[TheForge] Re: OT Goats

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

Here in Oklahoma we have Tractor Supply and Atwoods Farm & Ranch, and many other farm and ranch supply businesses.  Now all the kids need is money, time, and goats!  They are short on the first two because we are still building their new house.  (In the meantime, they are living with me.)   :~0

Aubrey

________________________________________
From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of dann [dann at wctatel.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 5:43 AM
To: Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Re: OT Goats

Jerry,

  I didn't know that you had fleet farm stores  in Alaska.   I
thought that they were primarily a Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa chain.
The  taller size  (cattle panel ) welded wire panels are great goat
fence.   I've seen goats climb over the lower (hog ) panels.

Dann


At 12:50 PM 9/10/2008, you wrote:
>Portable fencing is pretty straight forward, we use ranch panels,
>they're 53" x 16' and work quite well for goats, even full sized
>ones. In the spring while the pasture is recovering the grass on the
>west side of the house is usually pretty lush early so we put the
>goats there in a portable pen. It takes maybe 15 minutes to move it
>to an uneaten piece of ground. We usually do this in the morning
>before bringing them out.
>
>Panels can also be made with chain link in 10' sections with simple
>cross pipes for feet. You see these on construction sites. Ranch
>panels are probably a lot cheaper though, especially if you have a
>Fleet Farm (Farm Fleet?) near by.
>
>As for goats being hard on fencing they're usually pretty docile as
>long as something isn't chasing them. For meat and brushing I
>recommend Boer wethers, they're particularly docile and VERY meaty. Mmmmmm.
>
>Shelter from the bad weather is important though it doesn't have to
>be fancy, an old utility or stock trailer you can tow around would
>be perfect. It would also make an excellent anchor for the fence
>panels and a way to move them easily.
>
>Basic veterinary care is important as well though foot care isn't as
>important when the animals in question are only going to be kept
>till fall then butchered. Regardless, knowing how to check, clean
>and trim hooves is a very good idea. Typically farriers trim goat
>hooves as well as horses and are usually happy to show the owner
>how. Seeing as there are horses involved already and that's my
>suggestion. The farrier will also be familiar with the warning signs
>of hoof problems.
>
>I don't know what you mean by drenching but it sounds like
>nutritional supplements. In the goat world "drenching" is the
>practice of giving them doses of vitamins, minerals and such.
>Nutradrench is commonly available from Jeffers, Animal Food
>Warehouse (more expensive) etc. or virtually any livestock supply.
>Then there's Probios and a couple others. In most cases it's pretty
>hard to overdose them.
>
>A good loose mineral is important as oppopsed to mineral licks which
>have way more salt than minerals. We use SweetLix which has a low
>salt content so the goats take all the minerals they need and don't
>stop short because they've had enough salt. Also, do NOT think sheep
>and goats have the same nutritional requirements, they're quite
>different. The or one of the biggest is copper requirements, barely
>life sustaining for a goat is near toxic for sheep so don't get
>fooled by sheep/goat minerals they're not too good for either.
>
>Goats require horse quality or better hay, nothing kills goats like
>bloating and a little mold is a fast bloater for goats. Clean water
>is a must of course but for as short a time as the kids are thinking
>of keeping them grain isn't going to be important till just before
>they go to the freezer. A few weeks to a month before you put a wrap
>on their careers take them off brushing duty and start feeding good
>hay and a little grain, easy on the corn you don't want FAT goats,
>you're just flushing any gamey taste caused by eating whatever.
>
>Frosty
>-------------------------------
>If it ain't forged
>it ain't real.
>Wrought iron is.
>The FrostWorks
>
>Meadow Lakes, AK.
>
>
>From: "Ruuf" <ruuf at slingshot.co.nz>
>
>
>
>>I can't see your fencing idea working for more than a week or two,
>>as it is quite time consuming and a hassle moving fencing all the
>>time, especially where the ground is hard.  Electric strip grazing
>>fencing is bad enough. You also have to secure the goats while you
>>move the fencing and move their water and salt. Goats don't handle
>>adverse weather and may need some form of shelter, which may also
>>need moving too.
>>
>>No one has mentioned that Goats also need their feet checking
>>fairly regularly especially in wet areas, and may require drenching
>>from time to time. It can be difficult getting a drench
>>specificially for Goats. Drenches are usually given on the weight
>>of the animal.
>>Rufus.
>>
>
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