GotBowAz Report post Posted September 4, 2014 Thanks for the compilments Flatlander. I have 4 pack goats and 4 pigmys I keep all togehter. I got the 4 packgoats from Southernexpress here on CWT a couple years ago. As someone mentioned above they are a lot like dogs, maybe even better. They go out of their way to work for you. They will stay where ever you are but you really need to train more than one. Should have 2 or more as they are a herd animal. Yes they do get into some mischief and there are a few things aorund their invirement to move or get rid of to keep them out of trouble. Just like the pictures from 5guyshunting they love to climb on things! Great looking goat you got there. Word of caution, I had one hang himself by the collar from a tree limb. He jumped into an orange tree to eat the leaves and must have fell out catching his collar and hanging himself. I still feel horrible about that and I removed all collars from my goats. I put them back on when we pack. One more note, do not play with their heads or horns. it might bwe cute to butt when their little but they will do it when their big and be mean as heck. I discourage any head or horns charges. Train with a squirt bottle, they hate water in thier face. I cant say enough about them as companions in the field but I would never leave them behind at camp or hunt with them. They are strictly to take my camp in and out or to haul water/provisions. Better than horses IMO as I dont have to bring feed for them. They also go into a camel like state if there isnt any water around. They will rest at your feet when you rest, get up and go when you go. They will also jump up on your tent when you go in it just to be with you so you need to high line them if your doing over night stays. The biggest labor with goats is trimming hoofs, Once you get the technique down it isnt so bad but it needs to be done once a month unless they are on hard rocky gornad to keep the trimed. Mine are in pasture areas full of burmuda grass. At this time of the year I dont feed them, they eat the grass and i give them a mineral lick. Winter time I hay them. very low maintnece IMO. Dogs are worse. FYI, dogs are goats number one killer. They do not mix well unless raised around them and goats will attcak a dog. with that said I plan to raise a smooth Jack Russle around them within the next year or so. we will see how that works out. Good luck, if you have any question feel free to PM me. GBA 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lonne Report post Posted September 5, 2014 Mmmmmm...birria Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted September 5, 2014 Great info gotbowaz! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted September 5, 2014 The goat learning curve is a steep one, GotBowAz gives good advice. At one point I raised sheep in NM, an old farmer convinced me to always have a goat in with them, for some reason, sheep follow goats like the pied piper. And also, predators and dogs tend to take out the goat first in a herd. Bang on a metal bucket before you feed them goats, if ever they get loose they'll come to that sound.. I've never packed with them, but they are climbing machines. Wonder what their weight to pack weight ratio is? Have fun, spend lots of time with them. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GotBowAz Report post Posted September 5, 2014 My 2 males can pack 50 pounds apiece, they are over 200lbs each I could probably go a little more for short hikes but I don’t recommend it. With that being said I try to spread the weight out so they are never over burdened. If I had to pack an elk out of a nasty hole they are going to get a workout. Speaking of which, they are just like us, they need to be taken out with light weights and worked up to heavier weights to get into shape for a huge haul. My goats have had a nice long cushy summer break and are out of shape...well I guess round is a shape! LOL anyway I will be starting them out with just their saddles and a couple water bottles in a month or so and start them on their way getting back into shape. One more thing to note: it is said their backs are not fully developed until they reach 3 years old. Up until that time you should pack them very light specially during training. Edge is right, but instead of a bucket I take a little grain (dry Cob) and put it in a small Folgers can half full. When I want them to follow me to put them in another yard or get them in the trailer I can get the while herd coming to me with a little shake of the can. They will run you down to get to it. Then I will treat each one a hand full of grain once i have them where I want them. BTW Edge, we used fainting goats in the sheep herds back in Michigan. They get spooked they go paralyzed and get killed before the sheep do. They were cheap when i was a kid. You could buy a fainter for 10 bucks. I still know a lady that raises them, she has close to 150. Once in the field having goats following you is not an issue, you are the Alfa in their herd so they will go where you go. They will not let you leave them if they aren’t high lined. Also, if one gets hung up or behind another will let you know it. They are generally quiet on the trail but are very vocal when something isn’t right. GBA 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted September 5, 2014 Interesting stuff. I can certainly see advantages goats have over pack horses and vice versa. Humping it up and over the Mogollon Rim with 2 1/4 tons of horse flesh isn't cheap. And goats can eat a lot of things along a trail you wouldn't want your horse eating. The myotonic episodes in fainting goats is similar to HYPP mutations in horses carrying the gene. What kind of lead works best? I've seen them goats chew thru nylon in no time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GotBowAz Report post Posted September 8, 2014 Edge, unless I’m high lining or a dog is on the trail coming at us I don’t use leads too much. I do keep them handy though. The leads I use are nylon and generally the goats are too busy picking at things along the trail or at camp to be much interested in the leads attached to them. I use the leads most to get them in and out of the trailer and to get the saddles and panniers on. I tie them separately to a bush and their content picking away at it. Once I have them all seddled up I remove the leads and they quickly get in their pecking order and follow me whereever I go. GBA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Edge Report post Posted September 8, 2014 I'm lovin it. Find myself wanting to give em a try. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heat Report post Posted September 8, 2014 Very cool, I could use a couple of them from time to time! Word of caution, goats can potentially carry disease into wild sheep populations. Not saying your goats are sick or you are going to get wild sheep sick, but that is a consideration when packing with those critters into country that wild sheep inhabit. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted September 8, 2014 Very cool, I could use a couple of them from time to time! Word of caution, goats can potentially carry disease into wild sheep populations. Not saying your goats are sick or you are going to get wild sheep sick, but that is a consideration when packing with those critters into country that wild sheep inhabit. Some guy let a bunch of them go in 37A a few years ago and ended up killing several sheep, If I remember correctly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
