new guy, planning on goats in the spring... (living in WI)

frstsgtjv · #1 10/30/13, 03:32 PM

hello everyone, I have been skimming all sorts of great info off of this site for the past little while and and putting my "plan" into play, looking at being ready for goats the coming spring. so here is the plan I am "hatching"....

have an existing barn with two put out doors. am planning a goat stall in the back right corner. the pen will be 19'9"x11'7". two sleeping stalls in the back of that section that are roughly 6' long by 5'6" wide. thinking about putting raised sleeping platforms across the back that will stick out 3'6" from the wall. (intitially could use one sleeping stall for a kidding stall as well) the rest of the pen is open with two water buckets mounted to the walls, the wall of the pen on the interior of the barn will be a head through feeding trough with two basket hay feeders at two different points on the walls. the outside permanent paddock will be the length of the barn plus 53' from the front right corner of the barn, over to the treeline 65', the fence along the treeline will be 168 ft long and then from that point back to the back right corner of the barn (where the goat pen is inside) In other words the paddock will be to the right of the barn. going to start building the pen this coming month, and purchase all the stuff I need for completing the fence and finishing that next spring. I do have water in the barn and a small tack room for storage. have a full hayloft for storing all feed (hays, grains etc...) already have 6 galvanized trash cans to help with that. (used to have a horses when I was still in the military) Plan on keeping a refrigerator in the tack room for all medicines etc.

Now with that all said, once it is complete and I have stocked up on the feed, equipment and medical stuff will hopefully be ready for actual goats!! very interested in the Kinder's (cause I like that they can be milked to a limited extent as well), but also looking at the mytonics too. I only have 6 acres so a mobile fence in the back would be used for a rotating pasture other than the permanent paddock. I am looking at starting out with two Doe's and go from there. My main focus (initially) would be to raise goats for additional meat for my family, not to sell. I think with my property size that I could handle four "permanent" residence goats as my breeding stock. (am I way off base with this?)

ok, I have never had any experience with goats and plan on starting slow, but I open the floor to any helpful advice. ( the plan is now made, have not built anything yet, just started buying materials and completing the pan so it is a living and breathing plan that is and will most likely change as it goes along) So any helpful advice from you more experienced goat peoples would be extremely helpful and appreciated. (I also have a thick skin so let me know if I am way off on anything)

Minelson · #2 10/30/13, 04:15 PM

Welcome to the goat forum and the world of goats. Most important is pictures so make sure you have a camera.

Goats will be able to get into the trash cans of feed. They are more tricky than horses. Cattle panels make the best fencing for the paddock. You will want some kind of stand for medicating and trimming hooves. Your plan sounds good. What are you planning on using for portable fencing?

frstsgtjv · #3 10/30/13, 08:45 PM

the galvanized cans will be up in the hayloft, and one in the tack room. (where the goats "shouldn't" be able to get to) mainly for keepin rats from raiding the feed the "portable" fence would be pickets and field fence with 4" squares, along with a hot wire and solar charger, will be using some of the cattle panels for inside the paddock to section off areas for temporary separations situationally dependent. (sick goats, quarantining any new ones etc...) would love to use the the panels for the paddock, but the paddock is significantly large and I cant afford that right off so will be using 48" field fence with the 4" squares with a hot wire off the top of each wood post. was looking at a lot of designs for milking station/stands for taking care of hooves and meds.... and will take pictures as the barn comes together. will be using 6" wood fence posts for the paddock,

Minelson · #4 10/30/13, 09:01 PM

Sounds wonderful! I can't wait to see pictures

Ford Zoo · #5 10/30/13, 09:47 PM

Welcome! Where are you in Wisconsin? Sounds like you have a good plan, you have to start somewhere! Fiascofarm.com has easy plans for a stand that can be made in one day. If you are in northern WI, I know a good myotonic breeder near New Richmond who is selling out.

