my goats weigh about 100 lbs or so.. full grown Alpine and good sized Boer/Saanen...

Misty