[langdon]

Just out of a matter of interest, does anyone keep any other animal's?
We keep 3 British SaddleBack pigs-for slaughter and we have our 10 Lohman Brown chick's
plus Eddie our WellSummer Cockerel, we going to hatch our egg's this spring(cant wait!!!)
while I'm here our goat's Milly and Molly are 7months old, how soon do we need to get this
cae test done before they are ready for kidding(that we deff cant wait for!!!!)
lucky ye guy's who have allready experenced that awsome moment

[Roxy]

I have a lot of other animals ......many of my goats are rescued goats.  At the moment I have 12, of various breeds including pygmys, and two entire billy goats.  Other animals include sheep, cows, llama, plenty of farm cats, dogs, rabbits, and lots of ex battery hens and bantams.  Not cunted lately but I would say there could be 80 at any one time, rising to 200 plus when we do a rescue and have hens waiting to go to new homes. Plus 9 native ponies which we breed from.

As to the CAE test, your vet will be able to do your goats now.  I personally do not have mine tested.  As an established goat keeper of 35 years I am well aware of the risks, but have never had a goat showing signs of CAE.  All my animals are kept in as near a natural environment as I can have them and none of my animals are ever injected if at all possible, or any tests done, or drugs given.  My only exception is to have the horses injected for tetanus, and the mares being sent for stud are swabbed.  Obviously, this is all because of my personal preference, and I do understand other goat owners having the CAE test.

[ballingall]

Spring is the normal time of year for goats to kid, so it will probably be best to wait until September- November this year to take them to a billy goat. That said, you can get them CAE tested at any time, as long as the CAE test has been done within a year of them going to the Billy.

There are people who don't CAE test, and if you have anyone nearby who doesn't and has a male, you could go there instead. But I still would recommend kidding your goats in springtime. The gestation period is 5 months long- very much the same as sheep.

We have 16 goats, and also chickens and ducks, guinea pigs and a rabbit. Hoping to get some orphan lambs in spring, and possibly a couple of weaners too. Have kept sheep, cattle and (once) weaners previously as well. We don't have enough land now we have moved to keep a flock of sheep or any cattle.

Beth

[ukag0972]

At the moment we have 5 dogs, (2 working collies, 2 labs and a jr), 10 goats ( of various ages), 3 kunekune pigs(with 6 piglets), 2 large black gilts and a tamworth sow( to farrow next month) and a tamworth boar. 500 plus sheep, including lambing at the moment. 3 highland coos and 3 calves. Numerous hens including orpingtons, wellsummers, black rocks and Isa browns.
Don't think I've missed out anyone!!

It keeps me busy!!  Haha

[jameslindsay]

I have 13 goats of different varieties, 11 hens, 1 cockerel, 4 miniature Shetland Ponies, 17 ducks of different types, 1 goose, 1 rabbit, 3 cocker spaniel bitches, 1 Hans McAw Parrot and 2 goldfish. All are kept purely as pets.

[Anke]

Current tally is 3 goats (2 hopefully to kid in about 8 weeks time), 16 ewes (to lamb in early April) + some male sheep (tup + hangers-on-for-mutton) and 7 of last years lambs), about 20 hens (hopefully will start laying properly soon again, I would like to have a hatch early on this year). We buy in weaners in late April to fatten up, but probably only 2 this year, as we have our own lamb now as well. Also have a fairly bossy wire-haired foxterrier and 2 children... So yes that keeps me busy.... Just looking to get a couple of farm cats, as there seem to be some squatters with long tails about....(and I don't like them!)

[langdon]

Thank's everyone for your reply's great to read of all the different animal's ye all keep( a little jealous )
intertesting to read that some cae test goat's and others don't,now i don't know what to do
if we decide ai do we need cae test (any way what does it mean)
also how do you reply to individual post??? new to animal husbandry and new to laptops!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Roxy]

Its down to the individual about the CAE test - if you want to breed, use a billy, or sell your stock, then probably for your own peace of mind its a good idea to do it.  Its not a pretentative test of course.

You can send a private message to individual members. You must be logged on for this.  If you look at replies to this topic for example, you can see two symbols under the user name. Second one is the PM button. Or  at the top of the page, it says My messages click on there to send and look at received messages.

Don't worry - you will soon get the hang of it, and be like the rest of us, on here far too much!!