The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Carl f k on November 11, 2012, 11:31:02 am
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Not with us yet but she's gona be mine soon
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:love: she's a lovely girl.
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Very nice ;D
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Aww, congratulations, she's lovely. :goat:
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lovely goat...
does she have friends coming with her?
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She is lovely :love: what breed? where is she coming from? I bet you are very pleased
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She's from a breeder in derby.. It's the one you saw on preloved Plums..she's a gg togg cross and has one or two friends coming with her because she's in kid.. That should be fun. Talk about jumping in at the deep end... In for a penny in for a pound.. Looking forward to it.. Thanks for the lovely comments
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But she'll be on her own initially for at least 4 months? I really don't recommend keeping a goat who is used to company on her own.
What guarantee do you have that she is pregnant? And if she hasn't held to the mating can you take her back to be served by the billy again?
I notice she is horned, do you and Heidi not have children? To me, horns are an unnecessary worry if you have children.
My father had his cheekbone broken by a horned goat once- just think if it had been a couple of cm along, it could have been his eye.
How old is she?
Beth
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Won't be having her till closer to the birth, children all grown up, keep a lookout for the horns :relief: she is three and half
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Beth, we will bear the horns in mind..but...i am experienced with goats!..had them before..me and carl are gonna have a ball..no young kids so horns will stay... :goat:
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She looks lovely but I'd be wary of the horns as well.
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Well, you've been doing your research so it was only a matter of time before you found your ideal goat! If you've taken the risks with horns into account that is fine but I also think it a good idea for others to mention possible problems in case another reader isn't aware of the situation. I think a lot of would-be owners study the forum without posting individual questions so it helps them if replies cover the subject from all angles.
She looks very pretty. Love the name, too. Congratulations, hope you enjoy every minute with her (and her offspring) as I do with my goats.
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Not with us yet but she's gona be mine soon
She is the exact same cross as my Enid, who I bought without knowing better with horns ::)
She is gentle and friendly and a liability at milking time as when she turns to nibble me whilst being milked I get poked with her horns. Now I love her to bits, and would not part with her but please do be careful :goat:
I would NEVER buy a horned goat again.
I am surprised a dairy set up didn't dis bud her as a kid TBH :-\
Anyway have fun with her but be careful!
Also are you keeping a kid from her as company? If not make sure to find another horned goat(can't believe I am writing that!) as an unknown polled/dis budded goat could end up with some very nasty injuries whilst they sort out who is who :o
One last thing.... sorry :-[
You say you won't be having her til nearer the birth, but how close? You run the risk of either keeping her on her own distressed or moving a heavily in kid goat :-\ could she not come sooner with a companion on loan perhaps?
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I lied, there IS one more thing...
How come at 3 she isn't ear tagged?? You DEFINATELY want that sorted before she comes anywhere near your holding :thinking:
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Well, you've been doing your research so it was only a matter of time before you found your ideal goat! If you've taken the risks with horns into account that is fine but I also think it a good idea for others to mention possible problems in case another reader isn't aware of the situation. I think a lot of would-be owners study the forum without posting individual questions so it helps them if replies cover the subject from all angles.
She looks very pretty. Love the name, too. Congratulations, hope you enjoy every minute with her (and her offspring) as I do with my goats.
She is small and very friendly has been hand milked before so weighing it all up should be fine.. Will probably disbud the kids so there's only one set of horns to look after
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Will be keeping the kids. Ear tag will be fitted when she comes and ill be making one of those milking stands that hold her head out the way.. I thaught of everything I think but thanks for the input..just incase I forgot anything
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I have to agree about being very carefull around horns
I have heard so many horror stories some involving friends. From loosing eyes to other animals being stabbed
I would never ever have a horned goat here
I do know someone who puts tennis balls on the end of her goat to milk to reduce the risk
As for moving her sooner rather than later would be better for her with another goat she knows. You dint want her getting knocked about by a strange goat just the same as you dont want to stress her out any more than she already will be with the move by sticking her on her own ::)
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Thanx for your advice ...carl and I have researched for mths and visited owners of goats, ..i have already kept HORNED goats and i was excited about sharing our new member to our family but im sick of being made to be thick when i am very knowledgeable ! Im sorry if this offends but to be honest im sick of people going on about things we av already know.be happy for us..! Especially carl who is so excited.enuff said..i WILL NOT be on here again..stresses u out on here..ps.it ear tags!..just not pierced as they get ripped out.end of rant :rant: :rant: :rant:
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Carl - one thing to ask the current owner is what vaccination routine has she been using? If none, please start her off on Lambivac/Heptavac (speak to your vet) asap. If you go onto Lambivac (recommended for goats rather than Heptavac), please also consider vaccinating against Pasteurella - it does kill adult goats too.
