[Jerry Beaver]

Hello all. I am new to the goat game, however I have done quite a bit of research (online and in person) Here is my quandary, I have recently purchased a 10 acre property. I do not live on it but rather I rent out the house to a tenant but I intend on using the 8.8 acre pasture to run a few goats on. I am looking at Kikos. I have been told you need to rotate goats every 21 days to break the parasite life cyce, so that leads me to believe i need to break up the pasture in to paddocks. On the otherhand I have also been told that with 8.8 acres that a paddock system in unnecessary because of the ample size for approximately 10 goats and guard donkey. The bottom line is I want to do things the right way. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[ksalvagno]

That few goats on that much acreage and the fact that you don't live there, I wouldn't bother with paddocks.

 

[Jerry Beaver]

That few goats on that much acreage and the fact that you don't live there, I wouldn't bother with paddocks.

I apologize as I wasn't clear enough in my newbie question. Although I wont physically reside on the property I do intend on being on the property daily to take care of the animals. My main concern is by not rotating grazing area will I have problems with parastite load in the heard

 

[toth boer goats]

I wouldn't worry about rotating, they will never keep up with that much acreage, with just that many goats to have to worry about it.

 

[Jerry Beaver]

T

That few goats on that much acreage and the fact that you don't live there, I wouldn't bother with paddocks.

Thank You

 

[Jerry Beaver]

I wouldn't worry about rotating, they will never keep up with that much acreage, with just that many goats to have to worry about it.

Thanks for the advice

 

[toth boer goats]

(thumbup)

 

[Jessica84]

If they are just going to be lawn mowers then no I wouldn’t worry about splitting it up. If you are going to breed these animals then I would, not because of parasites but for management. At one point you are going to want to wean kids, and also keep any replacement doelings away from a buck. I know this wasn’t why you asked the question but I remember being new and realizing my one pasture was not going to do it

 

[fivemoremiles]

If you are like me your 10 goats will rapidly grow to 100.
if that is you then plan on building paddocks. 34 day is a better rotation. start slow cut your property in half first then when you need it then split the haves in half again. then split them again tell you have a good rotation

 

[SalteyLove]

I would include a paddock/dry lot attached to their shelter that could be closed if needed to catch them for vetting or contain them during kidding season or separate some during breeding, etc. If parasites become an issue, this paddock could be large enough to dry lot them on hay for a while.

 

[Jessica84]

If you are like me your 10 goats will rapidly grow to 100.
if that is you then plan on building paddocks. 34 day is a better rotation. start slow cut your property in half first then when you need it then split the haves in half again. then split them again tell you have a good rotation

Yes! This is exactly what happened to me as well. This is also what I ended up doing. The only issue I now have is since I use those fields to keep certain bucks and does together and away from the other bucks and does it's a pain if I have a animal in the back corner pasture that I want to do something with because I have my catch pen way up front and I would have to go threw other pens to get them there. I eventually will put laneways in but for now I'm just cursing myself that I didn't plan better to start with :/

 

[Jerry Beaver]

If they are just going to be lawn mowers then no I wouldn't worry about splitting it up. If you are going to breed these animals then I would, not because of parasites but for management. At one point you are going to want to wean kids, and also keep any replacement doelings away from a buck. I know this wasn't why you asked the question but I remember being new and realizing my one pasture was not going to do it

 

[Jerry Beaver]

Thanks to everyone for the advice, I've been busy fencing the perimeter fence line, so no goats yet , hoping to have some in the spring