FlockWorks

Frequently asked questions - Goats of your own

• Is it practical to buy goats to clear my own land?
  This is the question we get asked frequently.... And it makes sense. It can seem expensive to rent goats, especially if there is a lot of travel and distant transportation involved. There's lots to think about. We obviously like having goats and enjoy them. We got goats to clear our own land, before we started renting them out. There are things to consider, beyond the cost of just the animals
• Fencing. Goats are very challenging to contain. We obviously love electric net fencing, but whatever type of fence you choose, it has to contain goats AND keep put predators. Fencing is not inexpensive.  Also, for healthy managment styles, you need to ether move the fencing regularly or have enough for regular rotation to avoid parasites.  
• Parasite Management. Unfortunately, in this world there are pests and bugs that are not beneficial to their hosts. For goats the *main* risk (there are many others) is barber pole worm. This is a total oversimplification, but the basics are this: Every goat is very, very likely to carry it. You have to choose how to manage it and there are really only three choices. Perpetual pasture rotation, without going back to any given area more than (at most) six times per year. Total feedlot management, with all food brought in and no access to forage. Reliance on de-worming medication that is loosing it's effectiveness on goats the way that antibiotics are loosing effectiveness for us.
• Housing. Goats don't need much, but when the temperatures drop and wet stuff is falling from the sky, they do need to get out of the weather.
• Mineral Supplementing. Goats need minerals in most parts of the world. You need to find out what those are and procure them. And actually, just managing minerals can be challenging.  Keeping them available, dry and keeping the goats from climbing in or on the containers.  
• Veterinarian Care. Things will happen. It is good to have access to a vet who knows (and preferably likes) goats.  This can be not only expensive, but hard to find. Most parts of the country do not have vets who are familiar with goats. Many vets will see goats, few are familiar with goats.  
• Hoof care. Goats hooves need to be trimmed. You need to learn to do this or find someone who can. Common fees are $50 to come out and $7 per goat, usually at least 4 times per year, although this depends a lot on the goats and what type of areas they have access to.  
• Permission. Goats are considered livestock in most places. Are you even allowed to have goats where you are?  Goats are allowed almost everywhere to manage vegetation, short-term, but there are ordinances about keeping "farm animals" in most urban and suburban areas.  
• Social Interaction: Goats cannot be alone. There really needs to be at least two, but more than two is ideal if something were to happen to one of them. Goats are herd animals. There is almost no chance the goat will bond to animals other than goats. 
• Learning: For good or bad, most people can start with goats without a deep knowledge of them, but even if you keep goats for decades, it's likely that you will need to keep researching and learning.