dozedotz · #6 10/30/13, 10:10 PM

How exciting!! Best advice I can think of is to get 2 does from the same herd of roughly the same age (not necessarily related) who know each other, are from stock that has been tested for CAE for many years and then PAY if you have to to have them tested for CAE, Johnnes, CL and whatever WI requires (TB??). Make sure you see the paperwork establishing that the herd has been tested regularly and recently (this year).The does will comfort each other on the trip to your place, will already know each other, won't be lonely and will not be too much to start your herd. I know lots of people who have many,many goats (!) on six acres...I personally think that you are wise to keep your herd small...less work, more time for each animal, crowding often results in more parasite problems AND you will have time to learn all you will need to know to care for goats before you decide to add any others. Probably no matter how well you plan your set up, you will find you need to make changes! Just know that goats are escape artists - some beyond what you can possibly imagine! Sounds like you know that already and are working on the fencing. Be thinking about a good dog for fending off predators. WI (we used to live there) has lots of wild things that love to eat goat. Our first dog was an already trained goat-familiar-lady who was no longer needed at her original home...she is still with us and worth her weight in gold!!
We started with Kinders...they are great little goats! Easy to handle, very good foragers, not at all needy and some of them really put out the milk as well as the meat.
Good luck and WELCOME!!

frstsgtjv · #7 10/31/13, 07:09 AM

Thanks Minelson, will get pictures up as it comes together. Ford, like that stand, and more importantly even I could put that together, thanks. I live near Wrightstown, WI which is just south of Green Bay (15 miles) bought this "farmette" when I retired from the army cause I had my horses and wanted to be out in the country somewhat. wont be ready for the goats til next spring so if your friend still has goats then might be able to contact them. (have been kicking this around this year and doing a lot of research up til now) Dozedotz, thanks for the comments, I am hoping to beable to get two goats to start from the same place for the exact reasons you mention. I have to be alittle frank here, reading about all the problems and parasites and sickness that can afflict these guys is sort of overwhelming! So yes keeping my goat numbers low will hopefully alleviate some of that one, two I am not planning on getting into any sort of marketing etc... 4 to 6 goats as my "babies mommas", culling as necessary and the rest for mine and my family's freezers. (now the mommas will be some spoiled goats to be sure) I do have some coyotes and foxes around here for sure, not sure what other predators there are, and I do have two black labs and a rat terrier so I don't have too many 'yotes hanging around my property. I am more worried about my terrier wanting to shase the goats so I will have to monitor that more than anything. the labs "patrol" the joint awfully well but are not outside all the time. the goats will be penned at night in the barn which is awfully secure so that is a good option for reducing the coyote issue. Then again I am sure during the summer they would want to hang out outside. (this would be an example of how the plan will "change"

) interested in the Kinders for that very reason, think they will be good "starter" goats for me to "learn the ropes" and go from there. going to pick up some additional wood today for the barn pen and see what "gate" options fleet has. would like to have the pen roughed in before I leave for anchorage for two weeks for work.

thanks for the comments all and have a great day.

Minelson · #8 10/31/13, 08:43 AM

I keep mine in a stall in the barn at night because of coyotes. It works out great. I have fans in the stalls for when it gets really hot. I use the deep bedding method in the winter and it keeps it nice and warm. I let mine free range the property during the day. Luckily (knocking on wood) we don't have a stray dog or neighbors dogs problem here. I hear of way more attacks on here by the family dog or neighbors dogs than coyotes. I have a German shepherd mix and an Aussie. I completely trust them with the goats but I got them as pups and they were raised that way. But I still keep them in the house when I'm gone. I have a friend whose goat got her head stuck in a fence while she was gone and her pet dogs attacked and killed it. They saw the goat struggling and went into pack mode and ripped it's head off. What a horror for her to come home to. Not only that her beloved goat was horrifically killed but the normally gentle trustworthy pet dogs could do such a thing.
Goats are not as hard as it seems. You are seeing the problems here on the forum because this is where we come with problems more so than daily ease of having them. The only thing is though is that when they get sick they go down fast so immediate action is important....not a wait and see attitude.
I am also originally from WI. Born and raised in the Milw area, Also lived in Neenah for a spell. Are you a Packer fan?

