'Goat Tractor'

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

I have a pet pygmy that has been allowed to roam this past winter. Now that it is time for gardening I need to confine her a bit. Due to lack of fencing here, I have kept her in a 'stall'. Hate to waste all that grass though, does anyone have any suggestions for a goat tractor so to speak, something easy to move day to day. Would appreciate any suggestions.

-- April Lowry (alowry@gva.net), April 08, 2002

Answers

I don't know if they still do it this way, but places that sell lawn tractors used to have them shipped in these sturdy metal frames that they would sometimes give away. Might check at Sears or somewhere like that. You could attach chain-link or sturdy welded wire to this and have a pretty decent "goat tractor," I think. Of course a lot of people used to stake out goats on a chain, but I would worry about dogs getting after them. Maybe pallets with 2x4s running through them, maybe with some little wheels on one end? Occasionally you'll see a dog pen for sale in the paper, that would work...

-- Jeff (lorianandjeff@aol.com), April 09, 2002.

Goats are typically NOT grazers but browsers. So don't be surprised if she doesn't eat the grass you are hoping she will. Goats will eat some, but prefer to dine on browse. I would NOT stake her out unless you watch her closely so she doesn't get tangled and hang herself or a dog attack her. Not a pretty site. Being that she is a small breed go to the farm supply store and get some cattle panels and make a small pasture/pen form that. As mentione dyou could get one of the portable types you can move about.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), April 09, 2002.

April--we made a goat tractor of sorts out of four cattle panels. These were fastened together by steel clips that could be easily opened, so we could open it up to get inside. It was possible for one person to move it, but very clumsy, so better when two moved it. Our goats much preferred escaping to trample the graden, but certainly grazed on the clover, grasses, and weeds in their pen. We saw a sheep tractor made of eight panels with wheels in each corner, but never saw it in use. Wheels would certainly made it easier to drag.

-- Roma Milner (rmiln@aol.com), April 09, 2002.

i use cattle panels hooked together (i use baling wire to tie them together, other fasteners would undoubtedly work much better) and move it every time i put my nubians in it. works great for me.

-- laura (okgoatgal@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002.

I used to use an electric fence tape with step-in plastic posts that are made for it. It was charged with a solar charger with a small copper ground. It was really easy to move at will. Just make sure you put the strands low and close together.

-- Dee (gdgtur@goes.com), April 09, 2002.


Moderation questions? read the FAQ