I am getting goats!!!

nancylee · #1 06/27/12, 10:47 AM

Although my husband doesn't know it yet!!!

I am getting a 2 year old infertile LaMancha, and two yearling doe Nigerians!! I decided on Nigerians, because I know I could never send my animals to auction or sell them for meat, and I have read a lot that Nigerians are easy to place as pets. Plus, they are so adorable!

I am setting up a movable sheep goat fence, I do have dogs I have to keep away from the goats. Only one of them is very curious/crazy, would I need to put a strand of electric wire on the top of the fence? And I have 40 acres, mostly wooded, and want to create some pasture, so I plan to move the goats around. Anyone have experience with the Polydome hutches? I want to do this right, I am even willing to get a LGD to keep them safe. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!
Nancy from upstate NY

prairiedog · #2 06/27/12, 11:58 AM

Congrats on the goats. Some people swear that goats will get out of anything we haven't seemed to have that problem. How tall will the fence be?

nancylee · #3 06/27/12, 12:21 PM

Hi Judy,
The fence is almost 5 feet tall, heavy wire. Thanks!
Nancy

andabigmac · #4 06/27/12, 02:29 PM

Advice? Make your pen bigger than it needs to be so you can fit even more goats in there. LGD's are expensive. You might as well make it worth the cost.

nancylee · #5 06/27/12, 03:21 PM

Thanks, Andabigmac!! Everyone tells me that goats are addictive!
Nancy

bwanaswan · #6 06/27/12, 03:35 PM

They are addictive.

You may need a 12 step program before your through.

I myself don't have a problem.....really....I can quit anytime I want.

Donna1982 · #7 06/27/12, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancylee

Thanks, Andabigmac!! Everyone tells me that goats are addictive!
Nancy

They are very addictive. I started out with four now I have eleven a year later. Not to sound rude but when you say your husband doesnt know do you mean you picked them out with out talking to him or that he just doesnt know you are getting now? The reason I ask is most of the time when someone gets into goats its a one person thing. Meaning one person loves them more, takes care of them more and if your husband didn't sign up for that and later has to help will he hold it against you and the goats? I personally have seen a few people have to get rid of their goats because their spouse did not like them and didn't sign up for it. Hope that didnt sound rude.

Congrats on the goaties and you know pictures are must here.

nancylee · #8 06/27/12, 05:47 PM

Hi,
My husband is a naysayer, he hated my dog rescue, so I stopped doing that, but this is part of a self-sufficient lifestyle I want to live, it is a real commitment to me, so really...I am 50 years old, and I have wanted these for a long time. He will be fine, as I will do all of the care for them.

You weren't rude, just very perceptive!!!
Nancy

Donna1982 · #9 06/27/12, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nancylee

Hi,
My husband is a naysayer, he hated my dog rescue, so I stopped doing that, but this is part of a self-sufficient lifestyle I want to live, it is a real commitment to me, so really...I am 50 years old, and I have wanted these for a long time. He will be fine, as I will do all of the care for them.

You weren't rude, just very perceptive!!!
Nancy

Just seen it to many times lol. I understand about wanting to do this for a long time. Ive wanted to show goats since I was like 7 years old. Only took me 22 years to be able to. So I understand it. We are happy to have you here though. I can't wait to see them. We have LaManchas. Nigerians are just to cute you will love them.

nancylee · #10 06/27/12, 07:39 PM

Thank you for the very kind welcome!! Actually, we just had a long talk, and he is on board. As long as he doesn't have to milk them twice a day!!
One of mine that I am getting is an infertile Lamancha, the owner said she didn't "take" last year, so she was about to send her to a meat auction. I almost cried, so I said I would take her. I have to be careful I don't switch from dog rescue to goat rescue!!!

KrisD · #11 06/27/12, 09:17 PM

Please ask to see if they are tested for disease. CAE, CL and Johnes are the big 3. CAE is manageable but CL and Johnes are devestating. The testing isn't super accurate for CL but it is definitely worth it.

Just FYI just because she didn't take to being bred doesn't mean she is infertile. They may have just missed her heats or something.

Congrats on the goaties they are highly addictive.

Goat Servant · #12 06/27/12, 11:25 PM

Just for the record goats are NOT addictive. It's the people that own them.

Anyhoo when I first got mine, Bob was mildy interested, even somwhat helpful.
Now he's right in there, sometimes noticing things I dont. He still doesnt milk though.
The calf hutches will work great & welcome!

luvzmybabz · #13 06/27/12, 11:40 PM

I had asked my husband about goats and he said no then about a month later I call him at work and tell him he needs to switch such and such day. He asks why I said to pick up my new goats. He acted like he hated them in the begining but I would catch him playing with them, by the way less then a week after getting my goats I had a slip and all accident where I had to subsequently have 2 back surgeries so he has spent lots of time taking care of my goats. I started with 3 have been up and down but now I run btween 15 and 20 usually. The other morning at 3:00 Am he had to rush to the barn to help with an emergency he can get a bit crabbie when that happens but all in all most goats are pretty magnetizing!!!!!!!!!

nancylee · #14 06/28/12, 04:14 AM

Thanks for the advice about testing - I will get them tested before I bring them here. And I wondered about her being infertile after not taking one year - should I ask about breeding her again?
Nancy