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Goats?...or what?
#7439354
02/20/19 02:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,282
Creekrunner
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Yes, I said goats. I'm looking at a particular piece of property, mainly to hunt on. Lots of out buildings and fences. I don't want to drive up and have to jump on a lawnmower immediately every time and my back will no longer take a weedeater for any real amount of time.
I'm no rancher, but I know you gotta have water, some shelter, and occasional supplemental food. If I wanted some type of 4-legged mower/weedeater, what would you real stockmen suggest? Breed? And how many? Is there something I wouldn't ever have to sheer? (I have had to help with that. 'Would prefer to never have to again.) The area is about 4 to 6 acres. Plenty of pens and sheds so we could separate them from my blue lacy that will go ape you-know-what when she sees them. I don't want a billy that'll charge us when we drive up, as much as I'd like to name a pair "Bill and Hillary." ('Course, if I named him after Bill, he'd probably try to do something else to my wife.)
All help and suggestions appreciated. And remember, "Goat ropers need love too."
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439362
02/20/19 02:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 10,472
DQ Kid
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Goats may work, I'd get a trained shepperd dog too to live with them and protect them from roaming yotes...
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439371
02/20/19 02:24 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,282
Creekrunner
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Yeah, coyotes could be a problem, but I really don't want to add to the complocation with a dog.
I know, I want my cake and eat it too.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439379
02/20/19 02:29 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 570
Papalote
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Sheep may be best. Goats get into and on top of everything. Goats with horns get caught in fences and die there. Hair sheep (Barbados) need little care. Set up a FAIL PROOF water supply and maybe a feeder for GP. Ram and a few ewes should keep things clean. Let them propagate so you can enjoy BBQ or sell a couple each year to offset the costs.
Plus, Ag exemption IS important!! May want to investigate minimum requirements.
Papalote
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439416
02/20/19 03:02 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 15,645
QuitShootinYoungBucks
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What kind of fence? I'd look at Boer wethers. They'll be tough enough to deter coyotes on their own, you won't have to worry about kidding/lambing, and Boers usually aren't bad about fence-busting.
https://web.archive.org/web/20170223065011/http:/www.rrdvegas.com/silencer-cleaning.html
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439422
02/20/19 03:05 PM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,136
EddieWalker
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The old saying about goats and fencing is that if water can get through a fence, goats can get through it. I currently have 9 female dwarf Nigerian goats that do a great job of weed eating and clearing out the underbrush under the trees. They never stop eating, and they eat almost everything except goat weed. Blackberrie bushes seem to be a favorite and they cleared out all of them around my small pond that I would have had to do by hand to get rid of them. They are on ten acres and I'll be fencing another five acres this year to give them more food. I also supplement them with 13% and a roll of hay. I also have five horses in there with them, who keep the pasture grass nice and short. Goats and horses compliment each other.
The biggest surprise was how horny the male was when we had him. He mounted the females over and over again, and was relentless. That's all he did, and for having babies, he was great. But we had to get rid of him because he would mount his daughters when as soon as he could. Once I fence in the other five acres, we'll get another male and breed them again. But not until then. After he does his job, we will sell him or give him away. Whatever it takes to not have a male around until the babies are sold, or old enough to breed, then we will buy another male and breed again.
How much land do you have for them? What type of fencing do you have for them? Goat fencing is 4x4 mesh or smaller. Anything bigger, and they will get their heads stuck in there. I read that 3x12 works because they can get out of that sized opening, but I haven't tried that myself. Coyotes will attack them, so fencing to keep coyotes out is just as important as keeping goats in.
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439434
02/20/19 03:16 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Goats are born looking for a place to die.
If you can pitch water through the fence, a goat can get out of it.
A kid, and doe goat are every predator's favorite food.
5' tall non-climb wire (2"x4" openings) stretched banjo string tight. You'll need a Great Pyranese to live with them 24/7. Those are the ways to curtail goat loss. Notice I didn't say stop. Make sure all your neighbors have your cell phone number, so they can let you know when goats are out, or some have been killed, if you don't get the Great Pyranese.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439468
02/20/19 03:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 19,498
Erathkid
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Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Erathkid]
#7439533
02/20/19 04:59 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,359
dkershen
Rev Dave
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X2 I'd get 3 or 4 burros if your just looking for something to help keep a few acres grazed down.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: dkershen]
#7439550
02/20/19 05:24 PM
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 2,078
TKandMike
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I'd get 3 or 4 burros if your just looking for something to help keep a few acres grazed down.
