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Goat Rental – Hire Goats

hiregoats.com

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Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#21

Post by ketzo »

AlotOfReading wrote: post #12
frob wrote: post #6

Lawrence Berkeley National Labs uses goats to tame the brush on the steep slopes surrounding the campus (over 45 degrees in many places). More than once I've had to wait on a bus for the herd of goats to transition across the main access road from one slope to the other.

They're pretty common in most of the East Bay hills. I've always wondered how many different herds there are though. Is it like 1-2 herds per city that move around constantly, or are there dozens of herds that spend a week vacationing in the big city every couple of months before they go back to the farm?

I know there are at least two goat rental companies, because the one I see on my hikes is different from the one in the link!

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#22

Post by redconfetti »

frob wrote: post #6

Lawrence Berkeley National Labs uses goats to tame the brush on the steep slopes surrounding the campus (over 45 degrees in many places). More than once I've had to wait on a bus for the herd of goats to transition across the main access road from one slope to the other.

When a mower won't tend to those hills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQEFH_8fka4

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#23

Post by AdamJacobMuller »

owlninja wrote: post #9
LAC-Tech wrote: post #4

I have my chromium browser window at half screen width - the map rapidly resizes itself in a busy loop. Makes you a bit nauseous to look at it.

Same for me at full screen. Fascinating service though!

They're better at goats than web design.

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#24

Post by gwbas1c »

jaimex2 wrote: post #19

So you want me to pay you to feed your goats?

Uhm, goats are by far the cheapest way to clear out certain kinds of brush and noxious plants. They're also cute and act like dogs.

Pesticides are dangerous and still leave a dead plant, machines jam (and lop off fingers,) doing it by hand takes a long time and can risk major rashes from poison ivy or cuts from thorns.

Part of my back yard is impenetrable from the kinds of plants goats eat.

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#25

Post by progre »

markdown wrote: post #18
rootw0rm wrote: post #17

I have property in a pretty rural area (Anza, CA) and every goat owner I know says that they're actually picky eaters. But these articles I see pop up now and then pretty much prove the opposite...

They will eat all the grass and then shrubs and then small bushes and trees including stripping all the bark. Not animals you want around flora you care about.

Yep, my neighbours keeps goats next to my propery, they escape once in a while. They go directly to the soft greens in my garden. When the fences hold they eat the area clean by type as you say. First the grass, then the leves of the small trees, then the bark (killing the small trees). Only when there is nothing else left will they eat the nettles.

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#27

Post by dlgeek »

I looked into this a couple of times for an urban-ish lot with an overgrown backyard. (I don't have a green thumb!). There were several services in my area, including the awesomely-named Rent-a-ruminant.

Unfortunately, for smaller lots, it just isn't feasible - the way the pricing is structured, the setup fees get you. They are really for multi-acre lots where they set up significant fencing and leave the goats for several days.

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#28

Post by strickman »

gwbas1c wrote: post #24
jaimex2 wrote: post #19

So you want me to pay you to feed your goats?

Uhm, goats are by far the cheapest way to clear out certain kinds of brush and noxious plants. They're also cute and act like dogs. Pesticides are dangerous and still leave a dead plant, machines jam (and lop off fingers,) doing it by hand takes a long time and can risk major rashes from poison ivy or cuts from thorns. Part of my back yard is impenetrable from the kinds of plants goats eat.

I think he has a point there. If he did not pay for, it may be an even trade.

You'd just have to compare the cost per acre per month of machine maintenance vs the cost to maintain a well fed flock for a month; including land costs and property taxes if you own the land.

Re: Goat Rental – Hire Goats

#29

Post by bleuchase »

ericcholis wrote: post #13

We've got a service in Western New York (letsgoatbuffalo.com, clever play on Let's Go Buffalo!). They used an old school bus to transport the goats, which sadly burned down. But, the Western New York community raised $16,000 via a go fund me for a new bus!

Same service OP is talking about? https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32434474
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