Saving scraps for the goats, to bring when we go out to the homestead

[SimplyL]

We started saving our fruit and veg scraps for the goats, when we go to the homestead.
The ones that I know our family goats like to eat in small quantities at a time. There's approx 15 goats now, so bringing a bagful per trip splits between them with no issue.

At our former rentals, we were composting. I made one from a beige rubbermaid that worked really well. Found on a children's website. Hair from our brushes, eggshells, food scraps.. I got away from that when we moved (I do recycle quite a bit, so much that we usually only have 3/4 bag of trash per week curbside). So, it's nice to be still finding a useful way of ridding of it. I may still start a small composter here, as not everything will survive between trips. I don't want to give the goats anything rotten, so I've been taking those out.

Just wanted to pose as an idea for those that may not have a farm but know of someone. Provided you're washing everything really well beforehand, small amounts of the fruit and veg scraps can be really nice for them. My in laws do this every few days, as a routine. It's especially a fun thing for the kids to get involved with.

[The Storyteller]

We just sold our last 2 goats. But ours loved the leaves and branches from when we trimmed bushes and trees on our town property.

We have just made an inroad into the local Muslim community, just as we ran out of goats. We are going to restock with a larger herd in preparation for next year. We could develop into the go-to source, which could mean a couple hundred goats a year. Nice supplement for the poultry side of our farm.

[Float On]

Ohh SL, I'd love to see a photo of your goats. I'd like to have a couple, have a 1/2 acre lot next to our house I'd like to clean out.
I have two compost bins built out of pallets and leave access for the chickens to get in there and work the piles for me. I always leave a bit of fruit (strawberries, mellons, watermelon) down low because I have three turtles that visit the compost every day during the summer as well.
There are minature horses and donkeys across the fence behind our property. They come up the hill every couple of days looking for treats from me. Anytime they find a way out of the 100+ year old fence they head for my property (I think I have a reputation in the herd).

[iris lily]

I insist on photos! Must. have. photos of goats. Preferably, baby goats!

[The Storyteller]

I insist on photos! Must. have. photos of goats. Preferably, baby goats!

1035

[SimplyL]

lol! I have a few on my blog, will see if I can post the others on this thread later, because there's some that wouldn't upload to the blog that are really cute! The goats are really for the whole family, in laws and aunt/uncle take care of them. Their fence line goes from our back field to behind SIL's and then back behind Aunt/Uncles. Once we build a perm. home out there, we'll have to adjust the fencing to accomodate a long driveway. However, they'll still have plenty of room to roam! Many acres between all of those back fields. They are hilarious and stare a lot! So, it's pretty easy to get photos of them, when they're in our back field. No babies right now. However, they brought a male over. I think there should be babies early part of next year, if all goes well? They are so sweet. They'll climb right up in your lap, if you sit down. They individually, all have their own personalities. And there's something so neat about watching them walk all in line, by family grouping.

[Packy]

I'm interested in basic info on keeping goats, as pets and to curb vegetation on my fenced acreage. I've heard that they require clean, clean water at all times, and need to live in a herd of at least several individual animals. That, is about all I know. A neighbor(since moved) used to have pygmy goats, which were interesting(and cute), but said neighbor moved before I could ask about how to-- on maintaining them. That said, I'll also look online...

[goldensmom]

Goats are easy to raise and fun to watch. They eat most any vegetation (garden clean up) but we fed them oats, molasses and hay daily. They’ve also eaten my gloves and chewed on my jacket. We’ve had 1 to 10 at a time. The babies are cute and even though they are gangly little creatures they do cuddle and nuzzle. Adult goat are strong. I’ve been drug by a goat while leading it when it got the notion to run and pulled me to the ground and I’ve been head butted. They are climbers and jumpers. We had to have a 6’ fence around the goat run or they would jump over it. Overall, goats are fun.

[iris lily]

1035


awww, very sweet! Delightful!

[SimplyL]

1036

Here's my favorite. She comes right up to us, and we're convinced she is listening to every word that we say. This past year, she grew her horns. Baby is all grown up!

[SimplyL]

1037

Here's another favorite.

[SimplyL]

1038

Here's a funny one. We were leaving, a few months ago. Notice on the way out, that they've climbed onto a fallen tree (from recent storm) behind SIL's field. So, I walked up to take a closer shot.. and the one that is the farthest to the right (black and white), was nudging and yelling at the others. The way that he was making noise, I promise, it really sounded like 'Mooove'