[Fieldfare]

Hi goat experts! Will goats really eat thistles? (or is that, along with the neighbours washing a myth?). I assume I would have to tether(?) or closely strip graze? If so which breeds would be best (I am assuming pygmy's are the easiest to house?). Will 3-strand electric wire keep them confined?

Thanks,

[goosepimple]

Not sure about the thistles, but we have pygmy goats - our fence was less than 1m high and they have never jumped it, we had pygmy x togs before, about twice the size of an actual pygmy - they did try and jump the fence a couple of times only - one got her foot caught in the two top wires we had put in above the stock mesh wire to heighten the fence and I ended up having to cut her out, a bit of a trauma, she just limped for a day and was ok.  If your goaties are well fed and happy, its unlikely they'll jump the fence at all.  I wouldn't tether ever, only if you're out with them doing other jobs and keeping your eye on them at all times.  And make sure you have lots of hard standing to avoid those feet problems.

[Anke]

Yes my goat field is completely thistle free, although some of the really big ones they don't eat either. They love brambles, dandelions and loads of other weeds. Mine don't seem to be so keen on white clover, of which I still have a lot in the field.

I use (normal) sheep stock netting with a top electric wire, mains powered. They have never tried to jump it, and the kids learn very fast not to reach up to it. Mine also respect electric tape, just up to three feet. They "tested" it once....

I don't tether.

[Lesley Silvester]

Thistles are gourmet food in our garden.  They nearly rip them out of my arms.  As far as whether to get pygmies or big goats, I would say it depends what you want them for.  If it's for milk, then you need to think about how much you would get from a pygmy in comparison and can you get a bucket under one?  Big goats like sanaans or togs can give a gallon a day or even more.

AS far as the neighbours' washing being a myth, a friend of mine grew up on a small holding where her mother's goat ate a pair of knickers from the washing line (theirs, not the neighbour's), managed to digest the cotton fabric but had to have an operation to remove the elastic.  Goats are not very good at vomiting.

[jaykay]

Mine eat thistles too - just as they are beginning to flower, seems they taste best then 
As for size, you could compromise and get Old English - about halfway between the big dairy goats and pygmies  When i got mine I was warned never to let them near the washing line by a friend who'd lost a tshirt this way - and judging by what else they'll eat given chance, i think it was a good warning 

[waterhouse]

Our sheep love sour thistle (not spikey) but won't touch creeping thistle except when small

[Lesley Silvester]

MIne love them, spikes and all. 

[princesspiggy]

mine eat the thistle flowers but dont eat the whole plant enough to stop it growing back.

[cuckoo]

My goats eat thistles as well as other weeds - therefore imagine my anger and annoyance when the field we were leaving to "rest" and grow up for after being grazed by our sheep which dont like such things was cut down flat by the farmer we rent from as it looked untidy!!   We were depending on it being a good few weeks autumn grazing.

We strip graze our fields to rotate the grazing as we are limited to 3 acres and find the goats can be kept in by just 2 strands of elecrtic but the perimeter of the field is stock fenced with a single strand of electric around the top.  I have no experience of tethering goats - I think strip grazing with electric would be better.

[jinglejoys]

What the goats don't finish the mules do