goats and ditches

adne

Thinking of getting a goat or two and tying them along ditches that are becoming overgrown with briars / weeds.

Anyone done similar. Any downsides that I'm missing

mikeoh

you wont be able to turn on electric fence for about a year till job is done

adne

mikeoh wrote: »

you wont be able to turn on electric fence for about a year till job is done

No worries there. Don't have electric fence that the reason getting these guys in to clear a way.

49801

often thought about having a length of chain running parallel to ditch anchored at both ends and have a metal hoop that with a couple feet more of chain to keep an automatic ditch cleaner on its job:rolleyes:

Dupont

itl be alright till you come out and find it strangled to death:rolleyes:

reilig

Dupont wrote: »

itl be alright till you come out and find it strangled to death:rolleyes:

Ah I doubt that would happen. Goats are pretty durable and usually smart enough not to get tangled. A proper collar would leave them pretty secure at the end of a light chain (don't use a rope as they will eat through it!

When we were young, we had 2 milkers kept on a chain and peg and they always kept the ditches well cleaned. They always had the most amazing flavoured milk because of the organic leaves and plants in the hedges.

BeeDI

reilig wrote: »

Ah I doubt that would happen. Goats are pretty durable and usually smart enough not to get tangled. A proper collar would leave them pretty secure at the end of a light chain (don't use a rope as they will eat through it!

When we were young, we had 2 milkers kept on a chain and peg and they always kept the ditches well cleaned. They always had the most amazing flavoured milk because of the organic leaves and plants in the hedges.

The ragwort, and docks, and creeping thistle:D Now we are blasting the whole lot of tham away, with stuff made by ICI or the likes:cool:

mikeoh

cattle will go stone mad when they see goats first,out over walls , knock fences etc especially if one is a puck..................good idea is to let them see each other while cattle in sheds over winter once they get to know each other ...unseperable

Dupont

reilig wrote: »

Ah I doubt that would happen. Goats are pretty durable and usually smart enough not to get tangled. A proper collar would leave them pretty secure at the end of a light chain (don't use a rope as they will eat through it!

When we were young, we had 2 milkers kept on a chain and peg and they always kept the ditches well cleaned. They always had the most amazing flavoured milk because of the organic leaves and plants in the hedges.

i suppose they wouldnt be as lively as dogs but seen a dog that it happened to:(

dasheriff

I think this is a good idea lads thinking of doing it myself but is a goat a goat or would ye recommend a particular breed etc..also whats the story with them for the winter..

djmc

Dogs would not be as agile either you wouldnt see dogs chasing these goats
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1320728/Herd-mountain-goats-climb-160ft-near-vertical-Cingino-dam-Italian-Alps.html

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/glanceview/128271/goats-climb-near-vertical-dam-wall.glance

Vandy West

Would goats eat briars/wynns if they had a choice between grass and briars/wynns?

tommy2bad

Vandy West wrote: »

Would goats eat briars/wynns if they had a choice between grass and briars/wynns?

Goats will eat you if they get the chance.
They go for ivy first and will climb to get it. Any weed and briar will be eaten then the bark ans all young saplings.
The ditch will have holes that you ll spend your life fencing.

They could strangle if they fall over/through the ditch and theirs a drop, so watch for that. Old bucket handle bent into a u shape with chain to join it around the neck is the trad way of thedering them.

lakill Farm

get a hedgecutter in and forget the goats . They will ruin every fence in the place. I had experience with 2 goats belonging to my nephew.

As above they loved going into the slatted shed with the cattle. They would jump through the barrier and wait for the meal and were never real bullies either. Sold the 2 for him before christmas, the nephew still doesnt know there sold.