I am on the "always disbud" side too, but obviously everybody makes their own choices. I think some of use have seen a fair number of new goatkeepers being unaware of horns and how they are being used by goats, and we are concerned rather than trying to put you off.
Enjoy your goats when they arrive - and yes that's plural. Please make sure she has got a companion when she arrives.
What kind of male has she been mated to and is this her first kidding?
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I keep Old English goats, who always keep their horns. My sheep had horns too (til this year and a breed changes). You just work with them in mind.
Heidih, I really don't think anyone is trying to diss you :-* 1. Not everyone knows how much you do, or don't know, so people just say stuff to be helpful. And I suppose we care more about animal welfare and people getting on well with their animals than about tact and diplomacy ;) And 2. Even if you know, maybe someone else reading the thread for info. doesn't, so it's helpful if everything is said. Wonder why it gets to you so badly?
What other animals have you got - is there someone there she could 'hang around with' til her kids are born?
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Yep, agree with Jaykay on this. To be perfectly honest, it has been Carl who has been active in the goat section, not yourself, so I wasn't aware you had kept goats before.
Beth
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Carl - one thing to ask the current owner is what vaccination routine has she been using? If none, please start her off on Lambivac/Heptavac (speak to your vet) asap. If you go onto Lambivac (recommended for goats rather than Heptavac), please also consider vaccinating against Pasteurella - it does kill adult goats too.
I am on the "always disbud" side too, but obviously everybody makes their own choices. I think some of use have seen a fair number of new goatkeepers being unaware of horns and how they are being used by goats, and we are concerned rather than trying to put you off.
Enjoy your goats when they arrive - and yes that's plural. Please make sure she has got a companion when she arrives.
What kind of male has she been mated to and is this her first kidding?
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I will have to find out about vaccines Anke, it's her second kidding and dad is a togg
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Yep, agree with Jaykay on this. To be perfectly honest, it has been Carl who has been active in the goat section, not yourself, so I wasn't aware you had kept goats before.
Beth
I havn't but Heidi has but I like to research was the same with tropical fish.. before a embark on a new project.. So I may be a novice but well prepped one
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I keep Old English goats, who always keep their horns. My sheep had horns too (til this year and a breed changes). You just work with them in mind.
Heidih, I really don't think anyone is trying to diss you :-* 1. Not everyone knows how much you do, or don't know, so people just say stuff to be helpful. And I suppose we care more about animal welfare and people getting on well with their animals than about tact and diplomacy ;) And 2. Even if you know, maybe someone else reading the thread for info. doesn't, so it's helpful if everything is said. Wonder why it gets to you so badly?
What other animals have you got - is there someone there she could 'hang around with' til her kids are born?
Thanks jaykay we have chooks ducks and rabbits. She lives with chooks now so mite be an idea
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I am surprised a dairy set up didn't dis bud her as a kid TBH
Who said anything about a dairy set up?? ???
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Thanks jaykay we have chooks ducks and rabbits. She lives with chooks now so mite be an idea
OK, I was thinking more if you had sheep or a pony. Someone might have a wether kid or goatling that they'd let you have for not a lot, to be a friend for her.
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Was thinking about this overnight. You are like me Carl in that you are researching as much as you can before you step in (see my border collie threads!!). I was wondering if you would be interested in coming along to some of our Worcestershire goat club meetings? We have people from Oxford and all over the place so its not confined to worcester :)
Over the winter/spring we meet monthly. We cover topics such as mating, kidding(when to step in/what mum needs immediately after birth/not to feed concentrate etc), kid care (ie. knowing when to disbud/worm/vaccinate etc) and its first Saturday each month just off of the M5. It also places you into a network of fairly local goat keepers and for Heidi might be a nice refresher and for you a good place to learn (as it has been for me). Let me know if you want more details :)
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You're new goat looks absolutely lovely Carl & Heidi and not dissimilar to our Daisy, horns and all.
