Moving from CA with pet goats (Cambridge, Grafton: rentals, house, school)

[CynthiaG01]

Hello! My husband and I are moving from CA with our two pygmy goats. They're polled and strictly pets, and they do fine in a large yard, but we don't want to get ourselves into any trouble when we move. I've been searching around online for rural areas and areas that already have horses (I figure these locations wouldn't mind our goats) but they all seem out of our distance range- he's going to be attending school in Cambridge and we'd like to be an hour or so commute with good weather, though we're willing to stretch that a bit. We're planning on visiting the area next month and could really use some advice on where we should be looking. We're hoping to spend $1700 a month or less. The property could be a little shack for all we care, as long as there is a decent yard that we can fence, hopefully a polite distance from the neighbors, and in an area where people wouldn't mind our goats. Can anybody point us in a good direction?
Thanks!

[timberline742]

Wow, yard for $1700 or less and a hour drive ? to Cambridge? And space? I'm at a loss... maybe a rental in Medfield?

Good question though, I'm interested in the answers.

[charolastra00]

New Hampshire.

[CaseyB]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Wow, yard for $1700 or less and a hour drive ? to Cambridge? And space? I'm at a loss... maybe a rental in Medfield?

Good question though, I'm interested in the answers.

Medfield isn't cheap.

I think the 1700 for a house is more of a problem than the goats.

[missionhill]

Upton I've heard is rural-ish for people who like horses, maybe livestock too, and can't afford the many rural-seeming elite towns.

[Atomicdoug]

You need to check with the towns to see if they allow livestock! I was thinking Upton or Grafton, more rural areas, but it will be a longer drive. There is a rail line in North Grafton, and also stations in Ashland and Southborough

[charolastra00]

Single family rentals in Mass are hard to come by, especially at your budget with your distance requirements and the land you want. Add in goats and its a whole other ballgame.

Where will the goats go during the winter? Last winter, there was over 8 feet of snow piled up in my yard. Even if you found your dream rental property, it's unlikely that the landlord will allow goats to live inside. It's hard enough finding rentals that allow a dog!

OP - How long are you staying? If it's for school, I assume a year or two max? Find a friend where you are from to take care of the goats for awhile. What you are looking for does not exist in eastern Massachusetts.

[Atomicdoug]

She would need to find a property that has a barn or shed. Goats can be outside in the winter, so long as they have shelter to go into when weather gets bad. I assume if they can't graze, you have to feed them grains. The property also has to be fenced. Goats are notorious escape artists. Even WITH fencing they get out. I am sure her neighbors will be happy when the escaped goats eat their flowers :P

[magicshark]

I think even this is a long shot but I would check the Shirley, Lunenburg, Townsend area. It takes about an hour (without heavy traffic of course) from Townsend. My husband commutes to Cambridge regularly. Rents also are much cheaper up here. We pay $1400 for a three bedroom house, large yard and pets allowed. I know my landlord has no problem with us getting chickens, never mentioned goats though.

[BostonMike7]

I'd say get used to 1.5-2HR commutes into Cambridge with traffic