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Barnyard Buddies:  Oh, What's a Farmgirl To Do?  |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 3:12:25 PM
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I am having the worst time trying to keep these dad burn goats in where I want them. I am so mad at them right now. Why do they always think somewhere else is better than where they need to be? Why?!
I had them in a perfectly nice pasture full of nice green grass and trees and hedges along the fence. They were there for several days. I even moved a stanchion over there. Then a few days ago they are in the field next door. So I put them back out in the back pasture with the electric fence. Yesterday after being at the farmer's market I get home and they're ALL in the yard! They ate all my clematis that they eat every time they get out. Poor things have regrown I can't tell you how many times. They eat the apple trees . They ate a maple tree I've been babying in a pot to plant later. Gone. Kansas had a sunflower in a pot. Gone.
So they spent the night in the little triangular spot they go in before they go into the milk room. Then this morning I secured the back yard (I thought) and left for town. My DD calls me and says there are 3 goats out in the yard. AGAIN! So I think I have it fixed except for the jumping goat, Sadie Mae Belle. She's in the front yard now tied up eating grass.
So I know the electric fence is not working. It's clicking at the box but when I did the screwdriver and wire test, it's not clicking. So it's broke somewhere. I checked all around and found a flag corner marker had fallen on the top wire. Got it off. I cleared all things touching wire. Still not working. I called the guy who put it all up and he's supposed to come tonight and look. It may need another box. If it does this will be the third one in a year.
So I am ready to get rid of all goats now. I do have 3 for sale on Craig's List now. But I might just get rid of all of the stinking goats. I am tired.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 3:21:21 PM
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Goats really do prefer bushes, brambles and trees over grass...sad huh? But nice if you need brush cleared. Sheep would have adored all that nice grass. Goats ARE hard to keep fenced in..but their personalities are so dange cute! Some are worse than others for sure. What I have found is the smaller the goat the taller the fence needs to be...bigger goats don't fly like the small ones!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 3:22:21 PM
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I'm sorry you are having a hard time with your goats Kristin. I have an electric fence around my pasture so I have never had that problem before. Sorry though.
maggie |
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maggie14
True Blue Farmgirl
6784 Posts
Hannah
Washington
USA
6784 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 3:24:20 PM
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now that I think of it, they did get out once and ate my mom's flower garden all up. She's was not happy about that at all.....
maggie
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 3:43:38 PM
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ALL goats have INVISIBLE WINGS, lol. Every couple of years I'll have a houdini goat, and she will teach all the others, who never escaped before, how to get out, and cause the most damage in the shortest period of time. I have threatened to butcher them all, just shoot them and leave their bodies for the ravens, give them away or lie and sell them , saying they are perfect angels. I have not done any of the above yet, but nobody has escaped this year yet. I have electric fences, 6 ins from the bottom, 18 ins from the bottom wire,also top of fence, inset to the inside 8 ins. this works for almost all livestock. Good luck
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 23 2009 : 4:24:56 PM
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The electric fence is the best and they do not get out or even near it when it's working! But apparently the darn thing isn't working now. And while in the pasture I think they squeezed between the gate and the post and got out. Not all of them did, though. So I need to get a pole or something to put there.
It just seems like there is always something to do. And it's usually related to an animal of some kind. And mostly a goat. Although a few weeks ago it was the cows that just walked right over the fence and went on down the road a ways. Now after $600 worth of new fence in a pasture that's not even mine, I still can't trust the goats. The cows are still in, though!
I know that life on a farm ain't always fun and pretty. I just wish I could get a break here. Good grief! I need a herd of young people with more energy than I have right now. A day of picking veggies just wears me out.
Sadie is my biggest goat and she is also the most nimble of all. She is the only one that gets out from the back. There is one piece of field fence back there and she flies right over it. But she's also my best milker right now, too.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2009 : 10:29:11 AM
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Ok, dummy me. I went out to get the electric fence box to take back to TS to see if they could tell if it was working. I didn't hear any clicking. So I looked and it's not plugged in! I went out and did the screwdriver test thing again and it works! So there. They were all still in when I got back home. That's one less expense for me. Yeah! I was all prepared to spend more money that we don't have right now. So I am very thankful.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2009 : 11:19:53 AM
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Kristin, i hope no one unplugged on purpose. you may want to invest in a converter to solar powered, i did a few years back and love it.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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Laila
True Blue Farmgirl
273 Posts
Laila
Kutztown
PA
USA
273 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2009 : 11:24:43 AM
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Kristin,
A neighbor who has goats told me whenever he gets some he makes them wet and forces them to touch the electric fence. He doesn't have any trouble with them getting out after that. Seems kinda cruel to me but if it works!!!!! (I know I couldn't do it.)
Laila |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 24 2009 : 12:21:35 PM
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It really only takes one goat to touch a hot wire. They all just know then. I think they can smell when it's hot, too.
When we first put it up and let all the goats back there one of the kids went through and all the others took off the other way and wouldn't get near it after that.
