Posted: 2/24/2012 8:04:34 AM EDT
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I'm tossing around the idea of goats for prepping as I saw in the Nat Geo show a couple that had them in a tiny yard. I've got 21 acres and a couple 3 acre ponds so space is not an issue. I have ducks and rabbits but nothing that gives milk. Suggestions for a breed that won't rip out a fence and docile would be appreciated.
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| Goats are great! We raise Boer goats but have an Oberhasli and a Boer/Nubian mix doe for milk. The Boers are easier to keep contained but any goat can become an escape artist. Personally I've found the Nubians to be loud and always escaping. Oberhasli's are mellow and I've never had a loud one. Same thing with Toggenbergs. LaManchas are a very nice goat with tons of milk but I prefer a goat with ears... Saanens are also very good milkers, just kinda plain in the looks department. |
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Boer goat will make you a mast fence builder, fast! Our nanny has a knack for climbing fence. Only fence I've seen keep a goat in 100% is 5' welded wire. I've got 4' field fence (hogwire) with barbed wire on top and she still climbs it. Just make sure there is no flex or give in your fence and use electric in addition to the steel fence. A little zap tend to keep them off the wire. Our nanny is vocal, but not loud. I can't hear her if I'm inside the house...the barn is about 100 yards away....
Oh and plan to have anything and everything that is remotely within reach of a goat, destroyed. They are very curious and most of them are very friendly. I can't raise meat goats...I made peace with the fact that any goat that comes on this property, is more of a pet or milking goat than anything else. If you want a LOT of milk, consider a Dexter instead of a goat...the fencing needs are much less 
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Goats are cool, they can be very friendly like dogs. Fences are the key. We had a Nubian for a few years and then sold him when he started jumping the fence. We also had a Pigmy mix and he started jumping the fence so we tied a 6' piece of rope between him and an old tire. That kept him inside yet he was still able to roam around.. 
Now that we have two horses I don't think we will get another for a while. |
