The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: ThomasR on October 03, 2015, 09:07:13 am
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I was thinking about getting some goats to control the thistles. I would also be interested in a rare breed as I understand as there are some breeds with very low numbers. What breed would be best for me? I live near Peebles.
What do I need to know about keeping goats, I have Hebridean sheep and have been told they are relatively similar except the goats need shelter which i can easily do.
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We have hebs and goats and they all get on fine, yes goats need shelter and yes the hebs will probably use the shelter. Our goats don't eat thistles unfortunately. Actually contrary to popular myth goats are bloody fussy eaters.
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A strimmer will do the job quicker, cheaper and more efficiently...
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A strimmer would do it quicker but we don't have one and I have always wanted goats. What breeds would you guys recommend? The thistles was just a very good bonus but can live without it.
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Bagot goats are very rare nowadays are good for conservation grazing and MAY help out with young thistles.
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I have heard about baggot goats but don't know anybody who has them.
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I will pm you
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emailed you
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Do you want milk, fleece, meat or just something to eat the weeds.
My goats - dairy and angoras eat thistles but only after they've eaten the nettles, hedges and grass.
They like the flower heads if they can get them before they grow too tall.
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eat the weeds, maybe a bit of milk or meat but also to help a rare breed and weeds
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If you go down the milk route it is a daily commitment. You need them to kid to get the milk etc etc....
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I am kicking my self for not thinking about this a month or two ago, Palacerigg country park had a number of Bagots in the lanrk rare breed sale on the 29th of September and I was there buying hebs. I Will have to wait until next year but that gives me time to prepare for them. Had anybody found that they need high fences with bagot goats, do they escape?
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I keep Toggenburgs and mine LOVE thistles.
they fascinate me how they can put their mouth over a thistle head and eat it :-)
I think last year only about 30 female kids were registered, can have lovely long almost blonde hair.
they have been put on the UK native breeds at risk in 2014 (there was an explanation why they were on the 'native' breeds but I can't remember why)
Apart from the occasional check I only milk mine when I've taken the kids off, though I could have milked once a day. They are slowly drying off now. very affectionate when handled frequently.
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Golden Guernseys are lovely goats to keep, very docile and mine love nothing better than a field of thistles and can be found in next doors field quite often ::)