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Goats are worms a problem?
Buckfast.Beeman
Posts: 63
Hi everyone I have been thinking about getting a few goats but would worms be a problem if I used there waste as compost? I was looking at how to properly care for goats and came across an article that said you have to worm goats on a regular basis as when they poo and eat the plants that have grown in same spot they get the worms again as the worms are there waiting in the vegetation so infest the goats again. So if I eat the veg after using the compost wont I get worms too?
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Not if you wash your veg thoroughly! All veg should be washed because it's been in the ground, and something will fertilize it, grins.You should not use it, esp on food crops until it's been well-composted.
So really Its the same as any compost such as horse manure?
Like everything else worms have a life cycle, and you have to worm the goats regularly to break that cycle.
If you want to keep livestock like goats or pigs or even chickens you should talk to an experienced person before you embark on the enterprise. Keeping animals is a serious thing, you have to be there for them every day.
Christopher - I used to have a smallholding and kept a herd of dairy goats.
If you wish to keep goats can I recommend that you attend a course in goat keeping - if you google you should be able to find a course in your area..
Goats require a lot of attention, they have to be regularly wormed with appropriate medication and their hooves have to be regularly trimmed by someone who knows how to do this. You also need to know some specifics about goat husbandry and their health, and of course if you intend to milk your goats you will also need to know about mating and assisting at kidding time, when to call the vet etc. If you are not an experienced hand-milker you'll need to learn how to do that and dairying skills so that you know how to process milk to keep it safe for consumption.
There are Government regulations which apply to the keeping of sheep and goats, whether they are kept as pets or commercially. https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goats-identification-registration-and-movement and also regulations as to their welfare https://www.gov.uk/sheep-and-goat-
Also the type of housing and fencing of land needed for goats to be safe, healthy and for them not to cause damage to your own property or that of others, needs to be properly designed and built.
Check out the British Goat Society website http://www.allgoats.com/index.html , talk to local members and find a recommended goatkeeping course in your area.
Regarding your query about goats - if your goats are properly kept they will not have intestinal worms - you will be worming them regularly with a vermicide recommended by your vet. Goat manure is very good indeed for composting and growing vegetables.
If you have any more questions I'd be pleased to help.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You can use it on the same day it was 'donated', but you'll run the risk of catching something horrible from it if you to use it, esp on food. To play safe, I personally would make sure it is truly composted. All fresh manure will be riddled with all sorts and has a high possibility of making a person sick.
Jealous.com
I love goats and always wanted one, a black and white one and I would call it Toby......OH put his foot down a few years ago and I've got 2 Beagles instead (he likes his lawn too much!!)
I always keep compost and manure seperate, if your goats/horse droppings are mixed with beddling it needs a good year to settle into decent manure, it depends on the wormers you use as to wether and for how long they stay in the ground. I usually manure a plot over winter and cover, avoid root veg for that planting year and do roots in year 2.
Thanx for all the info everyone.I will look into it further about the care of them I also have to find out if I am allergic too as I am allergic to cats and dogs and had to find new homes for my two dogs that I had from pups and I don't want to go through that again
Sorry to hijack your thread Christopher, but how much room do two goats need? Have always loved goats and the thought of fresh milk along with cheese, butter, ice cream etc! Alas I don't have a huge garden but have seen "urban homesteaders" in America keep goats in the city. Thanks
Not one bit helpful. All I know is that a goat once eat the tyres on my cousin's jeep. He borrowed it to eat the long grass.