how to train goats

[scottishjohn]

any ideas on how to train goats not to wander off the property 

 

 I got 6 acres of trees and scrub ,brambles ,nettles  etc

 

i know goats will eat anything any one have experience of training goats not just keep on wandering  and coming back if called at night 

 

 other than staking them down or becoming a goat herder

 

[IanR]

You need to fence goats in. And they don't eat anything, they will be quite picky if there's plenty of food. You need to pull any Ragwart out, that's in the area they have access to. If it's growing they should leave it alone if they have plenty of alternative foliage to eat, but if it's dead/dried they'll eat it and it's highly poisonous to them.

 

I wouldn't suggest it, but you can put a collar and chain/line on them and stake them to the ground so they eat a 4m or 5m circle, but you need to move them a couple of times a day, make sure they have access to water and shade.

Edited 3 hours ago by IanR

[trialuser]

We're in a blue tongue temporary movement restriction area.

You are slap bang in middle of the the D&G cases.

I don't think you can move goats onto or off your property at the moment, but you may be granted a licence.

 

 

https://www.farmersguardian.com/news/4361142/bluetongue-updates

[scottishjohn]

forgot about that --farm next door was first case 

[scottishjohn]

1 hour ago, IanR said:

You need to fence goats in. And they don't eat anything, they will be quite picky if there's plenty of food. You need to pull any Ragwart out, that's in the area they have access to. If it's growing they should leave it alone if they have plenty of alternative foliage to eat, but if it's dead/dried they'll eat it and it's highly poisonous to them.

 

I wouldn't suggest it, but you can put a collar and chain/line on them and stake them to the ground so they eat a 4m or 5m circle, but you need to move them a couple of times a day, make sure they have access to water and shade.

yes loads of ragwart about--

 

 

was just a thought --so much land and all sloping thistles can be 4 ft high 

 

 which is not good for me to strim with my bad leg 

 

 cost of fencing could be prohibitive -- and then there the "garden areas" to fence as well

[trialuser]

Do goats respect electric fencing, or snazzy geofenced shock collars?

[scottishjohn]

I did think of keeping chickens as we have loads of wild garlic --maybe a premium selling garlic flavoured eggs?

[scottishjohn]

Just now, trialuser said:

Do goats respect electric fencing, or snazzy geofenced shock collars?

Ive been told they just get angry with electric fences and knock them down 

[IanR]

27 minutes ago, scottishjohn said:

was just a thought --so much land and all sloping thistles can be 4 ft high 

 

 which is not good for me to strim with my bad leg 

 

 cost of fencing could be prohibitive -- and then there the "garden areas" to fence as well

I'd use a rough cut mower, it will handle all thistles and most brambles and saplings. Cheaper than fencing.

Bertolinis are at a good price point. Not commercial, but pretty robust.

 

I've knocked back areas with it that haven't been touched for 10 years that had 4ft high Oak saplings and really thick brambles.