The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: smudger on April 22, 2012, 10:04:44 am

Title: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: smudger on April 22, 2012, 10:04:44 am

Looking for a couple of goats, ideally in kid but also consider youngsters.

Also will they graze with my sheep (shetlands and GfD), or bets separate?

thx

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: plumseverywhere on April 22, 2012, 04:39:05 pm

I believe the general consensus on this is they are best separately due to worms being passed from sheep to goats and goats don't cope to well with high worm burdens but I could be corrected by someone with more experience.

Goats as a rule are not 'grazers' as such and appreciate browse material in the form of hay and safe branches that are not toxic to them. They will eat grass but do not chomp it down as close as your sheep will so they will be good companions in that respect. they will also eat certain leaves that sheep might ignore - docks, brambles etc.

Goats are less hardy than sheep, as you probably know and so will need access to shelter.  Am also thinking that newborn kids might not fare too well with a flock of sheep in the same paddock with a view to vulnerability to illnesses etc...

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: smudger on April 26, 2012, 12:36:26 pm

Thx plumseverywhere. I wouldn't have lambed/kidded together, but will plan on being seperate.

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted SW
Post by: smudger on May 04, 2012, 10:45:09 am

Just bumping this up, will travel further afield within reason (as much for the goats sake as mine)

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: kelpy on May 04, 2012, 02:03:36 pm

hi,
we keep goats & sheep together.
during the winter the goats are shut in.
but during spring & summer they run together,the goats have access to a shelter at all times & only the rams use the shelters when its raining..
my sheep are scared of the goats,so at feed time i call the goats in,shut them in feed them then feed the sheep.
had no probs at all keeping them together,but we do worm regularly.

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: kelpy on May 04, 2012, 02:06:07 pm

oops forgot to add.we don't have many movements on & off with the sheep,but when i do get something in we keep them seperate for a month.

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: smudger on May 07, 2012, 12:38:25 pm

Anyone know John Hankinson's no so i can call him re GG's he may have for sale?

Title: Re: Golden Guernsey Goats wanted N Devon/ N Somerset/ N Cornwall
Post by: smudger on May 09, 2012, 04:15:49 pm

Thx to everyone who responded, spoken to him.