I figured we could use some levity...

Several months ago I was watching a cooking show which was about the food from a country in the middle east/north Africa area (can't remember where). There is a nut tree that grows there that doesn't grow anywhere else in the world. When the nuts are ripe, the goats go crazy, because they love them so much. They showed these 20-25' tall trees with goats IN THEM. I mean in the TOP! They had climbed them, were standing on the branches eating these nuts. How in the heck to they get down???

Do goats here climb trees? I guess I would need to put the pasture fence far enough away from the trees so they couldn't climb the trees and jump out, huh? Sorry for being green, but I have never seen goats IN trees like that. Like monkeys! It was one of the funniest things I've ever seen. But seriously, do I need to be prepared for climbing/flying goats?

Thanks, have a great day!

Amy

-- Amy (kimico@aol.com), April 01, 2002

Answers

Ours will walk up them if they are growing at a slant. We had a problem with them standing on their hind legs and getting their front feet stuck in ones that have a 'V' shape. Unstuck a couple of goats and would have either lost them or had broken legs had I not been home. The trees are now cut down, or at least half of the 'V' is off. Good think mine can't climb that high as I could see them jumping on someone else in the herd just to get even with them!

-- Leslie in W. WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), April 01, 2002.

yes goats will climb trees, especially apple trees, they will then have disgustingly rotten apple breath :), event a 20 foot tree, if they can, its just like a big series of jumps.... and how do they get down , well they hop down a few branches, then about 5-6 ft from the ground, they just jump..

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), April 01, 2002.

This one has got me laughing. A few notes from the peanut gallery. Groundhogs climb trees (seriously). My goats climb anything they can, but have given up on the fence, at long last after I joined all the posts together with 2 by 6s at the tops, they pushed the fence way in and cant seem to master it. My nubian climbs uptop the 7 foot tall dog house - it was built to resemble a light house- just to hang out. Then there was the day that the billy goat escaped and jumped off the 7 foot high porch railing, across the driveway with me right after him trying to grab his horns.. as the neighbor pulled in the driveway to visit. Climbing trees should come as no real surprize! Hey, one thing I have noticed: Nubians are like bad children, always yelling and into something. Seems the Lamancha is much quiter and gentle natured, might just be dumb luck, though.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), April 01, 2002.

My goats climbed trees to get to the wild roses. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it, either. I don't know why they preferred the roses in the trees when there were plenty they could have reached from the ground.

-- Gayle in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), April 01, 2002.

Man...you guys are really scaring me off getting 4-legged animals. After these responses and Chuck's pig story... It sounds like they get bored, maybe? Just like to play? Maybe I should build them a playground to keep them busy! Well, I guess it's not going to be this year! Thanks for your answers, it will definitely change my fencing layout! Amy

-- Amy (kimico@aol.com), April 02, 2002.

hey, don't get scared off. the 4 leggeds are so much fun. i have a nubian that'll stand on her back legs braced on a tree, and look around her upside down. it's the funniest sight!!! mine have never climbed an upright tree, and electric keeps them off the fence. they will go after anything "greener on the other side" you know. but just think how much more interesting life will be with all those 4 leggeds running around-and yes, nubians definitely have personalities!!!

-- laura (okgoatgal@hotmail.com), April 02, 2002.

haha my cousins have one psycho goat that thinks it's a sheep or a human, depending on who it's around. it's extremely hyper-active so they got it a huge wooden spool (ya know like the ones that belong to the electric companies) and it climbs up there and turns around like it's a hand on a clock...yeah, go figure. stands on chairs, thinks sheep are step up stools, generally likes to frolic and run around with you. i bet he'd climb trees too, if he didn't live in CO.

-- C (punk_chicadee@yahoo.com), April 02, 2002.

i have a friend who used to own a place where the goats were not fenced away from the house-they could just walk right up to the door- they'd lay on the patio by the sliding doors and watch tv. they'd get up and leave if it was turned on, but they'd lay there for as long as it was on. go figure.

-- laura (okgoatgal@hotmail.com), April 03, 2002.

I sure hope my neighbor's goats can't climb trees. If they can, then my garden is going to be toast. I like goats but don't own them because they are difficult to keep penned in because of their climbing and jumping. My neighbor's fence is about five feet high and sturdy but there are trees up against it. But the trees are pretty small with not too much large branches and these are big goats. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

-- Colleen (pyramidgreatdanes@erols.com), April 03, 2002.