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goats (Read 2995 times)
chrispain
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goats
Aug 26th, 2010 at 1:36pm
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It had to happen, my husband not having learnt much spanish tends to say si si when he doesn't understand the locals. So today we have received a 2 day old female goat!!! when he thought he was being offered a pup, I have put her in with the chicks and give her milk as often as she will take it. Does anyone know how old they are before they start eating vegetation, or have any tips about young goats. I think I might put him in with them as well, we already have 5 abandoned dogs.
  
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Hen_Fox
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Re: goats
Reply #1 - Aug 26th, 2010 at 6:19pm
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Hi,
You will need to keep giving the kid milk (in England you can get dried goatsmilk powder but I don't know about Spain.) for at least a few months. During this time they will also start to eat grass and branches, and cereals such as maize. Goats are browsers rather than grazers so much prefer hedges and trees. You will need to protect the trunks of your trees as she will eat the bark. They like their food clean so it is best put in a hayrack or tied up above them. She will also need shelter from the rain ( they don't have much of a coat to protect them from the weather) and a run with decent height fencing. When they are older they can be tethered so it is best to start getting it used to a collar and lead. If its a male goat you've got then you will have to get it neutered asap otherwise you will end up with a large , very smelly animal. However goats are lovely, funny, clever animals and having one from two days old means it will think it is one of the family-not a goat!
  
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Hen_Fox
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Re: goats
Reply #2 - Aug 26th, 2010 at 6:28pm
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Forgot to say that your goat shoud be having milk from a bottle with a teat ( try agricultural suppliers) as you would with a hand reared lamb.
Sorry if I sound a right know-it-all but I used to keep goats many years ago.
  
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bruixot
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Re: goats
Reply #3 - Aug 26th, 2010 at 7:14pm
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Hi
As said it will need bottle feeding for several weeks. People will tell you goats will eat anything but this isn't true...they only eat things you don't want them too. They leave the rest. We have a herd of andozen goats ifmyou need anyone for her. Alternatively keep her as a pet or eat her at about 2 to 3 months old Smiley
Bruixot
  
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bruixot
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Re: goats
Reply #4 - Aug 26th, 2010 at 7:21pm
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Sorry. My previous post should read if you need a home for her. Missed a space and the auto spellchecker garbled
the rest for me.
Bruixot
  
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chrispain
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Re: goats
Reply #5 - Aug 27th, 2010 at 9:07am
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Thanks for info we already give her milk via a feeding bottle which she takes very well I am a bit concerned about worming her when she is old enough does anyone know where I can get any wormer from, the pet store in Tortosa say it only comes in large quantities.
  
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bruixot
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Re: goats
Reply #6 - Aug 27th, 2010 at 1:42pm
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Well if you need anymgoats milk let us know as we have five milking at the moment. If you need to leash her up don't leave her untended as they can easily strangle themselves. The same applies to using nets for food. It's a no no for goats. It won't be a problem for a bit yet but be warned that goats are serious escape artists.
Bruixot
  
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