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By default, we have significantly more signage on the electric net fencing for any job that is in a public area. Examples of public jobs include: Parks, Rail Trails, School, Universities, Sports complexes, Etc.
For the signs on public jobs, we use a mixture of signage made by various manufacturers and our own custom signs, which also provide information about the process and rules (like to NEVER feed the goats!) and interesting facts about goats.
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In public settings, we place a portion of the goats watering containers where they are visible to the public, this tends lot lower the volume of nuisance calls from people not seeing water available to the herd and being concerned. BUT, we have had the other side of the public (folks not nearly as concerned as the first group) deliberately place some terrible stuff in the goat's water. So we also have hidden (when possible) water containers as well, for the goats safety. Goats on typical jobs don't drink hardly anything (sometimes, literally nothing) because their water needs are meet by the vegetation.
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We offer the option to fence our fence.
We do not recommend this option.
More here in the corresponding "optional services" section.
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For government entities: Cities, boroughs, townships, schools, game lands, parks, state agencies, federal agencies, etc. we make an exception and do not require a deposit as long as we have either a signed rental agreement, or a public announcement (radio, TV, newspaper or online) of the planned project.
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RECOMENDATIONS:
Ordinances/Regulations:
Do you have ordinances that specifically exclude goats (or sheep) from working within your jurisdiction? Perhaps you think you do because most urban and suburban areas have adopted the boilerplate text that reads something like: "The keeping of barnyard animals is prohibited".
But, what is keeping? Does your municipality allow mobile petting zoos, circuses, rodeos, etc.? Are there exceptions for those endeavors and the animals that come along with them?
It is believed that the writers of the original code intended to limit or fully restrict KEEPING farm-type animals. But bringing in a herd of goats is not much different than bring in anything else that is temporary and transitory.
We recommend treating working goats (and sheep) as, not animals kept, but animals performing a task, and therefore being exempt from ordinances you likely have about "keeping livestock".
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Go one step even further....
Get ahead of things and craft an ordinance that specifically allows for working sheep and goats. More and more, people are requesting healthier options for vegetation managment and are going to be wanting to use goats on their own land. The call for goats to work public land is growing quickly and it is becoming more apparent all the time that there are long-term effects to applying herbicide that affect our soils, water and our health!
If you consider drafting such a regulations, here are some recommendations:
+Do require the vendor to have not just the number of signs that meet the international standards regarding electric fence, but that provide other information that limits the number of calls your office could potentially receive. Details including emergency contact information, information addressing common concerns about animal welfare, details about water, shelter (or lack-thereof), shade, food, etc.
(Believe it or not, FlockWorks has fielded calls from well-meaning individuals about water availability (when fenced in with a significant stream), the goats having "no food", and even the lack of air-conditioning for the goats!)
+Do consider a minimum communication response time, should a job site issue arise, and a maximum traveling (time based) distance to the job. The vendor having established protocols for potential issues is another plus to be considered.
+Do consider requiring a calculated way to account for how many animals per square foot, or acre per season. This should be drafted to give flexibility of using herds of various sizes and paddocks of different sizes. Goats too long on land, especially if someone is bringing supplemental feed or hay, can have negative effects if not managed well.
+Do consider what species you will allow. Goats and sheep are the most effective, but there are times where it makes sense to follow a herd of goats with a flock of geese or chickens, if the area is heavily infested with ticks or other bugs.
-Don't specify what breed or size of animals are used. Many companies run goats of different sizes and breeds because of their subtle differences in grazing and browsing and the better over-all performance that can be gained. Don't specify goat characteristics, like horned or polled goats, or hair or wool sheep.
-Don't require the vendor or vendors staff to be on hand 24/7. A herdsperson living on site is not necessary with a well trained herd and can be significantly more intrusive than the goats themselves. Additionally, more and more, goat rental companies are using technology to keep tabs on the herd, the fence and electronics, water availability, etc.
-Don't require the vendor to treat their animals like indoor pets. Livestock, given the right setting and moved regularly, are largely self sufficient and have been conditioned to their nomadic lifestyle. Some municipalities well-intentioned rules lower the effectiveness of working herds, or occasionally... even worse, put the animals a risk.
-Don't specify what type of gear (fence, energizers, solar systems, etc.) to use. Each company has chosen what works best for their herd, and often is making subtle tweaks in gear usage from year-to-year as herd personalities shift. For example, some goat rental companies only use 48" high netting, while others are quite successful with a 32" version. Each company should know their animals. Electric net fencing is a psychological barrier, not a physical barrier, so training and the herd experience is the biggest variable, not brand or height.
-Don't require a permitting process. OR at least streamline the process so that a permit can be easily obtained, or perhaps one permit per season covering all potential jobs.
A good percentage of goat rental jobs end up being a functional extension of the job just (or being) done. Example: A citizen hires a goat crew to clean up a steep back yard, covered in poison ivy. It is very common for a neighbor to want to have the goats run in their yard at the same time or immediately after. There is a chance of reducing trips with no permits required, and of course, grazing/browsing adjacent invasive plants increases the success rate for the entire area.
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