Moving goats to Kentucky

[Bonnie_Brook_Mom]

My husband (Farmer Mack) & I are moving soon to Kentucky. We want to take 2 of our goats with us. Does anyone know if there are any laws in Kentucky for transporting livestock, ie: mandatory immunizations for that state? Do they ever stop anybody to check? Any advise for making their trip & transition to their new home any easier? Anybody from Kentucky? Nice to know others from the group down there! Thank you all.

 

[Roll farms]

Most states require you to have a health certificate from a vet stating they're healthy, before you cross state lines...and a scrapie tag or tat in their ear.

Kentucky parasites may be worse (due to milder climate) than your goats are used to...I'd be diligent in checking their worm loads.

Bring a bag or two of the feed and a few bales of the hay that they're used to, and change them over gradually to the new feed / hay you find in KY.

 

[FarmerMack]

Kentucky parasites may be worse (due to milder climate) than your goats are used to...I'd be diligent in checking their worm loads.

First thing we'll be doing once we settle in is to order new hens. I've had as many as 2 dozen hens that clean up behind the goats so to speak. I've always given them routine worming medicine. There are also a few natural killers of parasites that i use, but the hens seem to do the best at eating the parasites.

 

[FarmerChick]

I bought some goats in SC and transported them to NC.
I just drove over the state line and didn't think anything of it..LOL

I threw them in the trailer and moved on. When I got them to their new home I fed no grain, just good hay and pasture and let them adapt to their new home.....they adapt very well of course if given some time to unwind after a trailer haul.

After 1 week I hit them with all shots and wormed etc.

You should do fine.

Is it a long haul? Most I hauled goats was about 3 hrs. or so in the trailer.

 

[FarmerMack]

I bought some goats in SC and transported them to NC.
I just drove over the state line and didn't think anything of it..LOL

I threw them in the trailer and moved on. When I got them to their new home I fed no grain, just good hay and pasture and let them adapt to their new home.....they adapt very well of course if given some time to unwind after a trailer haul.

After 1 week I hit them with all shots and wormed etc.

You should do fine.

Is it a long haul? Most I hauled goats was about 3 hrs. or so in the trailer.

shh exactly how i feel about transporting goats across state lines. My angora even has some bling bling as i call it, an ear tag. and goats are very adaptable when it comes to environment and food

yes 16 hours non stop, packing food hay water and a fine bed of pine shavings to lay on for my 2 studs both to mellow to be studly Rasta goat and little Orion his son

 

[FarmerChick]

16 hrs. non stop....yikes---I feel for you!!

When I transported my horse from PA to NC it was like 10-11 hrs. Hired a hauler to do it since I had to move the house and stuff and I didn't want to deal with the horse. He was brought down like a week later from one boarding stable to his new one in NC.

They had him bedded on straw, they stopped to give water, let him eat hay the whole way down....he did fine!

I am sure your goats will do fine. I would just stop to check every now and then and be sure all is OK in the trailer...other than that, everyone should handle the trip well.


Are you all excited to be moving to Kentucky....such a long way from NH.
(I had a vacation home in NH--great state, loved it)

 

[FarmerMack]

16 hrs. non stop....yikes---I feel for you!!

When I transported my horse from PA to NC it was like 10-11 hrs. Hired a hauler to do it since I had to move the house and stuff and I didn't want to deal with the horse. He was brought down like a week later from one boarding stable to his new one in NC.

They had him bedded on straw, they stopped to give water, let him eat hay the whole way down....he did fine!

I am sure your goats will do fine. I would just stop to check every now and then and be sure all is OK in the trailer...other than that, everyone should handle the trip well.


Are you all excited to be moving to Kentucky....such a long way from NH.
(I had a vacation home in NH--great state, loved it)

I'm going with hiring some one else to load ship and unload our things and I'll transport the goats. bad back, . i figure when the dog needs walking the goats will need fresh water and some food. they can munch on a couple of bails of hay on the way.

 

[FarmerChick]

oh they should do great. It is a long haul but at least when it is over--then it is over and you are at your new home!

 

[Bonnie_Brook_Mom]

Thank you all for your advise. This will be fun!! We'll have to give catnip to the cats, dramimine to the dog, do goats get carsick too? I'll have a beer when we get there!

 

[FarmerMack]

Are you all excited to be moving to Kentucky....such a long way from NH.
(I had a vacation home in NH--great state, loved it)

I'll miss New Hampshire, wont miss the endless winters, will miss my White Mountains. As for moving to Kentucky I have to quote Buddy Epsom in the Beverly hillbillies "Wee doggies"