frstsgtjv · #9 10/31/13, 08:56 AM

NICE, I was raised in Menasha. OF COURSE I AM A PACKER FAN!! (indoctrination starts at birth) My family is from all over Calumet Cnty. (I was born in Chilton) My Labs were around horse's and goats often. (they had goats at the stables my two quarters were at in NC) they always did great with both. my big lab was pretty 'whatever' about both the goats and horses, but my Hunter was fast friends with my horses and they 'played' often. would go on my trail rides and everyone always got along. with the goats they were just mutually curious and left it at that. I am more concerned on that little rat terrier my wife got when I came home from Afghanistan. That lil son of a gun wants to chase everything on two and 4 legs.... not mean and he is playful but I can see him stressing out the goats wanting to play. then again, he might be scared as heck of them. if he see's a goose or turkey in the yard he runs like a raped ape in the opposite direction. something I wont know about until the goats are here. I completely understand about sick goats going down quickly. Couldn't believe how quick some previously healthy horses went down, sometimes in a matter of hours. thankfully that never happened to my two. Firm believer in living up to the responsibility of taking care of animals that YOU brought into your life. I am sure with goats just like horses that establishing good habits (feeding, grooming, prev. meds etc...) go along way in overall health and productivity.

dozedotz · #10 10/31/13, 09:00 AM

OH, we didn't know you were a Packer fan! Goodness, then whatever you need, just ask!

Minelson · #11 10/31/13, 09:03 AM

If the rat terrier is afraid of the geese he will probably be afraid of the goats. If not, that is where a shock collar comes in handy. I used one on my German Shepherd to stop him from chasing/killing chickens. Worked like a charm and only had to use it once. Also taught him not to chase after my truck down the road with it.

Good that you are a Packer fan!

You can help me and dozedots gang up on Pony here. Pony is a bears fan ugh!

But we still love her dearly!

frstsgtjv · #12 10/31/13, 10:34 AM

hmmmm, packers vs bears Monday nite......

Ford Zoo · #13 10/31/13, 05:21 PM

I used to live on the WI side of the WI/IL border. Packer vs Bear fans down that way were quite deadly on each other! No matter what, We're sticking with the Pack!!

That gal's website with the myotonics is Crookedboardfarms.com. Her name is Rachel and she and her daughter are just lovely to work with! Very nice people there.

Minelson · #14 10/31/13, 08:02 PM

Just wanted to mention..get a barn cam!!! I couldn't live without mine

Ford Zoo · #15 10/31/13, 08:16 PM

Wish I had a barn cam tonight!!

Pinehollow · #16 11/01/13, 12:57 PM

I wish I had a barn! LOL!

Hi, I'm new too...I agree, all this goat stuff is very overwhelming. I started out the same, reading and debating..... and reading.. and well, you know!

I've have 4 goats so far...they are smart and curious as heck! But fun! (I have Nigerians)

I built my goat milk stand out of reclaimed lumber and couple pallets! Only thing I spent money on was the hook n eye hardware, feeder and an anti-fatigue mat.
new guy, planning on goats in the spring... (living in WI) - Goats

new guy, planning on goats in the spring... (living in WI) - Goats

Ford Zoo · #17 11/01/13, 08:58 PM

They continue to be overwhelming, in a good way!!

I started with Nigerians, great little girls! No matter how well we plan, we are still changing things and wishing we would have done this/that or made it bigger.

crazy4equines · #18 11/03/13, 07:15 AM

Just going to jump in here, its been awhile since I have been on but, I use field fencing for my fence and I run a strand of electric at the bottom to keep the goats off the fence, this works great and is a bit cheaper too. For storing feed I use a big old chest freezer that no longer worked, keeps the mice out really well.