How do you contain the goats? How do you keep them safe while they work?

The goats are trained and completely self-contained with yards of high-grade electric fencing. This fencing protects the goats from wild animals, including coyotes and other predators, while also helping to focus the targeted grazing effort.

Renting goats is competitive in price against manual labor and heavy machinery. Seasonality (our peak period is from March through July), terrain, density of brush, type of brush, and ease of access to the clearing site all influence pricing.

Goats can remove unwanted vegetation and reduce fire hazards without using harmful chemicals or destructive, gasoline-powered machinery. It’s estimated that 95%-98% of applied pesticides miss their intended target reaching nearby people and wildlife, waterways, soil and air causing drastic problems for local ecosystems (Sustaining the Earth, 6th edition).

Often these potent chemicals, such as Roundup, are recalled and/or illicit to use in particular counties or states due to their harmful biological effect.

Meanwhile, heavy machinery releases harmful green house gases that contribute to global warming. Additionally, these machines can’t even operate in mountainous terrain. You’ll also need to haul the brush away after cutting it to actually reduce fire danger.

While heavy machines have their place in brush and land clearing, they struggle to tackle difficult terrain. Disk Harrow Tillers and other commercial machines require flat fields without rocks. We often utilize goats for hillsides, uneven terrain, and those with rocks or heavy brush that would damage machines. Goats can cut through these impassable terrains with ease, even better than humans can. Essentially, we are a guilt free, zero-emission alternative to heavy machinery. Cute too!

Don’t goats smell bad?

The breeding males (billys) can smell pretty ripe during breeding season. Part of their “manliness” is to urinate on themselves to attract the ladies. But we don’t use our billys for grazing, so you won’t smell them. Billys have a pretty easy life and “work” for only about 45-60 days a year, making more little weed-eaters. The goats you see out eating weeds are mostly does (girls… pronounced “doughs”). If the season is right, we’ll bring the goat babies (kids) to the job. Our kids don’t go to work until they’re fit to travel, usually when they’re a month old.

Depending on a few factors, our guard dogs will watch the goats all the time. If your property is in a high traffic area or in the middle of town, we will be checking them multiple times a day. If the property is in a remote area, we’ll check the goats at least 2 times a day. You are not responsible for the goats unless special arrangements are made with us before we start the job. Our goats are our livelihood. We make sure that our ladies are well taken care of and safe.  

No it won’t and the reason is because poison ivy/oak/sumac does not have seeds. So, if the goat poops the poop won’t grow it back, however if the area where the poisonous plant is not treated, then it will grow back in that same area.

Can we pet the goats?

We ask that you only pet them when we are present, as it means entering the electric fence. The shock is very low voltage and safe (but unpleasant) for humans, but if it is not reconnected properly, the goats will escape. The goats don’t bite, and we are happy to supervise visits. The goats always enjoy the extra attention. However, please don't feed the goats. Contrary to popular belief, goats don't eat everything; in fact, feeding them things that don't belong in their diet can make them very sick. Our livestock guardian dogs are working as well.

Do you use livestock guardian dogs?

Yes, if there is a threat of predators in the area, we may choose to bring a livestock guardian dog along with the herd.  Livestock guardian dogs are working dogs – they are bonded with the herd and are there to protect them. Just the presence of a LGD is usually enough to deter predators. They are wary of strangers and prefer for them to keep their distance. If you hear them bark, they are doing their job. If we do bring one with the herd, they will be fed and cared for daily along with our daily site and herd checks. 

I have dogs!

We ask that you keep your dogs away from the goat fence while our animals are there. While your dog may just want to play or look at them, dogs are natural predators and unfamiliar dogs are scary to goats and sheep who are natural prey animals (horns or not!). And, while the shock from the fence is not strong enough to harm your pet, it’s still no fun and better to keep them away.