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Post by princessferf on Jul 11, 2017 17:52:35 GMT
Here's a little background. We live on 7 acres in the SE portion of Wisconsin. A farmer rents 5 acres from us and plants alfalfa for his dairy cows.
On our farm we have 3 dogs, 4 cats, 20 chickens, 9 turkeys... and yesterday we added 1 goat.
Since January of this year, I have been partnering with "the pound" in Milwaukee and other humane societies as a "farm placement partner". That means, when they get a farm critter turned in (usually through the police) we are one of the farms who will take them. As part of the agreement, there is no formal vetting done of the animal by the shelter, there is no adoption fee and we take ownership of the animal. We can rehome it to another location or keep it. We can also turn an animal down if we can't take it - for whatever reason.
Since we started farm placement, we have taken in one rooster (Cluck Norris - name given by shelter). The other calls I've gotten are for pot belly pigs, but we are not setup for pigs right now.
Sunday night I got a text from one of the other farm placement partners that the Milwaukee pound was looking to place a young goat. It was found as a stray and neighbors said it had been wandering around for several days.
So I got very little information on him (male, feet hurt, skinny). So I picked up a dewormer and a few other things I knew we needed for him. I picked him up after work last night and he's a bit of a hot mess.
He's skinny, not castrated, not disbudded, hooves need trimming, green snot coming out of his nose and he won't put any weight on one of his back legs. I scooped him right up and knew he needed to get home to start his healing. The only good thing right now is his appetite and his droppings.
I gave him a treat of alfalfa in the truck that I cut from our field. He LOVED it. He was quiet and very well behaved. I assumed that he was super stressed out and not feeling well. Once at home, we got him settled into his pen and house. He doesn't like being alone at all, but right now he's the only goat we have. The turkeys, chickens and cats were mildly interested in him. The dogs were very interested and ended up with a goat head-butt from being TOO interested.
So I gave him a dose of dewormer, a shot of penicillin, a pile of alfalfa and a nice bucket of water. He took to his house easily and also loved the leaves on our weeping willow tree.
Tomorrow we see the livestock vet to find out what's going on with the green snot and his back leg. Also, to discuss having him castrated. We've named him Charlie. He's a city-goat no more. I'm looking forward to seeing him enjoy the good life!!!
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Post by here to stay on Jul 11, 2017 21:29:29 GMT
Goat minerals. He probably could use more copper. And, if your are feeding any alfalfa, a free choice feeder of baking soda. And some vinegar in his water. @redfish, is right, urinary calculi are a real threat to male goats. Of course this is super opinionated and pushy of me but I'm hoping that 'discussing' castration means when, not if. A buck in full stink will make your eyes water and surrounding flowers shrivel and die.  Good luck with him. I hope you can get him well soon. If you haven't had goats before and he turns out to be a character, you're in for some real belly laughs. They are curious, personable, sometimes pain in the butt entertainers. Oh and they love weeds. Also roses, lilac bushes, vegetable, berry vines, etc. |
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Post by princessferf on Jul 12, 2017 15:00:52 GMT
 Charlie update: We saw the livestock vet this morning. Summary: He is approximately 1 year old. In that time he has never had his hooves trimmed. The hooves are curling under in some spots. His horns are brittle and flaky from not having proper minerals in his diet. Vet thinks he probably never had mineral supplements. He weighs 34 pounds but should be at least 50. His leg doesn’t appear to be broken, but could possibly have a hairline fracture. There is some swelling in the leg. Could also be a ligament injury. He has pneumonia. The vet trimmed his hooves and we will be able to keep up on it going forward. He’s had a shot of antibiotics to treat the pneumonia. He also had his immunizations against common goat diseases and tetanus. He’s on an anti-inflammatory for his leg. He’s starting on minerals today and of course all the alfalfa he can eat. He will be given a small amount of grains, too. The vet fully expects him to be “right as rain” over the next couple of months. He will be castrated in August once he's feeling better and has put on some more weight. |
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Post by here to stay on Jul 12, 2017 15:36:24 GMT
Aw. I hope you get the picture snafu fixed soon. I can't wait to see him. He sure lucked out that you took him in. Frankly goats are hard to place as many think if them as having no value.
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Post by here to stay on Jul 12, 2017 15:57:01 GMT
princessferf, I clicked on the icon and then on one of the choice -google search. It took me to your facebook page with maybe more info than you wanted available. Anyway Charlie is a lovely Saanan and his house is very nice.
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Post by princessferf on Jul 12, 2017 20:10:24 GMT
Thank you so much for the additional advice! I have no doubt he'll improve each day and end up spoiled rotten.
He's also eating grass, weeds and weeping willow tree leaves.
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Post by princessferf on Jul 12, 2017 20:13:03 GMT
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Post by dustawaits on Jul 12, 2017 20:15:01 GMT
Totally agree with @redfish, get him off alfalfa!! Urinary calculi is a very painful death.