When we got Daisy, our first goat, we broke every rule in the book! She had horns (shock horror!) and was used to her own company but we learnt fast. Now she has other goat company which took her a while to get used to but she has 'adopted' a goatling and they are inseparable now.She wasn't interested in the sheep we got for company. And apart from a few bruises on my leg which were more my fault than hers for being in the wrong place when its feeding time, the horns don't worry me.
You're lucky to be able to access info and advice through local goat clubs, a luxury we didn't have being so remote up here. Even Animal Health & SAMU had to go look up info for us when we had to register the death of one of our goats so apart from this website and trawling through pages on the internet we had very little in the way of on-hand experience to draw on but we just got on with it. I found you learn just as much from the goat as you do from anywhere else and as Heidi points out she's done this before so just enjoy Willlow when she arrives and keep us updated with pics on the arrival of the kids :thumbsup:
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I am surprised a dairy set up didn't dis bud her as a kid TBH
Who said anything about a dairy set up?? ???
OOps :-[ :-[ that was me!
I could have sworn I read you had her from a dairy set up but was mistaken, my apologies :-*
Plums, what a fab offer! I wish there had been something similar near me when I 1st started :D
Have fun with her, I wonder if she will be as naughty as Enid? ;D ;D ;D
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Heidi, no-one thinks you're thick and I hope you do come back. I know you've done your research (although I don't remember you mentioning you'd had goats before when you visited us) and you asked advice so I know you prepared well.
I kept my first goat on her own to start with, not intentionally but I had bought two with a friend, and was keeping them in her garden, and she then decided she didn't like the white one so I could have her and didn't have a lot of choice other than to end up with no goat at all. As the goat lived very near the house, she had people around most of the time, and the dogs, so didn't seem to suffer but is much happier with company.
I think Willow is a lovely name too. My son had a rat called Willow once. I am intrigued though that she is a GG x Tog but is white like a Sanaan.
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Was thinking about this overnight. You are like me Carl in that you are researching as much as you can before you step in (see my border collie threads!!). I was wondering if you would be interested in coming along to some of our Worcestershire goat club meetings? We have people from Oxford and all over the place so its not confined to worcester :)
Over the winter/spring we meet monthly. We cover topics such as mating, kidding(when to step in/what mum needs immediately after birth/not to feed concentrate etc), kid care (ie. knowing when to disbud/worm/vaccinate etc) and its first Saturday each month just off of the M5. It also places you into a network of fairly local goat keepers and for Heidi might be a nice refresher and for you a good place to learn (as it has been for me). Let me know if you want more details :)
Thank you Lisa please send me details :thumbsup:
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I think Willow is a lovely name too. My son had a rat called Willow once. I am intrigued though that she is a GG x Tog but is white like a Sanaan.
Thanx MGM she is more of a creamy brown with white on her nose..not very clear on the pic but it was taken with I pod..not very good camera, I'm sure when we get her there will be some better pics
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Just caught up with this one Carl - great! good luck with her, I'd love to see more pics, and I wouldn't disbud the wee ones.
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I think Willow is a lovely name too. My son had a rat called Willow once. I am intrigued though that she is a GG x Tog but is white like a Sanaan.
Thanx MGM she is more of a creamy brown with white on her nose..not very clear on the pic but it was taken with I pod..not very good camera, I'm sure when we get her there will be some better pics
That explains it. I know that genetics do some funny things though. My Curry's dad is a British Alpine but he obviously got the Sanaan colouring apart from a tiny black mark on one leg. Looking forward to seeing more pictures when you get her.
Have you done your goat shed and yard yet? And got your holding number? I was so excited when I first got mine. I felt like a proper smallholder. ;D
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White is by far the more dominant colour. We have some who are more than 3/4 British Toggenburg, and they are still white!
My sister and nieces have 2 female kids- sisters from this year. Mum is half British Toggenburg, half British saanen (nearly), dad is British alpine. The kids? One is a little bit brown roan, but her base colour is white, and the other sister is pure white.
