Getting first 2 goats in June. Opinions on set up.

crazyfarm · #1 05/13/14, 04:20 PM

So we've finally picked a breed, breeder and time to get our goats. Now I just have to set up the goat pen. We have a massive dog run/backyard that is fenced with 5' twisted wire livestock fencing. Keeps the dogs in. Also keeps our poultry safe(ish). So I plan on continuing with that fencing into the goat area. The goat area is going to be a corner of the dog run/backyard. Planning on doing 30'x50' and attaching it to our barn. The door to the tack room of the barn will be removed and instead a run in type door installed for the goats to get into the back of the barn. The barn is currently being used for poultry and I don't plan on moving my birds. So I have a portion of the "coop" that I fenced off to store things in. It's right at the door. I figure the fence will keep the goats from getting to the rest of the coop and it is a perfect weather shelter. If the goats and the dogs get along well I'll open the door to the goat run and allow them to run and play together. I figured I would need electricity and water close by for winter months but I don't want them too far from the house for milking so the dog run addition seems ideal. They will be Lamanchas. One doe already in milk and one kid.

So what kind of things do they require? Toys? I'd like to install an auto-fill dog waterer . Will they stand on it and break it or no? Where should I put my milking stand? We have a sun room that isn't really used by anyone but the dogs so I could put it in there. Where do you guys milk at?

Adding pics because theyre worth a million words.

Getting first 2 goats in June. Opinions on set up.-dog-run-fun.jpg

So that is the back corner of the dog run, over by the barn, where I will be erecting my fence. There is an outlet on that side and the water spigot is inside the barn over there. So easy reach.

Getting first 2 goats in June. Opinions on set up.-inside-coop.jpg

In this pic you can see the "coop". I'm standing in what would be turned into the goat part in this pic. It's probably 10x10. I'll put the livestock fencing up where right now it's chicken wire but that's about it.

I have a concern about having them here because this is where the outlet that we use most is located. Will they chew electrical cords and if so how do we protect against that? A box maybe? Unsure.

crazyfarm · #2 05/13/14, 04:24 PM

I guess my other option is to keep them in the barn with the chickens. I may be able to modify the tack room "coop" so the goats can't get into it and feed my birds there. My issue with this is that I have to feed in many areas because I keep all kinds of birds and all ages together. Ducks and chickens and old hens and young chicks and peacocks don't tend to want to share food containers. I'm also wondering if I did this if I would have to gate off the duck area of my poultry run. We have a pond built for the ducks and in the duck side the fence is only 4' tall. Would that keep them in? Would they drown in the pond? We don't really want them drinking the pond water either. It's nasty. Ducks are nasty!

GoatGirl123 · #3 05/14/14, 05:49 PM

Regarding the 4' tall fence, that is how tall ours is and it works fine. However, it must be stable because they'll knock it down if not. Toys: goats like things to climb on, so yes, but not dog toys like balls or anything, LOL. I have never used an auto fill dog waterer for goats, so no experience on that, but I do know that they knock over their water dishes sometimes, so maybe. I wish you lots of luck!

Alice In TX/MO · #4 05/14/14, 05:56 PM

I use the blue plastic autofill waterers for my goats. WONDERFUL!

LomahAcres · #5 05/14/14, 06:03 PM

I'm thinking the 30x50 yard isn't very big for 2 full sized dairy goats . . . Do you have another yard/pasture for them? On the other hand the 10x10 indoor I think is plenty big - I would consider stalling off a part that that could be used for your 'milk room'. Maybe the part around the outlet depending on location - the goats would only be in there then when milked/supervised.

Things required - I'd look into a hay rack, and loose mineral feeder

Mine also like the LARGE wood spool - like what they use for the large cable wires, to climb up on a sunbath.

crazyfarm · #6 05/15/14, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoatGirl123

Regarding the 4' tall fence, that is how tall ours is and it works fine. However, it must be stable because they'll knock it down if not. Toys: goats like things to climb on, so yes, but not dog toys like balls or anything, LOL. I have never used an auto fill dog waterer for goats, so no experience on that, but I do know that they knock over their water dishes sometimes, so maybe. I wish you lots of luck!

The duck run fence is made of the same materials as the dog run just shorter since my ducks can't fly so I had no need to go tall.

I was thinking this water dish. They make a metal version so I can put a heater in it for winter. Screws into the wall.

Do you think the duck pond water would be an issue??

Getting first 2 goats in June. Opinions on set up.-best-dog-dish-ever.jpg

crazyfarm · #7 05/15/14, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LomahAcres

I'm thinking the 30x50 yard isn't very big for 2 full sized dairy goats . . . Do you have another yard/pasture for them? On the other hand the 10x10 indoor I think is plenty big - I would consider stalling off a part that that could be used for your 'milk room'. Maybe the part around the outlet depending on location - the goats would only be in there then when milked/supervised.

Things required - I'd look into a hay rack, and loose mineral feeder

Mine also like the LARGE wood spool - like what they use for the large cable wires, to climb up on a sunbath.

Well we have 40 acres so we could technically build big. I chose 30x50 because the barn is 30 feet wide and beside the barn we have trees. I don't want the goats eating the trees. 50 just seemed long enough to me. I can certainly alter it.

The outlet is right in the door opening so couldn't stall it off. If the digs and goats get along I will leave them out together. Then they'd have 3/4 acre to roam and I could milk in the sun room which would be super convenient for me. Might have to kill our weimaraner first though. :P

I was looking into getting some tree stumps for climbing but I like the spool idea. Much lighter!

Certainly will be building a hay rack!

CAjerseychick · #8 05/15/14, 03:15 PM

I would just let the goats roam through that back part -- you would need to hide your poultry feeders though (build a wooden crate with cattle panel door so hens can enter but dogs and goats cant?)-- and Yes they chew on wiring, not right away, but they will get around to it.... learned the hard way.

On the plus side its nice for your dogs and goats to be comfortable with each other, cuts down on predation issues....