Grass hay with all that grass. Minerals by all means.
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Post by Woodpecker on Jul 12, 2017 20:39:14 GMT
Such a cute little guy. He looks content and I can tell he's loved a lot! He's going to be waiting for a buddy😍
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Post by princessferf on Jul 13, 2017 13:46:32 GMT
I can't tell you how many years it took DH to come on board with goats. Since our intention is to rescue and provide "sanctuary" to livestock (to the extent we are able) I have no doubt another goat will come to us. I'm hoping its before winter. In the meantime, Charlie has healing to do.
On a side note, our coonhound Maggie LOVES the goat. Our two smaller dogs are very interested, too. As soon as the dogs are let out of the house, they run directly to the goat pen. I am predicting that once Charlie the goat is feeling better that he and the coonhound will be playing in the yard (1/2 acre fenced in area).
Here to stay: Thanks for the recommendation on his breed. The shelter thought he was Pygmy, but he seemed too big for that. I think he is a Saanen as you suggested. That means we'll have a big boy eventually.
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Post by shellymay on Jul 13, 2017 13:56:13 GMT
X3 on NO or very little alfalfa hay.......He sure is cute and it is great of you to take him in and see to it he gets real care and all his needs are met  |
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Post by here to stay on Jul 13, 2017 13:59:42 GMT
LOL I didn't realize he was so small. I just went by his picture. Most pygmies have very widely spaced eyes, round forehead, a very dished face and short nose. Charlie's seemed narrower and longer to me. So I just said Saanan.
Well whatever he is, he's very handsome.
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Post by princessferf on Jul 14, 2017 16:16:26 GMT
After looking up information on Saanen goats, he has a lot of their characteristics. He's just overall smaller. Could he just be smaller due to the lack of care?
BTW, he will be castrated in August once he's gained more weight and is feeling better. We will also greatly reduce his alfalfa and just let him graze around the weeds (which there are LOTS) and grasses. There is some alfalfa growing in that mix, but only a small portion compared to the grasses.
Oh... and he LOVES bindweed! That's weed is my nemesis and I was so happy to see him gobble it down. Woo Hoo!!!!
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Post by here to stay on Jul 14, 2017 16:27:36 GMT
Yes, the weed eating is my favorite aspect of goats. They not only eat them but prefer them. So, even in places I don't let them graze, like the veggie garden, they are always hanging near the fence because they know I pitch over many of the weeds I pull for them to eat. Never gets old for me to see such excitement over weeds. Also tree trimmings. You just have to know what is bad for them and there is little in that catagory.
30 lbs is pretty small for a yearling Saanan. I suppose he could be very stunted or simply naturally small. But he could be a cross too although he doesn't look it either. Maybe a Nigerian cross.
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Post by here to stay on Jul 14, 2017 16:31:20 GMT
Oh, I just saw a website for some people breeding mini saanans. Maybe that's his background.
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Post by PNP Katahdins on Jul 15, 2017 23:36:02 GMT
We have sheep, not goats, but I think he will need a booster pretty quick on that shot he had for tetanus and goat diseases. Was it something like CD/T, the most common one around this part of the country? He can have that when he gets castrated.
Congrats to Charlie on his new digs. Bless your heart for what you are doing.
Peg
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Post by princessferf on Jul 17, 2017 13:21:49 GMT
We have sheep, not goats, but I think he will need a booster pretty quick on that shot he had for tetanus and goat diseases. Was it something like CD/T, the most common one around this part of the country? He can have that when he gets castrated. Congrats to Charlie on his new digs. Bless your heart for what you are doing. Peg Yes, his vaccine was CD/T. The vet will be coming out in August to castrate him. I will ask for a booster at that time. We also plan on having him micro-chipped. |
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Post by princessferf on Jul 17, 2017 13:32:19 GMT
I have a follow-up question relating to storing hay grass. I've been watching some videos where people cut and bale by hand for small volumes. I'm game to do this to supplement any hay we purchase for the winter.
My question is, do you just cut the "wild" grasses + weeds and consider it "hay grass"? The majority is long grass but there are at least 30% random weeds in there, too.
As a follow-up to Charlie's health:
1. The pneumonia seems to be gone. I haven't heard him cough once since Friday morning.
2. He's getting grains/minerals once per day and loves it. He rarely leaves anything left in the dish.
3. He's definitely putting some weight on. We have him out on supervised grazing each day and that guy eats so much I don't know how he didn't make himself sick! He mostly eats grass, but loves bindweed. He's eaten tons of weeds and I'm doing my best to keep him off my garden beds.
4. His leg is a little better and he's taken the last dose of the anti-inflammatory. He does put some weight on it, but he still limps and is quite careful about using it much.
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Post by princessferf on Jul 17, 2017 14:28:46 GMT
Thank you, Redfish. I know I'm probably over-thinking this some, but I want to do the right things for him.... and I'm learning!
