For some reason, I've been drawn to goats since childhood. (No Aloha Snackbar here) Unfortunately, the spouse says we can't have one as a handy back yard mower. She says they smell funny and that the German shepherds would eat it.
I've been told that the billys are the ones that really smell, something about scent glands near the horns combined with peeing on their heads to attract the lady goats.
I'm planning on a goat or two (nannies only) in the next few years possibly for milk but primarily to keep the Japanese Knotweed at the back of the yard at bay. (I seriously think it's a cross between bamboo and kudzoo, and nothing short of paving or nuking will get rid of it.)
I've read that goats can (and will) eat poison ivy without ill effect. Our local family farm doesn't have goats because they were eating the bark off the fruit trees.
I've noticed in my 69 short years in this vale of tears that any mammal one can touch without losing a limb really delights in have it's ears scratched. I even had the opportunity to scratch the ears of a snow leapard cub. It darned near turned itself inside out with delight.
I tried the same thing with a really cute blonde chick and ended up married to her. 45 years and two kids ago.
Two problems with goats as pets. A. They can and will climb nearly anything. An 8' chainlink fence topped with barbed wire is a joke to a goat. B. They will chew anything, clothes, fenceposts, you, car antennas, tires, lawns, your canoe, extension cords.
For lawn and lot maintainance get a ewe. They're cheap to have bred and, lambs are cuter'n bugs ears and can be turned into delicious chops, shanks and roasts at minimal expense. As long as you don't let your kids or grandkids give 'em names.
You can really taste the goat!
ReplyDeleteDawwww.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I've been drawn to goats since childhood. (No Aloha Snackbar here) Unfortunately, the spouse says we can't have one as a handy back yard mower. She says they smell funny and that the German shepherds would eat it.
Yep, they are cute when they belong to someone else.
ReplyDeleteI've been told that the billys are the ones that really smell, something about scent glands near the horns combined with peeing on their heads to attract the lady goats.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on a goat or two (nannies only) in the next few years possibly for milk but primarily to keep the Japanese Knotweed at the back of the yard at bay. (I seriously think it's a cross between bamboo and kudzoo, and nothing short of paving or nuking will get rid of it.)
Wonder whether they'd eat lemon balm and hollyhock without ill effect. I like 'em both in their places, but they don't stay in their places.
ReplyDeleteI've read that goats can (and will) eat poison ivy without ill effect. Our local family farm doesn't have goats because they were eating the bark off the fruit trees.
ReplyDeleteMy neighbor has goats. They sometimes make sounds that for all the world sound like a human child in distress.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent of a 7 and 5 year old the sound has caused me to flinch quite a few times thinking something has happened to one of my own children.
It's an ok trade though for living out where I can shoot in my back yard.
I've noticed in my 69 short years in this vale of tears that any mammal one can touch without losing a limb really delights in have it's ears scratched. I even had the opportunity to scratch the ears of a snow leapard cub. It darned near turned itself inside out with delight.
ReplyDeleteI tried the same thing with a really cute blonde chick and ended up married to her. 45 years and two kids ago.
Two problems with goats as pets.
ReplyDeleteA. They can and will climb nearly anything. An 8' chainlink fence topped with barbed wire is a joke to a goat.
B. They will chew anything, clothes, fenceposts, you, car antennas, tires, lawns, your canoe, extension cords.
For lawn and lot maintainance get a ewe. They're cheap to have bred and, lambs are cuter'n bugs ears and can be turned into delicious chops, shanks and roasts at minimal expense. As long as you don't let your kids or grandkids give 'em names.