Housing goats

homesteader824 · #1 08/17/13, 11:18 PM

I am currently in the early planning/research phase of maybe getting goats. I basically live in the woods in the southern Missouri Ozarks, and there are coyotes in the area. What protection do goats need at night? Do they need locked in their barn, or can there be a door open for them to come and go freely? I am not always home before dark. I have solved this problem with my chickens by having an electric door on a timer to keep them safe after sundown. I really don't want to have an automated door for the goats too if I can help it.

SJSFarm · #2 08/18/13, 07:22 AM

Well I have coyotes here too, but no problems in the pasture (cross my fingers and knock on wood). But I have a run in shed I can lock them in. I ended up having to put a snap on the other side so I can lock it open because I found they were locking themselves in at night! Sometimes, however, they left someone outside. There would be a lot of screaming when that happened.

o&itw · #3 08/18/13, 07:36 AM

The current wisdom is to get a livestock guardian dog (or two). That is an added expense, but if trained right they can guard all your animals, including keeping the foxes, dogs and sometimes hawks away from chickens during the day. Most LGDs need a fairly large area to protect, and good perimeter fencing to keeping them from claiming and area to protect larger than your farm. Of course goats need good perimeter fencing themselves.

Your alternative, I guess is to be a goatherd, and lock them in at night.

I am passing along information I have found searching for the same information as you.

There are lots of people on here with real experience that can give better advice.

What seems to be the situation, is that without LGDs sooner or later, maybe a few years later, or maybe the 2nd day you have them, you will loose goats. Once coyotes or dogs find they can get at your goats they will likely be back, day after day, for more.

Alice In TX/MO · #4 08/18/13, 08:27 AM

Knock on wood.

I am in south central Missouri. My goats have a walk in shed, but no door. Have not yet lost a goat to coyotes.

I do have just regular yard dogs.

Knock on wood.

wintrrwolf · #5 08/18/13, 11:43 AM

coyotes here too. We are right on the edge of town, lost 2 ducks that wandered to far out but my aussie (who we have to keep on a cable run) raises such a huge fuss that NOTHING has ventured into yard.

Clovers_Clan · #6 08/18/13, 07:48 PM

We have two packs of coyotes nearby on either side of us. And stray dogs which killed two of the neighbors chickens just last week. Our Great Pyrenees/Anatolian has given us peace of mind. We haven't had any predator problems and this past winter she killed a rabid skunk in the barnyard. They are truly incredible creatures. A good farm dog of any breed can work well. But there have been a few horror stories on here about good family dogs gone bad when they take up with the predator rather than the herd. We recently had to re-homed a good family dog for killing chickens. You don't often hear about the LGD breeds going bad. I highly recommend this article written up by the USDA about livestock guardians. If you are considering a pup, there is some learning curve. But we've never regretted getting Clover.

aart · #7 08/19/13, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clovers_Clan

We have two packs of coyotes nearby on either side of us. And stray dogs which killed two of the neighbors chickens just last week. Our Great Pyrenees/Anatolian has given us peace of mind. We haven't had any predator problems and this past winter she killed a rabid skunk in the barnyard. They are truly incredible creatures. A good farm dog of any breed can work well. But there have been a few horror stories on here about good family dogs gone bad when they take up with the predator rather than the herd. We recently had to re-homed a good family dog for killing chickens. You don't often hear about the LGD breeds going bad. I highly recommend this article written up by the USDA about livestock guardians. If you are considering a pup, there is some learning curve. But we've never regretted getting Clover.

Got a link?

Clovers_Clan · #8 08/19/13, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aart

Got a link?

Oh, dopie me! Here is the link:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/compani.../guarddogs.htm

hiddensprings · #9 08/19/13, 10:02 PM

my girls have a run in shelter with no door, but I do have an Anatolian Shepherd that stays with them 24/7. Never lost a goat to predators (yet) We have coyotes too

madness · #10 08/19/13, 10:08 PM

We have coyotes as well and not all of our animals are locked in a barn at night. Our milking does and little kids are, but bucks aren't. No problems so far!

Doug Hodges · #11 08/19/13, 10:14 PM

Been thinking about another barn. I have one big one but I was thinking about one for each pasture. Floor or no floor? Im thinking about one of the storage buildings or a carport and put three sides on it. What do you use? Ive been letting them into the barn but its mostly concrete and they sure make a mess.

madness · #12 08/19/13, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Hodges

Been thinking about another barn. I have one big one but I was thinking about one for each pasture. Floor or no floor? Im thinking about one of the storage buildings or a carport and put three sides on it. What do you use? Ive been letting them into the barn but its mostly concrete and they sure make a mess.

All of our animal housing (goats, sheep, equine, poultry) is dirt floors. I like that it is permeable and easily/cheaply replaceable when something goes very wrong.