I need a little goat info

My wife used to think that she had to have goats, and I developed quite a hatred for them things. Last one we had, got nick named the Tasmanian devil. Stupid thing ran around the place like a whirl wind. Just plain stupid ringy thing. Couldn't keep it contained to save our hide. Would get out of any pen we put it in. Finally got it captured, and put it inside the barn, Four walls and a roof; no way it could escape. WRONG! There was a barn sash window in the outside wall. About five feet from the floor to the bottom of the window. All four panes of glass in tact, plus the wood bars in place. Darn thing must have taken a flying leap and went right through the window. Last time it was seen, was by the neighbors, running wild through their hills. I sincerely hope some hungry coyote enjoyed him for lunch. But truthfully, I don't think a coyote could have caught it, and even if it did, I don't think it could have gotten hungry enough to eat that darn thing. My other goat experiences involved farm insurance and new paint jobs on vehicles. I do not care much for goats. I guess there was one time that a bar I frequented had a "goat bar-B-que", and I had enough beers in me to eat it, and I guess that when you're drunk enough, anything tastes good. My best goat advice is: If you get the opportunity to get some goats, don't walk away from it.........RUN LIKE HELL!!!!!! Darrel

Ranse wrote: Harvey/pa wrote: Never had goats but oldest daughter got some several years ago, one of them does not "own" her kid every year. Daughter holds the mother every few hours for the baby to drink until its big enough to steal from Mom when she is not paying attention or it gets adopted by another goat. It would have left here year one but she is too kind hearted for that, She will keep it up till that goat dies or won't breed anymore. Sure hope you have better luck...Harvey My daughter is the same way. Her animals will never be sold because she's afraid someone will eat them. The mama goat seems to be coming around. She allowed the kid to nurse yesterday. They plan to let them out of the shed this weekend and see what happens. My daughter plans to keep both goats. The kid is a male, so he will have to lose his manhood at some point to avoid inter breeding.

Edited by DiyDave - 16 Jan 2018 at 4:52am

Never had goats but oldest daughter got some several years ago, one of them does not "own" her kid every year. Daughter holds the mother every few hours for the baby to drink until its big enough to steal from Mom when she is not paying attention or it gets adopted by another goat. It would have left here year one but she is too kind hearted for that, She will keep it up till that goat dies or won't breed anymore. Sure hope you have better luck...Harvey

Congratulations! Looks like its up and moving! You may have to nurse it.

yeesh how'd that BIG kid come outta that LITTLE goat ??
I do hope mama let's the kid drink soon !

I must be getting old, I really like the picture.me, who'd a thunk that

Jay

as mentioned above ya got 2 choices, continue to force her to nurse and see what happens or milk mama and bottle feed.

Edited by dt1050 - 13 Jan 2018 at 4:54am

First time mother then her mother instinct hasn't really kicked in yet. May take couple days watching her carefully to make sure little fella is nursing. I'd say as long as she cleaned it off and hollers for it she'll be fine. Just like heifer when she has her first calf may take little while for all her God given instincts to kick in.

I'd pretty well give up on this goat. I thought it would have happened days ago. I figured maybe she was just in heat and bloated as stated. Well it happened today. Just one kid as far was we can tell. Now my daughter is calling us with a new problem. The mother head butts the kid when it tries to suck. I've had this problem with cattle before. Usually when a cow does this they show no interest in the calf at all. The mama goat did lick her baby off, but now won't allow it to suck. My son-in-law held the mama and let the kid suck. I have had success forcing cows to accept their calves by doing this. It usually takes about 3 or 4 days if it works at all. Will this work with goats? I'm guessing it will and it's about the only thing I can think to do. I'd just thought I'd ask someone who might know. Thanks

I suppose a goat could be considered Farm Equipment if you painted it orange and called it a weedwacker. [:)]

I pin up the sheep, place heat lamp in the corner and it they stand up, they will find the heat lamp. If they don't stand up, then it can be tough to save them unless you happen to catch them shortly after birth.

If you see her starting to give birth, watch closely. If she's progressing, leaves her alone and don't try to help. If she doesn't need help you'll probably do more harm then good. After they're out keep an eye on them. Help if she NEEDS help, not because you want to. It's pretty easy to spot an animal in stress. Good luck and congrats grandpa

I don't know nuthin bout birthing goats

I've done this and it works well. Don't have heat lamps in mine though. I like to put my billy goats away from the women folk when their services aeent needed and use the totes as movable shelter for them. The billy's do a fantastic job keeping the pond dams mowed.

raised pygmies, nubians, lamancha's, etc. and have found a goat is a goat, with the exception of the pygmies, they are small agile little buggers and can be a pain in the but to keep in a fence.  with all goats they will always try to get into feed of the other animles, we had sepperate pens but goats, cows, ducks, chickens, etc. used the same pasture, you'd be amazed the places goats can get into, they love anything with thorns...ya no like roses...lol.  I don't think there messy, but not as easy to train on electric as the cows.

TimNearFortWorth wrote: Brother just went thru this in upstate NY, checked the goats they got for the kids last summer and sure enough, found two little ones around 11:00 PM Christmas night, at below zero. Decent shed and all but one was nearly a "goatsickle" and the other was up and running around the pen. Took it with mama and the other young un' into the house in a spare bathroom off the garage, massaged the little guy till he came around and fought the first time mama to get her to nurse. My advice to him was to block off the heat for that room and get bedding down until he got the little one up and running because they had to go back outside. Also had him pick up some canned milk from Petco and get the little guy on it PDQ as that stuff is amazing for small animals. Canned "goats milk" the next day helped the little guy take off and they went back outside yesterday after he rigged up a heat lamp. The mama was supposed to be young and never exposed when they bought it. Said they made a helluva mess out of that bathroom, the bathroom he totally remodeled just two years ago Tractor Supply and other places sell Land of Lakes goat milk replacer and do not use cow milk replacer young goats can't handle it. His wife is happy, she get's another new bathroom come spring.

I've got larger goats and they seem to have kids pretty easily, but mine won't go to the shed to have them, just drop them anywhere and they are very sensitive to cold. I lost 2 sets 2 years ago when it was warmer than this. It was early spring and we still would get some frost and the little things froze. I've got small children who love animals so goats were a cheap solution. Other than keeping them wormed and trimming hooves I like to have them around.