But I'm sure that's a good way to train them, for sure. Ouch! I'm scared to death of that fence. I was on an aluminum ladder out back of the house trying to fix the gutter and the insulated wire was touching the gutter and I got really shocked good. It hurt! So I don't mess with it.
Teresa, I had thought about solar but a friend has one and hers hardly ever worked for her. I have a 10 mile box. I figured that might keep the goats in if it was stronger. It does when it's plugged in!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 07:26:29 AM
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Kristin, hopefully this is something you can look back on and get a good laugh. My DH did weed eating under our electric fence and forgot to plug the box back in. I gave him the riot act so hopefully that doesn't happen again. Someone told me once- "Throw a bucket of water at your fence, if the water goes thru it, so will a goat". I have had a couple goat rodeos myself. Usually I can shake a bucket of grain and they will come running back to their pens. Good luck!
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 11:19:20 AM
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Toby, that's not something I want to do. What happens when you do that? Is it like a guy peeing on an electric fence? My girls are easy to catch. Just open the milk room door. They're in in a second!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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1badmamawolf
True Blue Farmgirl
2199 Posts
Teresa
"Bent Fence Farms"
Ca
USA
2199 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 11:29:35 AM
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Kristin, I think what Toby is saying, is that if your fence has the slightest gap any where, your goats will squeeze thru, kinds like mice, all they need is a slit
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 11:49:03 AM
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Aw, now that sure does make sense! Yep, it just has to be a little bitty place and there they go.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 4:09:19 PM
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Sorry Kristin. I think it is an old Farmers saying. I did not literally mean for you to throw water on your electric fence. Keep us posted on any more jail breaks. It can be very stressful but having goats is so rewarding.
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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grace gerber
True Blue Farmgirl
2804 Posts
grace
larkspur
colorado
USA
2804 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 4:24:45 PM
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Oh My What a Time!!
I never put in an electric fence - not because of worry to animals but I had two sons who I could not trust to follow rules - heck my oldest zapped himself twice with a cattle rod in the store - I really did not want them around it at home. I had a sheep leader who told the group to back your sheep into an electric fence to teach them to brace when their butts where touched. As soon as that got out of his mouth my son picked up his little lamb, walk to the truck put the lamb in the truck and we left that group. That year we took grand champion without ever hurting our animal to do so.
I live by the motto that I just have to be smarter then my goats - someday's it might be hard but with a little bit of thought I manage. I found by watching them closely they soon show you where the weak spots are in your fencing or management practices. Do not give up, take a breath, put a chair out and maybe a cool drink and watch what your goats are doing - trust me I have faith that you will soon have the answer to keep the goats where you want and still get to keep them. 
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 25 2009 : 4:24:53 PM
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Toby, I feel stupid that I didn't get that. But I laugh every time I think of it! Too funny! I had no clue. But you are very right about them getting through anything if they want to bad enuf. But so far Sadie MAe Belle is the only jumper. She just goes over the field fence part that's kind of lower than the rest. Just like a deer she goes over the fence into the field. The other goats hate her.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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aunt boby
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
toby
polo
illinois
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2009 : 05:54:24 AM
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Kristin, It sounds like Sadie Mae Belle does know the grass is greener on the other side. She probably gets her fill and jumps back over, huh? We bought two dairy goats at Easter. They are an Alpine-Toggenburg mix. We wanted to cross them with our Boers. They arrived here bred and one kidded nine days ago and we anticipate the other to kid any day. I would eventually like to milk them myself. I was wondering, do you milk yours by hand? And do you drink the milk? Raw?
POOR IS THE MAN WHO CANNOT ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE- anonymous |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Jul 26 2009 : 07:05:35 AM
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Oh yes. Raw goat milk is SO good! I hope you do milk them. I usually wait til the kids are a few weeks old and put them up at night then milk in the morning. So the kids are all day with the doe. You need to use all stainless steel buckets and wash udders really good. Yes, I hand milk. 7 does. Twice a day. I finally realized why my arms and hands are so big. Goat milking muscles! And get the milk as cold as possible as soon as possible. I have a fridge in the milk room with a pan of really cold water and set the tote in their to cool as I milk.
Have you ever milked before? I always had to milk the does right away after they kid because they are so huge they need help and the kids can't drink it all fast enuf. I always worry they'll get mastitis or something. I'll milk them and freeze the colostrum in case I might need it later. Some people pull the kids from the doe and bottle feed. Been there and done that and will not do it again unless I have to. I did have to help Holly though with her triplets. Not much but did bottle feed each one a little just so I knew they were getting enuf.
I love to milk. It does tie me down but I really don't want to go anywhere too far. If you need any help at all just let me know. I am not an expert by any means, but I have done this now for almost 4 years. I have a few mentors and I am not afraid to call them at all hours. You need one or two yourself. And a good goat vet.
Let me know if you have more questions. Sadie is half Togg, too. She's my biggest doe and gives over a gallon a day so far and this is her first freshening. She had the biggest kids, too, for a FF. She sure keeps me on my toes, for sure.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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Barnyard Buddies: Oh, What's a Farmgirl To Do? |
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Oh, What's a Farmgirl To Do?
