I'm going to THROTTLE that man!

[Miniv]

Our neighbor, Dave, came back from hauling a horse to California and stopped to see his parents and sister in Redding.

He calls me from Grants Pass, Oregon (you note that he is safely away from Redding by then.) and informs me he has "a little something" in his trailer for me!

A GOAT!

It's a de-horned (thank goodness) still intact (unfortunately) Half Pygmy/Half Fainting BILLY GOAT!

The poor little thing is in a stall in our barn under a heat lamp shivering in this horrid cold snap we are experiencing! It's a California goat and not used to below zero temps at night, for crying out loud.

Now I have to wait to get some fencing put in that's "goat-proof" AND set up a water trough out there low enough that he can reach! He is a tiny little begger!

KATHY! (MINISAREMIGHTY) IF YOU ARE OUT THERE I NEED YOU! LOL!

MA

 

[runamuk]

Now I have to wait to get some fencing put in that's "goat-proof" 

MA

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Good luck with that

nothing like gifts during the holiday season

 

[Hosscrazy]

Uh...nothing like surprises...

It's been in the mid 50's here, so obviously a bit cooler in Redding -- but still...

Glad you're warming him up a bit... good luck?

Liz R.

 

[ClickMini]

MA:

You take care of the goat! No! You take care of the goat!

LOL! I can just see it now.

 

[Shari]

But MA... his heart was in the right place. And who better to take care of this cute little goat!

But of course.. get him fixed as soon as you can or everything on your place is going to smell strongly of goat!!

Humm... pictures when you can.

 

[Ashley]

Just an idea to keep him warm. This is what we do with our babies.

Get a cardboard box. Cut the top of, cut a hole in the side he can fit in. Put some straw in the bottom, and set it under the heat lamp. He should go in there and the box helps keep the heat more confined.

HOw old is he?

 

[littlehorse2]

I take care of a big horse and his 2 goat friends. They have blankets for the goats and they don't seem to chew them off. Just a thought.

Christy

 

[Miniv]

Just an idea to keep him warm. This is what we  do with our babies.
Get a cardboard box.  Cut the top of, cut a hole in the side he can fit in.  Put some straw in the bottom, and set it under the heat lamp. He should go in there and the box helps keep the heat more confined.

HOw old is he?

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Thanks Ashley. I think we have a large enough box I can use.

He's supposed to be about 2 years old. He's obviously had some handling and he is supposed to like horses. Dave took him because his niece didn't want him anymore and was sending him to an auction and Dave didn't think that was a good idea.....then he said he thought of ME.

MA

 

[Ashley]

Well at that age, he will have to be fixed by a vet. THey fix them just like they would a steer, cut, pull, snap. Thats it. I would recomend they give them some pain killer first. We had a yearling goat done this year............never felt so sorry for a animal!

If he is big enough to jump in the box, you can leave it that way for him. However the hole is a better idea that way you can put the heat lamp down farther.

 

[REO]

But it does get cold in Redding! It snows there.

My hubby comes from there and his whole family are still there.

Baaa baaa bells, baaa baaa bells, Baaa baaa all the way!

Oh what fun it is to keep him warm till May!

 

[RNR]

REO I have to laugh at your song!!

Now an idea to keep the goat warm! When It is kidding time around her I get fleace from walmart and cut it to size ad a little velcro and I have blankets

or you could get him a dog blanket!

RNR

 

[Miniv]

He is MUCH happier now! I put a box on its side facing where the heat lamp was shining down and filled it with a thick layer of Grass Hay. His water bucket is in the same corner and I left him munching.

I also felt him without my gloves on and he was not shivering and I could feel some warmth. (BTW, it's already dropped to 12 degrees F. and it's just after 6 p.m.)

MA

 

[backwoodsnanny]

We too have a pygmy goat and we gave her an igloo insulated dog house packed with hay to live in.as for a pen the only thing we had around here that we werent using was a 10X16 dog pen and she just loves it . It butts onto the horses pasture so she can be out with the horses when they are out but she cant get to them with her horns. She goes out on a leash almost every day and she does know how to be tied out but since the snow I dont dare. Anyway just a thought.

 

[REO]

MA, Karrel just got home and he asked me to ask you what Dave's last

name/ family's name is. Maybe he knows them?

 

[CAM]

MA you have me worried now. Dave is trying to work out a trip to get my new filly home from North Dakota. Do you think he will bring me a present too?!

 

[rabbitsfizz]

Roast Goat is a wonderful Christmas Dinner- solves the problem of his being cold, too

 

[keeperofthehorses]

Now why would they take off the horns and not his, uh... other parts?

I bet he turns out to be a fun little pet once those, uh... other parts are removed.

They are also great weed control!

The only goat fencing that has worked for us is ranch panels tightly secured to T-Posts. Even a high-voltage 9 strand Jurassic Park type set up didn't keep mine in.

How fun! I can say this because he didn't show up here, LOL.

 

[Miniv]

Rabbit, YOU CRACK ME UP!!!!

CAM, You probably don't have a big "S" tatooed on your forehead.....

BTW, I checked on the little guy during the wee hours of the morning. He was laying inside his bedded box -- NOT shivering! Yay! (Thanks Ashley for the idea.)

MA

 

[CAM]

CAM, You probably don't have a big "S" tatooed on your forehead.....

MA

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Is that what it is? Oh man...I better go check in the mirror before I confirm the trip with Dave.

 

[minisaremighty]

Wellllll, MA, did you mention to Dave about your "mini petting zoo" idea??

If so, I suspect he figured you'd be the perfect person for this little guy!

Ah, my fave. In-tact males! LOL! Can you say STINKY???

So glad Ashley got you some good advice so early. Last night was TERRIBLY cold. I'm not worried about my goats, they have a good winter coat on them since we started with the cold so early and have stayed with it. Your little guy on the other hand will NOT have a good coat and will need extra warmth for the next couple months if not all winter.

You could always make him a little coat just like the horses have. I'm planning on making some for my kids I'm expecting in March because I'm afraid the weather isn't going to be as warm as I'd like.

We give ours a little grain 2x daily. Gives them that little boost they need. Nutrena and Purina both make goat chow and that's what we use.

Sounds like you have things under control.

Does the little guy have a name yet? So, if he's half fainting, does he faint??

P.S. We just finally got a 2nd car!!!!! That means that I'm not trapped here while John's at work anymore. Maybe I can finally come visit you and Debra after the holidays!!