Fencing in acres for goats, need advice

[farmerjan]

Okay, I don't know anything about the fire ants so will leave it to others of the "southern experience" to advise. The worst we get here with the rolls of hay are ground hogs trying to dig close to them or to manage to make dens/borrows between them. And of course some snakes in the warm weather. Don't think I want to be anywhere there are fire ants. My hands have a hard time in the cold anymore, and the ankle issues are making it hard to get boots on and off right now. Much as I loved New England, I am glad to be further south in Va.
Had our first snow to amount to more than a dusting. About 4" but it has been cold all day. At least no wind. Very dry powdery snow which is typical for the cold dry type weather we are having. Supposed to be up into the 40's & 50's by wed/thurs...
Gonna go in and see if I have enough eggs to make a big bowl of bread pudding. Got lots of bread heels in the freezer. Saw a ham bone and will plan on a pot of split pea soup the next cold snap since this one won't last too long and I am going to have a long week with testing milk at the dairies.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Being in W Tx ya may want to avoid allowing a roll of hay sitting in your pasture, because of Fire Ants. They will be very happy to build a nest all around it and in it. We've had that problem here in Ms. If you are only going to have a few goats it will sit there long enough to attract them. If a larger herd, then it might not be such an issue but could save ya from problems down the road.

They are going to build a nest with or without a bale of hay

 

[OneFineAcre]

Okay, I don't know anything about the fire ants so will leave it to others of the "southern experience" to advise. The worst we get here with the rolls of hay are ground hogs trying to dig close to them or to manage to make dens/borrows between them. And of course some snakes in the warm weather. Don't think I want to be anywhere there are fire ants. My hands have a hard time in the cold anymore, and the ankle issues are making it hard to get boots on and off right now. Much as I loved New England, I am glad to be further south in Va.
Had our first snow to amount to more than a dusting. About 4" but it has been cold all day. At least no wind. Very dry powdery snow which is typical for the cold dry type weather we are having. Supposed to be up into the 40's & 50's by wed/thurs...
Gonna go in and see if I have enough eggs to make a big bowl of bread pudding. Got lots of bread heels in the freezer. Saw a ham bone and will plan on a pot of split pea soup the next cold snap since this one won't last too long and I am going to have a long week with testing milk at the dairies.

You are in VA right
You don't have fire ants ?
We have them in NC
Just wait they are on the way

 

[CntryBoy777]

It is so true @OneFineAcre , but by it being in the hay the animals are drawn to it and will avoid eating it after they are bitten enough, and some could have a reaction to the stings. Also, they are much worse in W Tx than here and would hate for young goats to be covered and die because of it. We haven't had any die, but when we walk them we are there to get them off the hill and help them to knock them off. So, this was the reason for the caution. There are sharks in the sea, but ya sure wouldn't be wise to chum the water before diving in.

 

[OneFineAcre]

It is so true @OneFineAcre , but by it being in the hay the animals are drawn to it and will avoid eating it after they are bitten enough, and some could have a reaction to the stings. Also, they are much worse in W Tx than here and would hate for young goats to be covered and die because of it. We haven't had any die, but when we walk them we are there to get them off the hill and help them to knock them off. So, this was the reason for the caution. There are sharks in the sea, but ya sure wouldn't be wise to chum the water before diving in.

Good point
Somebody on here asked for a good natural way to take care of fire ants and I said gasoline and a match

 

[frustratedearthmother]

With all the rain we've had the fire ants look for any place to build UP. And, they sure do love the round bales. That's why I still have bales that are covered and stored on the trailer. They even attack broody hen nests and kill chicks before they finish hatching. I seriously dislike them!

 

[NH homesteader]

What?? They do?? That is horrific! Thanks for reminding me a little snowand cold isn't so bad!

 

[CntryBoy777]

I'm waiting for the ground to dry some and gonna try DE and borax to see if it works on them. Trying different things in areas away from the animals for something to use where they are. I have used gas before the animals got here, but would prefer a better method around them. I just wonder if you said something along the lines of what I say each time I do that? I can't repeat it here...

 

[OneFineAcre]

I'm waiting for the ground to dry some and gonna try DE and borax to see if it works on them. Trying different things in areas away from the animals for something to use where they are. I have used gas before the animals got here, but would prefer a better method around them. I just wonder if you said something along the lines of what I say each time I do that? I can't repeat it here...

Probably

I think gas and match is good where the animals are
I worry about sprinkling those fire ant treatments in areas where the goats are

I love to take a rake and dig up that hill and see about 50000 of them suckers swarming and douse with gas and throw a match
Gas burns up And no pesticide the goats can get into

Doesn't get them all but they move along

 

[greybeard]

We've had fire ants here in East Texas for several decades now.
I have never seen any fire ants build in or under hay, but I stack my hay on pallets and the hay is evidently too dry for them to live in. Had the same results when I lived 10 years in Tom Green County (San Angelo) Texas. They share similar trait as bees--they have to regulate both temp and humidity within the colony for it to produce young and in the correct ratio of workers.

I've probably tried every kind of commercial fire ant treatment there is and none work very well. Most (if not all) just make the colony up and move a dozen yards away and start over.