Amusements for goats?

[Chappie]

Hi there, could anyone with experience of goats please recommend some SAFE toys for two goats that are kept in a large stable?

They get out a couple of hours a day but cannot be out full time as they would escape - they're under a year old & into everything. Liable to eat anything they shouldn't!

They're not mine, so I don't know too much about goat husbandary, but apart from a large plastic crate and a football I can't think of or find suitable safe things for them to mess about with. I've searched online but it's more outdoor structures I've read about.

Apart from possibly a couple of bales of straw, maybe?

 

[paddi22]

goats are a nightmare. we had two pygmy ones that were actully some kind of demonic entities. they generally like bouncing and jumping on stuff. they will probbably eat the string around the straw and break it up fairly quickly though. but be careful its not too near your door as they will jump out. the only useful thing ours ever did was eat christmas trees, so maybe stick one in if someone is getting rid of one after xmas. ours liked bouncing on a little fitness trampoline as well. are you going to keep them or is it a temporary thing?

 

[Cortez]

A biggish tree bough would keep them amused, but be sure it's not poisonous (no yew, sumac, laburnam, etc.). Goats are lovely, but into everything.

 

[Chappie]

goats are a nightmare. we had two pygmy ones that were actully some kind of demonic entities. they generally like bouncing and jumping on stuff. they will probbably eat the string around the straw and break it up fairly quickly though. but be careful its not too near your door as they will jump out. the only useful thing ours ever did was eat christmas trees, so maybe stick one in if someone is getting rid of one after xmas. ours liked bouncing on a little fitness trampoline as well. are you going to keep them or is it a temporary thing?

Ha ha ha "demonic entitites"!!!! Aww they're loveable, but also have a devilish mischievious side! Thank you very much for the suggestions paddi22.
Yes I'm afraid they would eat the straw string & gorge on straw, or the stable would be bursting with loose straw in the morning!!! Hee hee!
They're probably working on moving their plastic crate near the door to jump out as is! The mini trampoline would be fun but it would need to be removed when unsupervised, I think.
I'll run the Christmas tree idea past their owner though, that may work! They could nibble away on it!

 

[Chappie]

A biggish tree bough would keep them amused, but be sure it's not poisonous (no yew, sumac, laburnam, etc.). Goats are lovely, but into everything.

Thank you for the branch suggestion, Cortez! Yes, I'd have to make sure it's a safe type. I'm even afraid they would poke their eyes on it so have not sourced a branch as yet! But it's worth looking into as it would be good for them to nibble at.

 

[cobgoblin]

Something fixed to the wall to scratch on?

 

[Chappie]

goats are a nightmare. we had two pygmy ones that were actully some kind of demonic entities. they generally like bouncing and jumping on stuff. they will probbably eat the string around the straw and break it up fairly quickly though. but be careful its not too near your door as they will jump out. the only useful thing ours ever did was eat christmas trees, so maybe stick one in if someone is getting rid of one after xmas. ours liked bouncing on a little fitness trampoline as well. are you going to keep them or is it a temporary thing?

Sorry paddi22, meant to add that yes the goaties will be permanant residents! There used to be three goats at the yard, they just pottered around the fields with the two sheep and mingled with the horses no problem, but one by one passed away in old age.
The YO would like them to be out like that now they're full grown but these guys are super boisterous & just want to escape!
I hope they calm down, if that's possible, and can be out in future. There's open stables to shelter in with the sheep and minis. It's just the boundary fences on what is a very large area of interconnecting fields are not all sturdy (the other animals couldn't or wouldn't bother to break out!)

 

[Chappie]

Something fixed to the wall to scratch on?

Thank you cobgoblin, I could try nailing an old broom head to the wall perhaps!? So scared they eat something they should not!

Defo going to look into the tree thing, that could keep them entertained for a while, I hope!

 

[twiggy2]

They really do need more space than a stable offers-whats the long term plan with them?
I used to work with goats and they all had either outside access to fields/yards or were kept in huge barns in large groups. They were all able to see the outside world from their pens and the pens were at least twice the size if a stable, outside access was for 8hrs a day at the very least.
They were all bedded on straw and if the have good hay they won't gorge on straw. You need to be careful with protein levels in feeds as they can suffer with urine problems and stones if too much protien, a mineral lick and no hard feed or dried feed grasses are best and lots of good hay.
For enrichment you can give willow branches-a big favourite. Fruit tree branches and leaves. You can give dried oak leaves if they have loose stools.
Cabbages whole are popular, anything they can jump on, rings of wood are good as they are stable, do they have 24 hr access to forage?

 

[Red-1]

Some goats local to us have a large trampoline and a tree house...

 

[Chappie]

They really do need more space than a stable offers-whats the long term plan with them?[/SIZE]
I used to work with goats and they all had either outside access to fields/yards or were kept in huge barns in large groups. They were all able to see the outside world from their pens and the pens were at least twice the size if a stable, outside access was for 8hrs a day at the very least.
They were all bedded on straw and if the have good hay they won't gorge on straw. You need to be careful with protein levels in feeds as they can suffer with urine problems and stones if too much protien, a mineral lick and no hard feed or dried feed grasses are best and lots of good hay.
For enrichment you can give willow branches-a big favourite. Fruit tree branches and leaves. You can give dried oak leaves if they have loose stools.
Cabbages whole are popular, anything they can jump on, rings of wood are good as they are stable, do they have 24 hr access to forage?

Thank you for the detailed reply twiggy2, I appreciate it! The stable they're in is very large, almost like a mini barn, and they've got plenty of straw & fresh good hay daily. They can't be out unsupervised but do get out daily. The owner constructed a good sized fenced off area for them to go in but one side of the fence borders a large ploughed field and that fence will need to be higher & stronger to keep them in. I think thats the long term plan.
They're not mine so there is only so much I can do. Will try & get hold of some apple tree branches very soon!