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Transporting adult goats

Posted by Juliana Goodwin on May 9, 2011 at 11:04am in Goats 101

When it is time for them to come home, we will need to transport two adults and one youngster (2 months and change) .  We have a few large size wire dog crates for our shepherds, but we don't want them inside the van.  If an adult ND took a pee on the way home it would likely ruin the car for good.

 

We have a small equipment trailer (the wire mesh kind that is open).  We thought maybe we could secure the crates on the trailer with some kind of a tarp to protect against wind.  We have a 40 min drive with them and can take back roads.

 

Thoughts?

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Replies

  • Kare May 10, 2011 at 2:45pm
    I think the volvo idea would be less stressful for the goats.  No wind or car noises to deal with.  Can you find out what size they are?  You might be able to fit the right size kennel inside the volvo.  It's surprising how small of an area they need.
  • Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres May 10, 2011 at 9:19am
    yep! I have a mini van. I mostly use crates with enclosed walls, but have used the wire ones too, and only need a tarp when it's the wire ones, and actually, have only "needed" them as a precaution. Never had anyone pee yet. (I said YET... now where's the wood? lol)
  • Juliana Goodwin May 10, 2011 at 9:17am
    Rachel- Inside the vehicle?

    Rachel Whetzel said:
    I use dog kennels/tarps too.
  • Rachel Whetzel at MigMog Acres May 10, 2011 at 9:10am
    I use dog kennels/tarps too.
  • Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 9, 2011 at 9:32pm
    That's an idea too.

    Juliana Goodwin said:
    The other idea I had is that I have a Volvo station wagon with a huge cargo area with a rubber mat where my dogs ride when they're muddy.  It has a cargo net barrier.  It's pretty dirty back there already from the dogs, so I had thought of filling it with shavings and putting them back there (kid would still be in a lap).  My human kids could sit in the back seat and keep the goats from climbing through around the net. ????
  • Juliana Goodwin May 9, 2011 at 8:48pm
    The other idea I had is that I have a Volvo station wagon with a huge cargo area with a rubber mat where my dogs ride when they're muddy.  It has a cargo net barrier.  It's pretty dirty back there already from the dogs, so I had thought of filling it with shavings and putting them back there (kid would still be in a lap).  My human kids could sit in the back seat and keep the goats from climbing through around the net. ????
  • Juliana Goodwin May 9, 2011 at 8:44pm

    I thought about trying to do the tarp thing.  We are bringing home on adult doe, one adult wether, and a buckling.  I'm not sure my husband would be able to cope if we got goat pee in the van!

     

    I think we're gonna keep trying to work out the crates in the open trailer idea and I like the idea of holding the kid.  I don't want any of them to be scared in the trailer but I thought we could cover the crates with blankets/tarps etc so they didn't see the world rushing by.  We'll have to plan this trip late or early so they aren't cooking in the sun (SW Florida)

  • Deborah Niemann-Boehle May 9, 2011 at 6:39pm
    I don't have any suggestions about using the trailer, but we transported goats in our van for the first six or seven years after we moved to the country. You can put a tarp down and bring it up along the sides of the van, so if one squats to pee, and it shoots outside of the crate, it will hit the tarp. You put straw in the crates. You put something absorbent on top of the tarp (under the crates) to absorb any pee. It could be a couple of old sheets, cardboard, or newspaper. The pee will only shoot four or five inches max outside the crate -- I'm assuming you're getting does. If it's only a 40 minute drive, you can ask the current owner to take away their water for about an hour before you pick them up. Their systems work pretty fast, so they tend to pee and poop fairly soon after eating and drinking. (If you ever show, it's a good idea to take away their hay about an hour before you go into the show ring.) The kid can stay in your lap for a drive that short, although I would have a towel. Kids don't pee while you're holding them. If she stands up and squats though, you're in trouble, but kids don't pee much, so a towel would easily absorb it all. And kids tend to pee within 15-20 minutes of consuming water or milk. And in a worst case scenario, if a goat does pee in your car, the smell doesn't last -- I learned all of this information the hard way. I used plastic crates, and it never occurred to me that one might squat in front of the door and squirt pee outside the crate. I even transported an adult buck in my van once. Thought I was going to die within about 15 minutes, and I had a three hour drive ahead of me! I did survive, but we own a truck now.
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