Beth
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Waiting for holding number to come still, will be starting building the weekend, hate these dark nights can't crack on with it :(
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Just caught up with this one Carl - great! good luck with her, I'd love to see more pics, and I wouldn't disbud the wee ones.
You wouldn't disbud goosepimple? Most seem to, any reason or just your preference ?
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Carl I wouldn't keep horned with unhorned, you're not supposed to although some people do. If you have children that will be handling them often then maybe it's something to think about or if you consider that one day you will sell on the mother and just keep the offspring then maybe too.
Personally I wouldn't do it by preference though, I like the look of an animal with horns, I don't think goats are that attractive without and they look great with, just part of the pleasure of keeping animals is to look at them and like what you see.
With horns is the way they come out and is the way they are meant to be in my opinion. You just take a bit of care when handling same as you would with horses hoofs.
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Hi Carl and Heidi
Sorry just have to put my oar in here, (and this is only my opinion don't want to sound aggressive or upset anyone),
I kept 3 males, left horns on as they would be going for meat. I hate them, always worried when bending down for buckets as they come close to check nothing left in, saw one with it's horn caught in anothers collar, luckily as another goat moved in it disentangled itself. one bullies the others and often has hair stuck on the end of it's horns. Also they can't scratch the top and back of their heads easily, at least they come to me for their heads scratching :) . They are lovely temperments really but I can't wait to get rid of them.
In saying that, just bought 2 boer goats, had my doubts because still horned, but their horns sweep straight back, not upright like the others. But any kids of them will be disbudded.
Horned goats always make me think of the poor things you would see tethered out on wasteland, having to defend themselves, (obviously not suggesting anyone on here keeps goats like that!) hopefully mine will never be in that situation, hence no need for horns, I would rather see 2 goats bare head butting, they soon back down, than seeing 2 (as in my boys) hoping they don't catch an eye or something.
I also like to be close to my girls, but don't want MY eye putting out either, I often sit with them and they rub their heads on me, I wouldn't do that with horned.
OK, now I'll :sofa: :)
Forgot to say - Congratulations on getting Willow, I crossed my Toggs with a BS hoping for a pale brown, but they were all white, white is the dominant gene, this year the X's are running with a Togg male, hopefully 3/4 togg might be something different.
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Just re-read Heidi's last posting, of course we are all happy for you Heidi and Carl, it's only 2 years since I managed to be in a position to get back into goats after 20+ years enforced break. The excitement, nerves, 'is everything ready, have I got the right food in, hope they like this hay', I remember it well. Kept them in a couple of days so we got to know each other, then horror of horrors, yes I did tether them for a short time, the fencing contractor hadn't been, one girl jumped the wall and set off, luckily I still had hold of the other and Cin came back to her friend, obviously bewildered by the big fields after her small one, but if she had carried on running, she may have managed to get out of that field, so a shaky first outing. all settled now though.
If you can't borrow a friend to come wth her, can you spend a lot of time with her? I'd be a bit worried transporting her too near her time, but I presume you'll know that and not leave it too late :) .
When is she due? sorry if you've said that, if I try and go back to look I'll lose all this lot ::)
Looking forward to updates, feeling quite excited with you.
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Just re-read Heidi's last posting, of course we are all happy for you Heidi and Carl, it's only 2 years since I managed to be in a position to get back into goats after 20+ years enforced break. The excitement, nerves, 'is everything ready, have I got the right food in, hope they like this hay', I remember it well. Kept them in a couple of days so we got to know each other, then horror of horrors, yes I did tether them for a short time, the fencing contractor hadn't been, one girl jumped the wall and set off, luckily I still had hold of the other and Cin came back to her friend, obviously bewildered by the big fields after her small one, but if she had carried on running, she may have managed to get out of that field, so a shaky first outing. all settled now though.
If you can't borrow a friend to come wth her, can you spend a lot of time with her? I'd be a bit worried transporting her too near her time, but I presume you'll know that and not leave it too late :) .
When is she due? sorry if you've said that, if I try and go back to look I'll lose all this lot ::)
Looking forward to updates, feeling quite excited with you.
Thanks penninehillbilly but I don't think Heidi will be back on.. Was well p****d off because it put a downer on the whole thing
She is due in march :fc: