Question About Goats

[Epona]

Hi. I want to buy a few goats (2 or 3) but have a few questions hopefully someone can answer. I could obviously go do a search but would welcome replies from actual goat owners. We have 5 acres of land and part of that is vegetable garden fenced around with posts and rabbit wire to a height of 4ft to keep out our hens and wild rabbits. When I mention goats the local farmers and smallholders all do the sharp intake of breath and tell stories about goats escaping into peoples gardens eating everything and causing trouble, and how they must be tethered or you will never keep track of them. I want to keep them and get them in Kid, sell the female kids for breeding and the male for meat. I do not want to tether them but neither do I want to trash my veggie garden. The large field itself is fenced with post and pig wire with an electric tape across the top, it keeps horses in but from what I've heard of goats it will not. So, are goats worth the trouble and second question, what breed is the easiest for a novice to deal with? Thanks!

[wildwood]

My uncle had a normal white domestic goat in the 60s in Holland. It was trained to pull a small cart just like a small horse. It's night shelter was an unused pigeon loft that stood 5' in the air on poles. The goat had no problem scaling the stairs to go into it's shelter and usually jumped out in one go. It could also walk along a 4x2 beam on it's edge, no problem. They are very hard to keep in if they want to get to something. Some can even climb trees.

If your goat(s) got into my garden I would not be a happy chappy, and neither would your neighbours. Vet fees for breeding would outstrip any profit you might make selling the kids. Have you considered a few sheep? they can also make good pets and are nowhere near as stupid as everyone thinks.

[jomifl]

Goats are lovely animals but you have to seriously consider why you want them. They are very difficult to keep on one plot of land. I had some goats once but fortunately they didn't roam out of the 5 acre plot since it had plenty of trees to keep them occupied. Goats are browsers, they don't eat grass unless they have to. As for milk, one goat will produce more than a family can use and need milking twicw a day. Billy goats can be quite aggressive unless they have known you since they were a kid even so they are very strong and can be a bit of a handful.

[Mosaic]

Goats will climb trees to graze if they fancy it. They are lovely critters but a complete handful.
Of course, there are the pygmy versions. or you could keep a sheep or two.

[Epona]

Thanks for the replies which tend to reflect what has been said by other people. Neighbouring gardens are not a problem as we are rural, no near neighbours, but my garden has to be kept safe as its our food source, or will be. Ho hum will have to have a plan B, I just thought goats could eat off weeds and things keep the pasture sweet for my horses. Sheep well I wouldn't know where to start, can you buy just one or 2? I thought they came in 'flocks' lol! Thanks for taking the time to respond its much appreciated.

[lankeela]

You have to be available to milk twice a day without fail or else you will have serious problems. They don't just eat weeds either, in fact a good diet is essential. (They will of course eat exactly what you don't want them to though). I used to look after several when I started a 'pet sitting' business many years before it was the in thing. They had diced fresh fruit and vegetables, plus complete food (like pony cubes but for goats) and their owner insisted on slightly tepid water for them changed twice a day plus licorice bars as a treat (cut up in small sections) - yes very over the top but they were pets rather than 'stock'. Although they can live 'rough' nothing goes downhill as quickly as a sick goat, and you can easily lose them if you are not aware of their condition. Another friend had a special goat house made with a walk on platform so they were higher up to make milking easier, with a food bucket at one end for their head while you dealt with the other end. They learnt to take it in turns to be milked but if you were late they soon let you know!