Isthelifeforme
Exploring the pasture
Currently have 3 pygmy does and a buck (all with horns but none are agressive at all). Expecting babies soon then want to thin the herd down to 2 or 3 and add a milk-goat. Have 5 pastures and will soon be adding 2-3 more. I do this to rotate the goats through about 3 weeks per. This seems to help keep the worms in check without needing to use a dewormer.
Would like to add some hair sheep, maybe a ram and 2 ewes. Why?
Kids want to learn about sheep. Currently we have rabbits, chickens, and goats and it would be nice to learn about another animal.
Goats did an excellent job deforesting this area and sheep would further minimize the grass-cutting required.
Possible meat source. My family hasn't been okay with using the goats for meat so we have just sold them in the past. Same thing would likely apply to the sheep. We already raise meat chickens and rabbits, however, so I keep hoping that they will come around.
I realize there are copper concerns with having both. One thing I could do is split the herd. Allow the goats 1.5 weeks in a pasture with the sheep in it next for 1.5 weeks. With 8 pastures that would would still give 9 weeks of rest between grazings and I could conceivably add 2 more pastures to get the full 3 months between.
Is it worth the trouble? For the most part I would be okay getting rid of all the pygmies but one is considered a 'pet'. Would like to get a milk goat for practical reasons. Goats are irritating as they like to escape and cause problems. My personal favorite is the buck as he never gets out and even 'tells' when the others do by calling for them.
Would like to add some hair sheep, maybe a ram and 2 ewes. Why?
Kids want to learn about sheep. Currently we have rabbits, chickens, and goats and it would be nice to learn about another animal.
Goats did an excellent job deforesting this area and sheep would further minimize the grass-cutting required.
Possible meat source. My family hasn't been okay with using the goats for meat so we have just sold them in the past. Same thing would likely apply to the sheep. We already raise meat chickens and rabbits, however, so I keep hoping that they will come around.
I realize there are copper concerns with having both. One thing I could do is split the herd. Allow the goats 1.5 weeks in a pasture with the sheep in it next for 1.5 weeks. With 8 pastures that would would still give 9 weeks of rest between grazings and I could conceivably add 2 more pastures to get the full 3 months between.
Is it worth the trouble? For the most part I would be okay getting rid of all the pygmies but one is considered a 'pet'. Would like to get a milk goat for practical reasons. Goats are irritating as they like to escape and cause problems. My personal favorite is the buck as he never gets out and even 'tells' when the others do by calling for them.
