Goat keepers of SSF'ish - lend me your ears..

[Hillbilly]

DH has said I am allowed (he's paying :-)a goat (woo hoo!) but if anything goes wrong then its on my head - I am presuming he means complaints from neighbours or it marauding through the street of Keig..however, undaunted, my mission now is to find a lovely British Saanen. My parents used to keep them and whilst I had little to do with the financial outlay (feed, vets etc) I did most of the actual physical care of them.

Its not the most perfect set up here - we live in a small village with a garden 40ft by 152ft - most of that taken up by veg, fruit, chooks and a greenhouse HOWEVER we live 1 minutes walk from a green and a forest. We also have 2 small stable type sheds out back, one of which can easily be converted into a goat shed.

Do you think it is possible to keep a goat under such circumstances? I am quite prepared to walk her down to the green for grazing daily come rain or shine/snow and other times provide hay/fresh rosebaywillowherb/nuts in her stable.

I might also add that we are in the final processes of negotiating for 6 acres so in a little while space is not going to be a problem. However, if for some unforseen reason that falls thorugh, I want to know I am not going to be keeping an animal under too tight conditions...

What do you think?

[Wombat]

Well Hillbilly, I live on 500m2 in suburban Sydney and I am going to give it a go...........so I reckon go for it!

Nev

[Hillbilly]

Nev, good stuff!! What breed you looking to get?

[Millymollymandy]

You need to speak to Ina - she keeps goats in her garden!

[Hillbilly]

Ah I knew she kept goats but didnt know in her garden!

Shall get a hold of her, thansk MMM!

[Camile]

Hi Hillbilly,

People normally reckon that you need about 1/4 of an acre for 1 goat ... but of course it depends on what's growing on it .. they eat grass but thrives on thorns, blackberry bushes ... anything that as needles .. they love it ..

But if you bring her for walks regularly .. I'm pretty sure it would be ok ..

I have my billy since 2 months .. and it's only since yesterday that he spends all day long in the field, good luck for your fencing .. because it took me that long to fence him .. ok I now it's a long time .. but I wanted him to have access to the drains and the plants listed above .. and now it's done and he couldn't be happier ..

One thing that concerns me about your setup .. is that a Goat alone is fine as long as you are all day with her ... they'll follow you like a dog .. but then you simply can't leave them alone because that's when they will find anyways to get out of his patch ... but you'll find that after 2 months it really starts to be annoying .. as much as you love him .. after a while they are too hyper !

So I got a lamb to keep him company and now he just cries for 15 mn when you put them in the field .. but then he's fine ...

So my advice is not to get only one .. but if you put your hand on these 6 acres .. then happy days ... that's a dozen that you can have !

Good luck and let us know !
Camile

[Camile]

I forgot to mention that for these 2 months he staid in the shed during the day ... and brought him for walks morning and evening because I'm working during the day ..

[Hillbilly]

Hi and thanks for the reply!

Well not sure exactly how much 'grazing' we have left on the actual property - I am guessing NOT 1/4 of an acre - well at least there shouldnt be otherwise I havent planted enough veg However, as I mentioned earlier, have access to plenty thorns, berries and grass.

I am at/around home all day now really so having her around isnt going to be much of a problem. I remember ours hanging their heads over the stable door of the kitchen every morning as we ate breakfast *wistful sigh*.

*still thinking*

[Camile]

I am at/around home all day now really so having her around isnt going to be much of a problem

Will talk again 2 months after you have her and you'll see if having a single goat around all the time is not an issue ! believe me !

They are brilliant animals .. but they are so social that they won't leave you a minute alone .... always between your legs .. checking what you're doing ..

I thought one goat on her own would be fine .. but I know now that it's not .. I would really recommend to take 2 of them or something else to keep her company because they clearly need it .. and you will need a break if you are her company .. they are just hyper ! but so much fun !

[Hillbilly]

No I didnt mean it wouldnt be a pain - I meant at least I am home so can keep an eye on her..

I emailed British Saanen Society last night via BGS website to find my nearest breeder as an internet trawl produced no results . The email bounced!

[ina]

Oh blast - they probably have a new address and didn't bother to update... Happens a lot. Have you tried the BGS direct?

[Hillbilly]

Just waiting for a reply....good grief - mum and dad picked Cotty and Hazel up for £15 (ok it was 1978) from a place 4 miles down the road from where we used to live.

Oh for the simple days of yesteryear..

[Hillbilly]

Good blinking god - the mail BGS email is also duff! (secretary@allgoats.com)

[Wombat]

Nev, good stuff!! What breed you looking to get?

G'Day Hillbilly,

I will be looking for a miniature milking breed but need to see what is available.....

Nev

[TIMBERFRAMER]

There was a nanny advertised in last weeks scot. ads up near Huntly £30 if my memory serves me correct. Shirlz will still have paper as we never throw anything out. David