The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: Steph Hen on January 25, 2016, 07:50:31 am

Title: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on January 25, 2016, 07:50:31 am
 :'(

One of my two goats had to be put to sleep yesterday because of rhododendran poisoning. I do have a rhododendran but it's small (and due to be dug up shortly) so I had covered it with a tarp which was tied at the bottom so that they wouldn't be able to  touch any leaves. I can only guess that there must have been a couple of leaves amongst the grass underneath it that I didn't see. I know there wasn't much because the bush is still covered and my other goat is totally fine and they are never more than 6 feet apart. I'm gutted.

Not sure what to do now with my other goat, he's going to be so Lonely without his half brother.  :'(
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Talana on January 25, 2016, 08:01:51 am
Sorry to hear that, devastating for you.
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Rosemary on January 25, 2016, 08:22:41 am
Sorry to hear this. We had a very poorly wether sheep a few years ago with the same thing. THere had been a rhododendron in a pot in their field for months and they had never looked at it (I had forgotten it was there). Thankfully he pulled through but it wasn't a nice time.

Hope his bro is OK  :hug:
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Bionic on January 25, 2016, 09:14:35 am
Awwww, that's very sad but it just goes to show just how little it takes to poison them. That's a lesson for all of us
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: mojocafa on January 25, 2016, 11:20:51 am
 :'(

Oh no!
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Caroline1 on January 25, 2016, 03:08:00 pm
So sorry for your loss,  :gloomy:
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Melmarsh on January 25, 2016, 03:24:17 pm
Very sorry to hear your news, where I used to live, near the new forest, we had a lot of rhododendron always trimmed well back from the stock fencing, you can guess what I'm going to say next !! One large Goat with a long reach picked the tips off about 3_5 leaves, the first I knew about it was a sad looking Goat, within an hour or less of having done this , projectile vomiting, a sure sign,. luckily she was a tough old thing and pulled through but a youngster I had ate privet with fatal results, horrendous  waiting for her to be put down . Hope you can find a companion for your other Goat soon  :hug: :hug: :gloomy:
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on January 25, 2016, 04:31:01 pm
Thank you for your replies. Other goat is quiet, but eating well and very happy when I took him out for his walk earlier which is a great relief as I've read that goats can be very susceptible to pine away - and it's not like they're even a heard and there's others there too - they've only ever known each other.

I have had a very kind offer of another wether in Aberdeenshire, but just want to think a bit more on this before rushing into anything. Maybe I should put an add in the market place to see if there's anyone closer?
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Talana on January 25, 2016, 09:53:25 pm
Come across this advert on facebook if suitable:
Celia Burnett-Smith
21 January at 12:47
3 females @£110 each if sold together
£125 if sold separately.
Mother : British Alpine
Twin daughters : BA/Saanen
In Angus, Scotland : DD114RW
Email : [email protected]
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Lesley Silvester on January 26, 2016, 12:21:52 am
So sorry to hear about your goat. I very nearly lost one after she had one small bite of a laurel. It's lethal stuff. This particular goat was my first and she was on her own for a couple of years, perfectly happily until she had her daughter who I still have. In an ideal world, they need company but they can cope alone.
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on January 26, 2016, 07:43:08 am
Thank you Talana,
Please may I ask how can I find goat adverts on Facebook? I'm pretty new to it and can find friends, but people are always telling me about things they've bought on there and I'm always a bit confused!  :dunce:
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Anke on January 26, 2016, 08:45:22 am
Thank you Talana,
Please may I ask how can I find goat adverts on Facebook? I'm pretty new to it and can find friends, but people are always telling me about things they've bought on there and I'm always a bit confused!  :dunce:

There are facebook groups like "goaty friends" and also a "Pedigree goats for sale and wanted" God UK wide cover.
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Talana on January 26, 2016, 02:30:35 pm
Here are the links to join groups
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Pedigree.Goats/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/Pedigree.Goats/)    (pedigree goats for sale uk)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/goat.sales.uk/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/goat.sales.uk/)      ( goats for sale uk)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/goatyfriends/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/goatyfriends/)        (goaty friends)

https://www.facebook.com/groups/788865041179598/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/788865041179598/)  (livestock for sale scotland)

http://ukgoats.weebly.com/ (http://ukgoats.weebly.com/)   (uk goats for sale website)
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: kelly58 on January 26, 2016, 02:49:11 pm
Do you have any sheep ? I keep my last goat in with 2 pet wethers. She loves one of them (Dillon) to bits  :sheep:
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on January 26, 2016, 03:03:01 pm
Thank you for all these links!
No sheep, my neighbour does, he's met the sheep but ignored them.
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Penninehillbilly on January 26, 2016, 03:13:23 pm
Don't turn your nose up at preloved, (some people do) if you're careful there is good stuff on there.  :)
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: mart6 on January 26, 2016, 03:30:24 pm
Don't turn your nose up at preloved, (some people do) if you're careful there is good stuff on there.  :)
Agree couple of top Boer breeders advertise on there
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: mart6 on January 26, 2016, 03:34:57 pm
Thank you for all these links!
No sheep, my neighbour does, he's met the sheep but ignored them.
Sorry to hear your news
Shame you are so far away
I have a couple of  last years weathers or even  Alpine X Boer cross girls  i would let go to good home
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Talana on January 26, 2016, 04:01:57 pm
attached is photo of Dash, step hen
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: mojocafa on January 26, 2016, 04:30:25 pm
The goats on facebook are close by

If you head towards me, turn left to go past colliston school and I think they are at bottom of that road at kimblethmont. Worth a look! Didn't even know there was a goat person down there
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on January 26, 2016, 05:32:46 pm
He is cute!
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on January 26, 2016, 05:35:59 pm
I would look at any, and have been looking at preloved.
 but did have a bad experience with preloved and a whole days drive to Lancashire and back in 2014 so don't think I'd be able to convince OH to go so far again! Thank you for the offer though Mart6!
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: john and helen on February 02, 2016, 09:59:47 am
sorry to read this, hope you find another soon,
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on February 16, 2016, 02:13:01 pm
Many thanks to Talana - Dash is very happy here!  :thumbsup:
He has been enjoying his walks out with Broadsword, gets on fine with my son and is putting up with the dog as well. Doesn't like traffic, so need to work on this.

He's far more goaty than mine - jumps and runs about more. They managed about 3 hours grazing in the sun yesterday afternoon and I was so pleased that Dash showed Broadsword that he can eat, and doesn't have to stand by the gate calling me the whole time  ;D

He drinks tonnes! Seriously, must drink about 3 times more! But very happy x
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Talana on February 17, 2016, 08:16:52 am
Glad he's settling in well.

Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Lesley Silvester on February 17, 2016, 09:53:22 pm
That sounds very positive.
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: mojocafa on February 18, 2016, 07:13:09 am
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Steph Hen on February 27, 2016, 02:50:32 pm
Here's dash in his new outfit!
Don't worry, he won't be using this patched together harness for any pulling work, it's just to get them used to the feel of it and to used to going as a pair together (don't have a good photo of Broardsword, he follows me too closely, so I just have shots of his massive face!)

And Talana, I forgot to say, my in laws did know your relatives and ask me to send them their regards!
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Anke on February 27, 2016, 05:16:24 pm
I hope he's going to get a proper tartan one, like his collar!  ;)
Title: Re: Sad day
Post by: Talana on February 27, 2016, 07:29:37 pm
Fab! hes's settled so quickly.
 I once had one of my previous males Crunchie use a large dog harness and pulled my children's sledge.