Tougher and sometimes less idiotic than goats
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439562
02/20/19 05:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,282
Creekrunner
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I'd thought of burros. Would they get the weeds along a fence line as well as a goat? When I mentioned burros to the wife she immediately reminded me that she's allergic to horses (and she is, extremely), but it's not like they're gonna be in the house. And, they'd probably just ignore my yapping dog.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439572
02/20/19 05:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 110,796
dogcatcher
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Check with the neighbors about a "cheap" grass lease to help keep the weeds and grass down. They get almost free grazing and you get the benefit without a lot of hassle or expense.
Combat Infantryman, the ultimate hunter where the prey shoots back. _____________"Illegitimus non carborundum est"_______________
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439601
02/20/19 06:23 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8,426
stinkbelly
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We have a lot of goats and they need assistance. If you aren't going to be there I would recommend a donkey or llama. They both can handle a yote.
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439641
02/20/19 07:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,866
PMK
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lama
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7439652
02/20/19 07:26 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
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Here you go though it will cost you a few bucks to get started.
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: don k]
#7439680
02/20/19 07:59 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,282
Creekrunner
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Here you go though it will cost you a few bucks to get started. Surely you'd cut me a "brother-in-law" deal, assuming you like your brother-in-law.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7440067
02/21/19 01:59 AM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 2,823
RattlesnakeDan
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Get some miniature donkeys, they eat everything, require no supplements and are typically pretty friendly and fun to have around.
Just like Jesus, sometimes you gotta kill some hogs. Lone Star Mesquite . com RattleSnake Dan's Shredding Service
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: PMK]
#7440074
02/21/19 02:08 AM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 456
Struggle
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
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lama We need another llama thread!
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Papalote]
#7440083
02/21/19 02:20 AM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
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Sheep may be best. Goats get into and on top of everything. Goats with horns get caught in fences and die there. Hair sheep (Barbados) need little care. Set up a FAIL PROOF water supply and maybe a feeder for GP. Ram and a few ewes should keep things clean. Let them propagate so you can enjoy BBQ or sell a couple each year to offset the costs.
Plus, Ag exemption IS important!! May want to investigate minimum requirements.
Papalote sheep go to heaven and goats go to hell
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Struggle]
#7440095
02/21/19 02:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526
SnakeWrangler
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lama We need another llama thread! And they are hell on coyotes and goats.....
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7440109
02/21/19 02:41 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
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I would not get goats or donkeys. If you like you dog I would not have a donkey as they can get very aggressive towards dogs or any other predator. A ranch I managed got several miniature donkeys and one jack. None of them were ever aggressive towards my lab till one day when the owners family was out and the lab followed them into when they went to feed the donkeys. The jack almost killed my lab had they not reacted quickly. If you are getting more acreage I might would look at getting a longhorn steer or two. Very low maintenance and live a long time. Close it up from time to time in the smaller area to eat it down then release it onto the larger acreage.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Creekrunner]
#7440115
02/21/19 02:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 226
Frio Town
Woodsman
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Woodsman
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If you have brush on the place, a goat will spend most of it's time with the browse and not pay any attention to your grass. Only as a last resort will a goat eat grass. Remember they are a cousin to deer.
"Let's Go Brandon"
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Frio Town]
#7440138
02/21/19 03:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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If you have brush on the place, a goat will spend most of it's time with the browse and not pay any attention to your grass. Only as a last resort will a goat eat grass. Remember they are a cousin to deer. And they'd rather have the Johnson grass, and any other broadleaf grass. They might starve to death on a perfectly clean Bermuda field. That's the good about them, the bad has already been addressed.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Goats?...or what?
[Re: Struggle]
#7440140
02/21/19 03:05 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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lama We need another llama thread! Go check the O.T. I've got a pretty good one. Not my story, but hilarious anyway.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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