Nigerian and Pygora measurements?

[aank4]

I am bringing home my first two goats soon - the goat barn and fencing, etc., are just getting finished up, and my Nigerian doeling and Pygora wether are reserved. Back yard chickens were the gateway animal.

I'm looking at getting a collar and/or harness for the goats for walking (safety type, and wouldn't stay on all the time, of course).

What are typical neck and girth measurements for Nigerian and Pygora breeds? I figured I'd just get a dog collar and/or harness for them, but it'd be helpful to know sizes.

Many thanks all!

Amy

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Welcome to BYH and goats!!!

How old are the goats you are getting? My 0-4 month old Nigerians and Pygmys are often in cat collars because their necks are so slender but after that, I move them into dog collars from 14 inches and up depending on what they need. I don't use the break away collars though. We walk our goaties daily and they love it!

 

[aank4]

The Nigerian will be about 3 months old, the Pygora about 5 months old when they come home. Knowing what size they're likely to be (in inches) to start, and how big they'll get later would be great, so I can plan ahead.

 

[SheepGirl]

I don't have goats and I really don't have much experience with them, but instead of using collars and a dog harness, I would get halters. You can control the head which makes them really easy to handle. I know for a fact that if I were to use a dog harness on one of my sheep and it got spooked, I would be hauled away...but with the halter, you can easily control them.

 

[aank4]

Thanks, SheepGirl. I can keep that in mind - and probably will get some halters at some point, too (my kids learned how to make simple rope halters at 4-H camp, for instance) - but I'd still like to know if anybody has neck and girth measurements they'd be willing to share. I have seen some other people using dog harnesses to walk small goats, and it seems to work okay.