How does everyone let their goaties free-range?

[mlw987m]

Do you keep them tethered, then bring them back at night? Do you have fencing for them? Mine are in a small area with electric fencing,but I want them to graze on tons of brush we have. Though, they are wild children and need to be tethered and brought in at night, the idea just doesn't thrill me. I guess wishing they come in on their own is just a dream.................

 

[jodief100]

I do not recomend tethering them. Goats can easily get themselves tangled.

I have mine trained to come when I shake the grain bucket and yell "Here Goats!" I did this by shaking the bucket and yelling before feeding them everynight. They are pretty quick learners. I have some wild ones that will not let you touch them but will come running when I holler.

I only let mine out when I am home. I also live on a dead end road 1/2 mile from the main road so we have no traffic to worry about.

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

Tethering is not a good idea for goats, and mine also come running when they hear the grain bucket

 

[Livinwright Farm]

I have to say, I had to do a double take and chuckled a bit... your post is titled,"How does everyone let their goaties free-range" and then you ask if you tether them...
My goats have complete reign over the backyard. More of the wooded property will be fenced off for them to roam in this spring(ground froze up before we could finish driving posts). Minus the babies until we can get chicken wire run around the entire area. Last fall, we did tie out one of the momma does at a time. While we my family was also out cleaning up the yard and keeping a close eye on them to make sure they didn't get tangled up. One of them(Momma) did get her front leg tangled for a minute and a half, but she didn't fight to break free. She just laid down and waited for me to come untangle her. (good girl!) The only time I am okay with tethering is on the STRICT condition that the owner/caretaker is with them and watching them. Otherwise, DON't tether.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

I only let mine out when I'm with them, but they have a large yard in the woods. We'll expand their yard each year to clear more.

Mine come when I call "girls".

My buck has free range of the property (sometimes). He never leaves the area. He has to be near his horse. When I want him in I call him..."Come on Cowboy! Let's go in!" and clank the gate. He comes running.

Cowboy lives with the horses, so when they are out of their secure paddock and in a field with electric ribbon, he knows how to scoot under.

My silky terrier keeps him away from my flower beds and I fence in my veggie garden.

 

[elevan]

All we have to do is holler "Winner, winner, chicken dinner" and the goats, llama, horses and chickens all head to their spots in the barn!

eta: they have 4 fenced acres to roam.

 

[chandasue]

I only let them out if I'm with them. Most of the back is fenced until it gets too muddy. The goats don't wander far anyway. In fact if I go inside for something they wait for me by the backdoor. But I'm too worried about lose dogs and coyotes to leave them alone for more than a few minutes at a time.

 

[carolinagirl]

I used to let mine out when I was outside to watch them. they always seemed to end up in my garden or the orchard. They came when I called them and shook the feed bucket. you really can't let them free range if the area isn't fenced because of dogs, but then I guess it's really not free-ranging then!

 

[Livinwright Farm]

I will say, the USDA's definition of FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING is:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.
So, by USDA standards all of my animals are Free Range, and by the sounds of it, so are all of yours everyone.

 

[elevan]

I will say, the USDA's definition of FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING is:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.
So, by USDA standards all of my animals are Free Range, and by the sounds of it, so are all of yours everyone.

I agree by their definition as long as your goats are not in a feed lot or locked in the barn at all times then they are free ranging.