Goats?...or what?

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."

Goats may work, I'd get a trained shepperd dog too to live with them and protect them from roaming yotes...

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

^^^^^Wisdom^^^^^

X2

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

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.

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.

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.

lama

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.

Get some miniature donkeys, they eat everything, require no supplements and are typically pretty friendly and fun to have around.

We need another llama thread!

sheep go to heaven and goats go to hell

And they are hell on coyotes and goats.....

Some places rent goats. Then they are gone when their job is done.

http://rentagoat.com/

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.

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.

Go check the O.T. I've got a pretty good one. Not my story, but hilarious anyway.

I can see here after reading some of these posts there are some real authorities on Goats. Seems to be some "Goat Racists" around these parts.

Been waiting for the term pasture maggots to be thrown out there....

See See!!!!!!!!! Goat Racist

This. The donkeys sound like a nice solution, then you find out they live 50 years, will stomp the life out of your yapping dog, and, if they are genetically inclined to do so. will have hoof growth that requires a farrier to come out several times a year.
That being said, if you'd like to try a donkey I have an incredibly sweet, calm, and loving one that I can drop off at your place if you PM me the address

It's pre-ordained I tell you. Sheep on the right and goats on the left. Matthew 25:33

Sheep go to Heaven and Goats go to Hell

Since there appears to be a much higher probability of another entertaining story developing from a Llama, and we can always use a good laugh, that could be the optimum solution.

Everybody that owns an acre or more needs to own a few goats in their lifetime.

And they help around the ranch when they are not doing weed control. This one is telling me how to fix the track on the loader.