My first stupid question- bedding

[Jeff n Jenny]

You never came off critical. In fact, I appreciate your kind thoughts.
I'm just opinionated, it doesn't mean that I'm always right..or even sometimes. *Don't tell my wife I said that *

I don't think I'd have to lock up a donkey
Met some folks between Potlatch and Moscow, Id. that have Yak. They are awesome! (and tasty too).
If we weren't so hot & humid so much of the season, I think we'd have some.
Would we pen them at night? Would we have to? Don't know enough about them to have an opinion.
Hey, Anyone know of a short hair, high-temp variety?

 

[thistlebloom]

You never came off critical. In fact, I appreciate your kind thoughts.
I'm just opinionated, it doesn't mean that I'm always right..or even sometimes.
***Don't tell my wife I said that ***

Haha! Oh, I know all about opinionated! I wrote the book!

I should have said my goats were in cattle panel pens, not cattle pens. Probably makes a difference. But in 10 years they were fine. In fact I have only ever lost two chicks to a hawk, they slipped out of the fencing, and one hen to a domestic cat that got in the coop at night, pulled her off the roost and was eating her alive. I woke up to the strangest sound and discovered it happening.
We have mountain lions in the immediate neighborhood, the neighbors have a picture of one in their driveway, and tracks behind their shop. Coyotes in abundance, wolves have been spotted, and of course bears. Who knows what else, since you only see them if they want you to. But we have been very fortunate and blessed with no predation.

 

[ChickenMomma]

Thank you all for the advice, the goat house now has a locking door on it. Now for a follow up dumb question- lol. Do goats go to their house and bed down on their own at night like chickens do? Or do they have to be led?

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

they'll go in to sleep on their own if the door isn’t one that closes. Like if is just propped open. But, mine, in the barn....they go in when they want, but I come and shut things up. Sometimes I need to lock them up earlier than they would like, because I have plans....PS...no question is a stupid question!!

 

[ChickenMomma]

That is what I was hoping for. They will go bed down and then we will come lock up at dark or so.

 

[ChickenMomma]

I’m sure it will take a bit for them to catch on to the routine just like the chickens though.

 

[thistlebloom]

If you feed them in there at a regular time each evening it will become routine to them and you won't have to round them up.

 

[Baymule]

If you feed them in there at a regular time each evening it will become routine to them and you won't have to round them up.

x2 What she said. I call my sheep with a feed can and a high pitched shriek SHEEP SHEEP SHEEP SHEEP and they come running in a stampede. I go in the feed shed and they come running, baa baa baa all the way. I walk to their barn and they come running. I walk outside and they yell at me. I stick my pinkie finger out the door and their super sonic eyes see it and they yell at me.

 

[ChickenMomma]

LOL @Baymule, that’s so sweet. I can’t wait to bring our babies home. 2 more days!!

 

[ChickenMomma]

You all have been so helpful!! But your answers keep bringing more questions to mind. Our plans were to just have bedding/hay in their house. We don’t have a barn yet so space is limited. Do they need any kind of feed troughs in the house or water during the night? If it’s raining and they stay in their house most of the day will they go out to get food and water or does it need to be in there for them?