First time goat owners - any advice appreciated!

[Pandagram]

Hi all,

We live on two acres and are have a noxious weed problem. No matter what we do it keeps coming back. Here in Aus it's known as Glycine and I have it on good authority from multiple sources that it's a favourite food of goats. We've been wanting to run a few goats/dorper sheep for a while now so we're starting to prepare everything.

I'm hoping to get opinions on our fencing from those in the know. This is the boundary between us and our neighbours and is about 5ft high. Is this tall/hardy enough to keep goats in? If not what amendments would you suggest?
Are there breeds that do/don't jump as much/as high as others? I've been trying to research it but opinions seem to be conflicting.

TIA

 

[Show Sebright]

Hi all,

We live on two acres and are have a noxious weed problem. No matter what we do it keeps coming back. Here in Aus it's known as Glycine and I have it on good authority from multiple sources that it's a favourite food of goats. We've been wanting to run a few goats/dorper sheep for a while now so we're starting to prepare everything.

I'm hoping to get opinions on our fencing from those in the know. This is the boundary between us and our neighbours and is about 5ft high. Is this tall/hardy enough to keep goats in? If not what amendments would you suggest?
Are there breeds that do/don't jump as much/as high as others? I've been trying to research it but opinions seem to be conflicting.

TIA

A breed that does good in a smaller area and doesn’t jump fences is Boer goats. They get like 200lbs so they can’t really jump into the air when they are full grown

 

[Mini Horses]

I think it has more to do with the shorter legs and chunky body weight. That was the case with my Boer. Not near the interest in jumping "tall buildings". My dairy does often weight 170-185 and can jump well, long legs. They seem to stop majority of jumping when in milk, protecting from injury!

Boer brings good prices in sales to meat market.

 

[Finnie]

Hi! I don’t own goats, but just wanted to welcome you to the forum.

I wish I could get goats for weed control here, too, but it’s just not going to happen. I hope you are able to get some good weed eating goats!

 

[Alaskan]

I second that a good milker in full milk is less likely to jump.

Jumping is also an individual personality thing. So, shop for a goat that respects fences.

Either way though.... I would stick 3 strands of electric on that fence, super strong, at bottom, middle, and top.

And.... if the goat you buy jumps the fence, sell her.

 

[messybun]

Get at least two goats so they don’t get lonely, and they’ll have less reason to escape. Also, if it’s just weed control and sell then think about maybe some older goats, sometimes the more mature goats are sold because they’re mischievous but sometimes it’s because they’re too old to breed or milk well. My Pygmy goats are a toss up, I had two that were bad at jumping but the rest have never really been that interested in hopping fences. My large mixes are kinda big and fat and don’t want to leave unless there’s a tree to eat on the other side of their fence. In which case they ignored the hot wire lifted the fence up and helped each other out. But that’s just personal experience.

 

[Dandy Hill Farm]

My NDs have never jumped our 4ft fences.

I've heard that Myotonic (fainting) goats are very easy to contain....I've never owned them though.

I think the fence looks pretty nice/sturdy and should be great for goats (might need to add some electric fence if you get a standard sized breed though). My only concerns would be them squeezing under the bottom and if you do end up with jumpers, they could get hurt by the barbed wire (I believe that's at the top, right?).

Yes, goats are herd animals and NEED at least one other goat friend to thrive and live a healthy, happy life.

Do you only want goats for weed control? If not, that might help you decide which breed to get.

Make sure to read up on how to properly care, feed, and house goats - they can be more work then you think.

Another great forum is The Goat Spot. Lots of helpful people on there too.

 

[Alaskan]

Oh.. also....

Maybe you could find a local someone that would let you borrow/rent their goats.

 

[Pandagram]

A breed that does good in a smaller area and doesn’t jump fences is Boer goats. They get like 200lbs so they can’t really jump into the air when they are full grown

Thanks, great to know! I'll definitely do further research into them. Is there much distinction in size or behaviour between does and wethers?

 

[Pandagram]

My NDs have never jumped our 4ft fences.

I've heard that Myotonic (fainting) goats are very easy to contain....I've never owned them though.

I think the fence looks pretty nice/sturdy and should be great for goats (might need to add some electric fence if you get a standard sized breed though). My only concerns would be them squeezing under the bottom and if you do end up with jumpers, they could get hurt by the barbed wire (I believe that's at the top, right?).

Yes, goats are herd animals and NEED at least one other goat friend to thrive and live a healthy, happy life.

Do you only want goats for weed control? If not, that might help you decide which breed to get.

Make sure to read up on how to properly care, feed, and house goats - they can be more work then you think.

Another great forum is The Goat Spot. Lots of helpful people on there too.

Definitely thinking 2 goats and 2 dorper sheep at this stage. Weed/grass control is our main issue at present, the end goal with our property is to establish a permaculture based setup. The fencing at the top is just plain wire, not barbed.
We have a clean unused tool shed on the property which is made from steel with a concrete slab floor with double opening doors that I think would make a solid shelter (of course the floor would be well lined) We live in a subtropical climate so in the dead of winter at night the coldest it gets is about 50f.
Will absolutely check out the goat spot and keep learning, that's what I'm here for! Thanks heaps!