Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
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roobarb
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Our new arrivalsWe've just got our first goats - two pygmy goats and one pygmy goat/??? cross. We're very excited, if a little apprehensive! They seem to have settled in nicely, and are enjoying the play area we have set out for them!
We've got them in a small run for now, until they get used to their surroundings - they have never seen the outdoors before, and then they will have the run of the field (and probably the neighbourhood).
I'm sure we'll have lots of questions in due course, but here are a few pictures for now.
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sean
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Very nice.
Should we run a sweepstake on how long before they escape? 
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Shan
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I was thinking the same thing! 
I met a goat farmer in Mallorca and he claimed the best way to fence them in is with electric fencig.
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Piggyphile
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They are plotting, I can tell....
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sueshells
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They are plotting, I can tell.... |
I thought the same.......
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roobarb
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They still haven't escaped...but there's time. And hopefully they won' try today because it's raining, and if they know what's good for them they'll stay close to the shelter.
Luckily, I don't think they are tall enough (yet), even when up on their back legs, to touch the electric wire around the top of the fence, so they have yet to experience that joy.
We spent time with them last night in the run, so they get used to us, but they are still quite nervous, and like hiding in the play tube  , which is just too long for us to get them out without crawling inside ourselves 
I can tell we are going to have fun with these three.
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Graham Hyde
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Hi Roobarb,
from you're photo's and words, I take it you are not keeping these great looking goats for meat.
Are you going for milk production? If so, where have you got your knowledge from?
I have been thinking about keeping goats myself but on reading several books have been concerned at the list of diseases and parasites. I intend to keep for milk, not meat.
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Shan
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If you read the list of diseases and ailments, you will never keep anything! Try reading about all the things chickens can get!  The key, as with all animals, is good husbandry.
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Tavascarow
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If you read the list of diseases and ailments, you will never keep anything! Try reading about all the things chickens can get! The key, as with all animals, is good husbandry. |
roobarb
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We're not keeping them for either milk or meat, but as pure enjoyment
We don't have dogs or cats, or any other pets (other than chickens or ducks and they're there for eggs), so this is our substitute. They will hopefully keep the hedges clear, and eat some of the scrub and weeds we have around the place, and in return will (hopefully) be fun to have.
Once we get more comfortable with keeping goats, we may well get more, which would be used for milk or meat. But one step at a time. We may find we don't get on with goats, so these are kind of like trainer goats for us.
We've read so much stuff recently before getting them, that we were nearly put off getting them - particularly the range of plants that are poisonous. It will be a steep learning curve, but it can't be too hard with a bit of common sense, otherwise no one would do it
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