Want to get goats- need setup advice

[BeagleMommy]

Hi! I have been enjoying reading this board for a while, as I have been longing for goats. The thing is, I have no facilities for them yet. I was planning on getting a doe and maybe a wether or another doe to keep her company in the spring, but the family I wanted to get the goats from wants to sell them before winter, so I need to get some fencing/ shed/ something ASAP.

Here's what we have:
5.5 acres almost all moderately hilly woods- Mom and Dad's property adjoins ours and they have 5 cleared acres in addition to more woods that I could use
Dad has a sawmill- so lumber is no problem
three beagles who have never even seen a goat before- so I don't know how they will react

What we don't have:
much money
any skills building things (we just moved to the country)

What would you suggest? I'm really open to any ideas. The goat I fell in love with is a LaMancha/ Saanen cross named Milk.
Here's a pic:


What do all you goaty folks think?
Do I need to build a pen in the clearing? Or would woods nearer the house be better? What exactly are cattle panels?
I really am clueless, but I want to learn.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Very helpful info:
http://www.fiascofarm.com/goats/getting-your-goat.htm

Are the goats you are looking at tested for CL and CAE? If not, DO NOT GET THEM UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN TESTED AND YOU KNOW THEY ARE CLEAN!

Pen in the woods is better. Goats need browsing not grazing.

[Mrs. Jo]

Do you have support in your area? Dairy goat club, or pet club or something like that? You will need people you can contact in an emergency.

Calf huts and cattle pens make for very easy goat housing. It's easy to put a cattle panel pen up and add to it as you go along, get more money ect. Two dairy goats can get by with an acre of fenced area. The cattle panels are what is in the picture behind her. It's just strong metal fencing that lasts a very long time. We use the combo panels, with smaller squares on the bottom.

Your doe is going to need a companion. Your going to need a good dairy hay and a place to store it, feeders, and a waterer. We like the heated buckets for winter use.

Start reading up on dairy goats and go to dairygoatinfo.com (that's Vicki's site) and talk to the breeders there about the needs of a dairy animal.

[Goat Servant]

As for your beagles, the goats will probably be pretty lerry of them. It took my girls a good month or so to get used to the LGD pup outside their pen. They had never been around dogs.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

Although my girls can go out into the woods I would not pen them away from eyesite with beagles, and whatever else lives in the woods

Cattle panels are right behind the doe picture you put up.

Start with a hoop house, someone just put up photos of theirs, search on here or at dairygoatinfo.com we should be back up tommorrow after our upgrade. They are simply made of wireing two or three cattle panels together, attaching a tarp to the outside and then hooping it up into the air. Make sure you secure the sides well with T posts that you just pound into the ground, and make it as tall as you are so you don't have to stoop to go inside. Wireing the hoop to the T posts well will keep the sides flat so the goats can not jump up and get ontop of your house. Then just get a few more cattle panels as you can afford them and use them as fencing, making the area larger as you can afford to. Don't pound your T posts in very far this way they are easy to take up, pound them in all the way once you have a corner established that won't be moved.

It was at least 5 years of goating before I could afford anything other than the perimeter barbed wire we did on our acreage. Everyday I would take my goats out into the woods for walks and they could eat, then back into their safe home.

I did put a back onto my hoop house so I could attach a hay feeder in there and so there was no blowing rain. Simple bedding of spent hay or shavings or straw will make it snug for the winter. Have your opening to their house not facing north...here we also get all our blowing rain from the west, so for here and east or south facing door opening would be best. Remember if you get wet on your knees kneeling in the barn add more bedding. If you can take your coat off during the winter than it's to warm. If condensation forms on anything, there is not enough air flow. IF you can smell amonia put down something like Sweet PDZ or clean out the bedding and start over.

Read read and read about purchasing goats, but the cross of anything with LaMancha is a very sturdy breed to start with and she is very very nice. Vicki

[Minelson]

So you have any outbuildings at all? If so, start there with the fencing. I would use the wood if it's free. Do you have a post hole digger? Looks like a real nice goat!

[BeagleMommy]

Thanks for all the helpful information and compliments
I actually fell in love with Milk because she came up to me and nibbled me all over and nuzzled my neck. I didn't even know she was one they were willing to sell until later. She really is sweet.
She is also 3 or 4, I can't remember, is a good milker, and has had no trouble kidding.
I will find out if they have had her tested- and ensure that it happens.
I was going to have their shelter with a north facing door! Thanks! I didn't even think about weather; I was just thinking that would be the easiest way to look in and see them, but I think we can re-do our plans.
And I do have a post hole digger and a handy retired father, so that will help, too.
And anyone else who has a suggestion that hasn't been mentioned, please do.
Thanks, everyone.