After raising poultry for 11 years, I feel "experienced". With goats? I'm a total N00B (newbie).
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Post by here to stay on Jul 17, 2017 14:46:08 GMT
Thank you, Redfish. I know I'm probably over-thinking this some, but I want to do the right things for him.... and I'm learning! After raising poultry for 11 years, I feel "experienced". With goats? I'm a total N00B (newbie). Very proper. I thought that decades of having horses fitted me for goats but I had (am still having?) a learning curve when I got my first two anyway. Care of a ruminant is different. And goats are different than most ruminants. My impression is that goat care is less complicated than horse care but what is important is much more important. Goats react much faster but their problems are more hidden. |
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Post by princessferf on Jul 17, 2017 18:04:46 GMT
Thank you, Redfish. I know I'm probably over-thinking this some, but I want to do the right things for him.... and I'm learning! After raising poultry for 11 years, I feel "experienced". With goats? I'm a total N00B (newbie). Very proper. I thought that decades of having horses fitted me for goats but I had (am still having?) a learning curve when I got my first two anyway. Care of a ruminant is different. And goats are different than most ruminants. My impression is that goat care is less complicated than horse care but what is important is much more important. Goats react much faster but their problems are more hidden. Yes, that seems to be what I've been reading, too. While I have lots more to learn, I'm grateful that little Charlie has a sweet personality. Tonight I'll have to post some updated pictures of the little fellow. |
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Post by princessferf on Jul 18, 2017 1:41:19 GMT
Looks like his leg is feeling a little better!  |
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Post by princessferf on Jul 18, 2017 1:43:03 GMT
Hello, will you pet me more?  |
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Post by here to stay on Jul 18, 2017 2:06:31 GMT
Made me laugh out loud. Thank you.
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Post by oma2three on Jul 18, 2017 4:28:08 GMT
What a pretty little guy.Bless you for taking him and giving him all the care he needs.Hopefully he fills out soon and be totally healthy.
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Post by Woodpecker on Jul 18, 2017 13:49:25 GMT
Sure looks like he's doing better, such a cutie. I could pet that little face for a long time!
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Post by princessferf on Jul 18, 2017 17:37:15 GMT
Oh, we sat on the patio again last night and he got lots of scratches (after eating about 6,000 pounds of weeds, LOL). He's doing well with his grains and minerals, too. He gets 1 cup of grain per day with 1 TBSP of goat minerals mixed in. He finishes almost all of it.
When he's out browsing, its so funny. He's like a kid at a never-ending buffet. He doesn't know what to eat first! I am noticing that he has some weeds that are "favorites" beyond grasses. And then there's plants that he sniffs and doesn't bother with at all, especially thorny weeds.
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Post by wildhorseluvr on Jul 19, 2017 0:03:04 GMT
Each goat has different tastes, but it also depends on what stage of growth the plant is at. For instance, mine will eat thistle blossoms but not the plant itself unless they are very hard up. They will also eat knapweed to the ground when it first comes up but once it grows stems, they don't eat it til if flowers and then only the flower. It'll probably change a bit if you get another goat, too. Then you get the whole "I don't really want it but YOU are most certainly not going to get it!" thing going on. My goats at one point would not touch their mineral. So I removed the mineral from their pen for a few days, then walked in the pen one afternoon with some mineral in a coffee can. I held it up above their heads and refused to let them have any for about 15 minutes. Finally let one goat have a smidgen of mineral from my hand. The other goats were soon fighting amongst themselves for who got to have the next taste. When I finally put the mineral back in their pen, it was a rare delicacy. Goat Psychology 101. BTW, Charlie is really cute! My guess is a Nigerian cross. |
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Post by here to stay on Jul 19, 2017 1:32:15 GMT
My goats eat some of one thing then move to another, even if the first thing is a real goody. They seem to like variety. A bit if this a bit of that.
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Post by princessferf on Jul 19, 2017 12:53:49 GMT
Each goat has different tastes, but it also depends on what stage of growth the plant is at. For instance, mine will eat thistle blossoms but not the plant itself unless they are very hard up. They will also eat knapweed to the ground when it first comes up but once it grows stems, they don't eat it til if flowers and then only the flower. It'll probably change a bit if you get another goat, too. Then you get the whole "I don't really want it but YOU are most certainly not going to get it!" thing going on. My goats at one point would not touch their mineral. So I removed the mineral from their pen for a few days, then walked in the pen one afternoon with some mineral in a coffee can. I held it up above their heads and refused to let them have any for about 15 minutes. Finally let one goat have a smidgen of mineral from my hand. The other goats were soon fighting amongst themselves for who got to have the next taste. When I finally put the mineral back in their pen, it was a rare delicacy. Goat Psychology 101. BTW, Charlie is really cute! My guess is a Nigerian cross. Wildhorselover, that is HILARIOUS!!! No different than Child Psychology 101. |
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