Moving goats tips please

Minelson · #1 07/15/09, 03:22 PM

As a lot of you know I'm moving at the end of the month. Only 6 miles away from where we are now. Of course I am loosing sleep over how my little goat family will transition and I'm terrified of the move making them sick or anything. Any tips on how to make this as smooth of a transition as possible. They will have their same little hut, spools and such. Same hay. I'm not sure which outbuilding I'm going to put them in yet (the nicest one of course

)
I also have the chickens, horses and barn cats to worry about. UGH!

Feral Nature · #2 07/15/09, 03:28 PM

I think they will be fine since they have their same herd mates with them. As long as they are not suddenly put in a situation with tons of lush browse that they are not used to, they should be fine. Also, were goats on this land before? If so, their could be problems from the previous herd. If not, they will be on nice fresh virgin soil. It would do you well to worm them prior to moving them so you don't bring parasites with you.

Wags · #3 07/15/09, 04:26 PM

They might be a little nervous the first day or two in the new place, but I bet they will have it all figured out and know their way around before you do. Just be sure you have tight fencing up before they arrive.

pookshollow · #4 07/15/09, 04:56 PM

Don'tworry, the move won't make them sick as long as you're careful about the browse, like Feral Nature said.

I spent six days in June hauling goats back and forth to Toronto (anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours in heavy traffic) for a photo shoot. Nobody got sick. My milking doe, Emily, would get up and look out the window at the people in the cars whenever we hit a traffic jam!

When we move here just over three years ago, it was about a 45 minute drive. We had six goats at the time. One ND buckling screamed himself hoarse on the trip but that was about it.

Cannon_Farms · #5 07/15/09, 05:30 PM

You must take them through a drive through, always got lots of attention with the mini horses in the mini van and still do when we travel to the local shows and have the goats in the truck with us.
I would use a large dog crate to transport them, or put them in once you get them off the horse trailer just for like an hour so they can get used to their new home before you let them out if they are scared of buggy men, but by what I know of your goats its not going to phase them a bit.
Take the horses first, let them calm down they have a way of putting excitement in the air and no one needs to get a wiff of that.
As far as the cats, if you have a stall put their crate in there for an hour or so, let them see you put feed out in the stall and turn loose, they will always find the food, ive had at least 10 cats, some ferral that I have moved 3 times in the past 5 years and never lost one.
Its a shame your moving you have a really nice place where your at, hopefully your upgrading if thats possible.

Minelson · #6 07/15/09, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cannon_Farms

Its a shame your moving you have a really nice place where your at, hopefully your upgrading if thats possible.

We are downgrading. But there are some really great things at the new place. We will be on a gravel road so I won't have to worry so much about traffic. Even though my animals are all very well trained about the road...it's still scary. It is much more secluded than where we are now...if that's even possible! lol! The house is old but is well kept and in great condition and has a HUGE screened in porch.
The place we are in now is way more than we need..the house is too nice and it's a lot of pressure to keep it nice with all these dogs, cats & goats. We will still be on 10 acres, everything is just older and the house is a little smaller. Since hubby lost his job we looked into downsizing and everything just fell into place.

thanks for the tips!

Goat Servant · #7 07/15/09, 05:58 PM

Minelson they they will probably take it better than you will. They still have the same Mommy dont you know. :baby04:

Backfourty,MI. · #8 07/15/09, 09:02 PM

They will be fine, it will probly just take them a day or 2 of nosing around to figure out how to get on that new porch!

Just kidding, In a day or two they will probly feel right at home.