Weird goat ?

[yarddog4jc]

I don't have goats anymore, but the other day my DD and I were headed down to the horse barn where she takes riding lessons. We pass a family that has goats out around a pond, and DD asked the question..."can goats swim?" I have no idea, I know horses can but did not know about goats. Thanks for any info.

[Alice In TX/MO]

That would involve touching water. Other than drinking water, my goats go to incredible lengths to avoid all contact with rain, standing water, mud, etc.

[Minelson]

I have heard of goats swimming. And pack goats need to cross rivers and streams. But my goats NEVER! They think rain is going to kill them

[mygoat]

Yes they can swim. Pretty well, too. I had a wether who I would walk down to the boat launch with me and my dog. I'd throw a ball for the dog and wade out till the end of the wether's leash, leaving him on shore. BUT, he just could NOT stand me being that far away so he'd start to follow me out slowly. Eventually he'd just wade right out with me. He would try to play with the dog and would sometimes go for a bit of a swim.

However, the rest of my goats utterly despise H2O. They avoid dewy grass in the morning and prissily walk to sun-dried pasture in the early mornings.

[pinemead]

They DO melt, don't cha know.

[DairyGoatSlave]

yep, mine would positively melt!

[Feathers-N-Fur]

I just love to read posts like this. I live in Oregon. If my goats wanted to stay dry they would have to stay in the barn for at least 6 months straight. Nope, mine stand out in the rain all the time. If it rains hard they head in, but mine have never been afraid of melting. What about the others here from Oregon and Washington or any other rainy state? Do your goats stay in all the time in the winter?

[AuntKitty]

If my Nubians are out in the pasture and can't get to the barn they will just stand in a heavy rain with their heads down. After of course, running around screaming like banshees when the first few raindrops hit them. Someone obviously told them about "acid rain"...

The bonus is - then they are clean! I've even thought about going out and lathering them up but I was afraid it would stop raining before they were completely rinsed off and I would have to chase them with the hose for an hour to finish the job.

Kitty

[yarddog4jc]

Thank you all...I especially like the one about the wether playing with the dog! DD was all smiles. Thanks again. I'll mosey back over the chicken section now.

[Jcran]

The wicked witch of the west was a goat.

[hobbyfarmer]

Well they are terrified of water unless they can use that fact to make a liar out of you. lol. I gave a couple wethers to a family w/lakefront property and absolutely SWORE to this family that the goats would not go into the water with the kids. No worries. 6 months later, the new owners called to say the goats were doing cannon balls off the dock to follow their people into the water. Needless to say, 2 grown lamancha wethers in their faces made swimming a little difficult.