Heat and Goats

[DonnaBelle]

Hi all,

This is my first August in Oklahoma with my goats. It is 102 here today.

My goats don't seem to be too distressed by the heat, not like my chickens, poor things.

All my critters have shade, and lots of water.

But sometimes in the heat of the day, the goats actually stand out in the sun, or even lay in the sun, I can't understand that!!

Is this normal for goats??

DonnaBelle

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

I know my Toggenburgs hate the heat....and Im in NH...we never get that hot...I would imagine it depends on the breed..

 

[SDGsoap&dairy]

Mine do that. It seems silly when it's in the 90's but they do it anyway.

 

[cmjust0]

I see mine do that sometimes.. I don't understand it either, but they do it.

FWIW, the lighter colored ones tend to be able to hack it a little longer than the black ones..

 

[DonnaBelle]

Well, I'm glad to know it's normal for them to be out in the sun when there's lots of shade trees they can be under.

They have made themselves a "waller". It is a place where we had burned some brush in the spring. They have taken their little hooves and scratched up the ground till it's dusty and lay in it. It is in the shade.

Another funny thing about goats, it doesn't seem like the flies bother them as much as they do the horses.

I learn something new about goats every day. They're sorta like human kids, if I'd known how much I needed to know about them BEFORE I got them I might notta.

I thought once human kids got to be 18, they were on their own.
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

DonnaBelle

 

[glenolam]

I learn something new about goats every day. They're sorta like human kids, if I'd known how much I needed to know about them BEFORE I got them I might notta.

Amen!

 

[Shiloh Acres]

I learn something new about goats every day. They're sorta like human kids, if I'd known how much I needed to know about them BEFORE I got them I might notta.

Amen!

I'll second that!

I was in TSC yesterday on the wormers-and-meds aisle. I was thinking to myself it's scary how many of those things I now know how, when, how much, and how often to use in goats, and for what.

Thanks to y'all.

But if I'd known before I got the goats -- I might not' ve gotten them!

Oh and my goats sometimes lay in the sun as well. The llamas will too. It used to worry me and I still check on the llamas if I see THEM doing it. The goats -- well I have come to accept the fact that they are just sometimes weird, so absent ANY other sign I don't worry anymore.

If one ever stays out in the RAIN, then I'm gonna worry!

 

[Ariel301]

It's between 90 and 115 here every day and my goats are hating the heat. Then again, most of them are mostly black, so they absorb it better. My one white goat will lay in the sun sometimes, at least more than the others. They don't want breakfast, and won't really get up and be active until evening. They lay in their doghouses all day and barely move. I am only feeding mine at night because it is so hot. They like the winter much better! Then they do like to lay in the sun, when it is nice and cool; they will stretch out on their sides and go to sleep like they are dead, you can't wake them up!

 

[jodief100]

Mine do not seem to mind the heat at all. Then again, mine are Boers and Kikos which were both developed in hot climates, South Africa and New Zealand.

They will dig holes to lie in and get in the shade when needed. I have seen them sitting out in the direct sunlight when it is 95 with high humidity. I figure as long as shade and water are available and they do not seem to be in distress, I don't worry.

I watch the dogs closer than the goats.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

goats = crazy

i have two that like to stand out in the heat, one that moves between shade and more shade...and one that acts like she will be melted if the sunlight touches her. hum... vampire goat...yikes!

and yep jodief - the dogs are inside, goats are out
;-)