anyone have goats?

[Ginevive]

I think that I have seen the cutest living being on the planet.. my friend just got a few new goats on her farm. Now, most of them are the normal, large goats that everyone is familiar with; they are cute of course. But she has this one little female that is just super awesome; she has little tiny horns (more like nubbins, really) and is maybe twice the height of a large housecat.. I am in love!! Has anyone ever had any experience keeping these little guys? I am not sure, it might be a nubian, but I will hav to look it up.. can they safely be stalled with horses, or would a small area for them be better; or could they just have the run of the main area of the barn when not outdoors?
I am just shooting for ideas; my landlord did mention that he had goats years ago here, though the shelter they used is now our horses' run-in shelter, I am sure some converting could be done. Turns out, that adorable little nanny goat my friend has, is preggo.. maybe I can convince Mark of their coolness when little babies arrive?

[recycling goddess]

i'm no help... sorry

[SarahMB]

Well I can't help much, but I'll share what I remember. We had goats, and they were kept in their own yard with a small barn and chicken coop.
They were some of the sweetest animals on our farm, and I spent a lot of time playing with them. The babies always called me "mama", so I loved that.
We also kept our 4H sheep in the goat yard during the winter.

[Aric]

Ive never had a positive experience with a goat before, somehow I always end up in a tree.

[TekWarren]

My family raised pygmy goats for several years we did a little breeding but not much. Mostly they were for 4-H shows. I still remember having a bunch of friends over for a bonfire the night one decided to give birth. One came out fine and the other I rip open the sack for and wasn't moving to start...turned out to be fine though. We never kept them with other animals but we did always have two or more.

[Ginevive]

thanks.. I think maybe it was a pygmy goat?

[jknudson]

My uncle had pygmy goats, they are goofy little clowns. They would play a little too rough from time to time, and don't care whether they were eating a treat or your shirt.

[Kristy]

OH we had pygmys the whole time I was growing up. I love them. They are so awesome. I actually delivered two babies and saved the mothers life when I was 9 years old, by myself. Those babies followed me everywhere from morning until night (when they were in the barn).
We also had alpines, nubians, nubian x pygmys.

They are very sweet. I am sure they would be a blast for you. If you have an questions let me know. What I can't answer my mom will be able to. Also, if you like those, you should look into fainting goats.

[slartibartfast]

I grew up with dairy goats and just love them. I can't wait until I can afford to buy land outside of town.

The thing about goats is that they are tremendously assertive little social climbers, and they will walk all over you if you give them half a chance. You need to be a fairly assertive owner to have any peace with them.

Also, they are beyond challenging to fence securely. They will find the smallest holes and wiggle through, and jump gates that look impossibly high.

If you are prepared to deal with both of those problems, the rest of the husbandry is pretty easy.

[TekWarren]

I can attest to their cleverness. If you do get some give them "toys" to play with haha. If want to be both awed and laugh your head off give them a nice rock pile using large stone...it was always a blast watching them climb or play "king of the mountain"