Neighbor bought a bunch of goats today....

[countrymom22]

While I was cooking dinner I noticed the neighbor and a friend of his walking through the field next door. In the past, he has typically rented the pasture out to a local farmer who has run Dexter cattle or Suffolk sheep on it from spring through fall. Last year for some reason, the neighbor, who is not interested in farming, bought his own sheep from an auction, and proceeded to kill half of them due to what he says was parasites. I'll admit to not knowing much about sheep, but I do know that you need to rotate dewormers, but he wasn't worming at all. And the sheep he bought were all different ages so he probably brought a heavy parasite load home with the older animals that then killed the younger ones.

So , I was wondering when the sheep would arrive, or were they bringing cows this year. After dinner, I went out to collect the eggs and lock the chickens up and noticed that he bought at least 10 Boer goat kids. Now, this pasture is green and lush, but there is no browse at all. So I'm wondering if these goats have any chance at survival as the owner isn't the smartest guy going. He raises these animals strictly for farm land assessment purposes, not because he has suddenly decided to homestead or farm.

I typically don't like to tell others that what they are doing is wrong, so I don't want to say anything to this guy if the goats are going to be okay.  If he runs true to form, he will not be supplementing with hay or grain.  The animals purpose are to mow the grass and then bring in enough money at auction in the fall to make the minimum he needs to produce to retain his farm land assessment.  He never carries any animals over winter as he doesn't want to bother caring for them in the cold. This is the same guy who had a lamb screaming for a day and a half and never went out to investigate why.  The lamb had gotten out and couldn't get back into the pasture.  No one lives on the property, so we had to round up the lamb and get him back inside.  Not fun to do at dusk on the highway a week after major surgery!

So you can see why I'm a little worried.  What are the odds that these poor critters will be okay? 

[here to stay]

It depends on the fencing whether they stay or not for him to find out. My Boers are very good grass mowers although they do like variety.

[Skandi]

I've never seen goats on browse here they are always on grass, I doubt that will be the issue that kills them.

[countrymom22]

Thanks for the info. He does have excellent fence as he hired professionals to put it up.

The little things are just so darned cute that I just don't want anything to happen to them!

[countrymom22]

Well, the hopeful feelings didn't even last 48 hours. When I went out to feed this morning I heard a goat bleating, obviously very upset. Yes, he was stuck in the fence. So I called the number I had for the owner. No answer. Didn't really expect to get him as he doesn't live on the property. So hubby had his cell number, but still no answer. We didn't want to interfere for a number of reasons, but after another hour had passed, during which we kept an eye on the goat, who was not struggling, we went over an got the poor thing unstuck. The owner never even called us to check in. So an hour after my hubby left for work, another goat gets its head stuck. Same result with the phone calls. So I went back again to get that one out. That was more than 6 hours ago and we still haven't heard from the owner.

These poor things are in for a long summer! So are we!

[here to stay]

I'm sorry but you're probably right. A horned goat and a fence with large enough openings are a problem. He can remedy it in a couple of ways but apparently he is not interested.

@redfish, according to the first post, he wants to sell them on, not breed them. But I suspect they will surprise him too on that account.

countrymom22, is he willing to have his "fence guy" run a hot wire around the inside and use a solar charger? If it's just money rather than his personal attention, a strategically placed hot wire will help. But what happens to these goats who get stuck on the fence lines away from your place? Will animal control take an interest?

[dustawaits]

Boers eat more grass than browse. Dairy goats eat more browse than grass if they have the choice..
If he does not worm these kids , he will have the same problem them as he did with the sheep.

He knows you will take care of things..........

[princessferf]

Good grief! That's frustrating. There probably isn't a great answer to any of it and this guy clearly doesn't give a rat's hiney about what happens to these animals. I'm sure he doesn't even know what the proper care these animals (and those before them) need and doesn't want to learn.

ARGH.

Every night when I do chores for our own animals, I think about the animals across the world who are suffering due to no fault of their own, but at the hands of a human who doesn't care about their basic needs.

[countrymom22]

Over the weekend we had to help 2 more goats stuck in the fence. I have told him to cut down the sticker bushes and mow around the outside of the fence, at least twice now. I have also told him about running the hot wire. I don't know if he'll do it or not. I hope he learned his lesson about worming after last year's sheep fiasco. Hubby also told him when he called to tell him that a goat was stuck while I was gone and my hubby needed the owners help to free the goat, but he didn't even say thank you!

Some people just shouldn't have animals!

[shellymay]

Please take pictures of these goats getting stuck, take pictures with a current dated newspaper or something, you never know if this neighbor will say you are the one killing his animals, folks who don't care are unpredictable..... But keep after him every time one gets stuck even if you just leave a message on his phone, maybe the issues with the goats getting stuck will cause him to sell them now and replace with a hornless animal, cows or something? Those goats are lucky you are the neighbor, it is a sad situation your in, those goats would die of dehydration or starve if someone wasn't getting them unstuck in a timely manner.... Also one of the top reasons for a parasite BLOOM in livestock is stress and surely these goats are experiencing lots of that now.....Do you know if they have water available to them? a pond or anything?

[Maura]

Shellymay has a good idea. You can use the photos when you call the police on animal neglect/cruelty

[countrymom22]

They do have water available, and in the last few days they have stopped getting stuck. I think it's because he has thrown a cow into the mix and the goats are in shock! They are staying as far away from the cow as possible, and staying in a tight bunch. They aren't even making any noise now, but I see them grazing and someone has been coming over in the evening and "visiting" with the cow.

My only concern now is that the pasture has really grown up with all the rain we are having, so I can't see the goats as easily as before, but I know I'll hear them if they get into trouble. And of course the cow, which looks like a scotch highland mix, has horns, though they are too wide and thick for the fence to be an issue, thank goodness!

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Oh, just so you know, the owner isn't purposely neglectful or abusive, he's just incredibly dumb about animals. That includes his own dog!

[princessferf]

May 16, 2018 23:49:22 GMT countrymom22 said:

Oh, just so you know, the owner isn't purposely neglectful or abusive, he's just incredibly dumb about animals. That includes his own dog!

That can be just as dangerous.  Well-meaning, but the animals don't get basic care.

Thank you for helping them.

[countrymom22]

They are a bunch of cute little critters and the kids are just adorable! Had to get two more out of the fence today, so I got a real good look at the whole herd. I don't think they're full Boer, some might not be Boer at all. They are small in size though bright eyed and happy. They all have horns though.

All I can do is keep an eye on them, and keep an ear out. They have no problem letting me know when one is in trouble! I think the neighbors biggest issue is that the place is a business and the employees are often off site, as it is a barn restoration business. And with no one living there, the animals are alone most of the time. I don't think the employees who are on the other side of the property have anything to do with the animals.

The cow that is in with them now is very friendly with people, but the goats don't offer her much company as they get as far from her as possible!

[aoconnor]

It sounds like your neighbor might be trying to keep an ag exemption property. They don’t have to pay as much property tax if it’s exempt.

You are a blessing to those animals. I feel badly that they are in-cared for by the owner. What a jerk, just my opinion!!