Question re:selling bottle babies to newbies

Spinner · #21 05/23/08, 12:31 AM

I had never had a goat before when I suddenly had a newborn bottle baby to raise. I didn't have anyone to get goat milk from so I did the best I could. She grew up fine and now I have a pasture full of goats.

I guess what I'm saying is that it depends on the people... They might turn out to be good goat parents, and they might not. How are they about taking responsibility in other areas of their lives?

Just because they haven't ordered the book you recommended doesn't mean they won't take good care of the kids. Maybe they found another site they like better or found someone else to mentor them. Lots of possibilities. I used to ask for a lot of help, but then I'd go do some research and verify what I was told before I followed the advice. I also had a couple of goat ladies phone #'s and called them for advice.

What it comes down to is that you either trust them or you don't trust them.

crazygoatgal · #22 05/23/08, 04:57 PM

Mary--they are not hypothetical really. The mama is due in a few weeks and they want her babies from the start. They want to see the birth so they don't want ones already born. Sorry, I didn't make that clear. I also didn't realize that "inspecting" the home would be viewed as anything other than good stewardship of the animals God entrusted to my care(temporarily though it may be). If they care for their home and existing pets then it is fairly reasonable to assume that they will take care of these little guys. I did call the people who referred this family to me since they know them quite well. I did get good feedback about them and I do feel better about this pending sale. But I would still appreciate any and all info and advice you, the FORUM people have to share.

**mygoat** · #23 05/23/08, 07:37 PM

I personally dislike selling goats as pets. Especially to children, unless the parents are equally as interested in their care. If a family has a reason to work with the goats every day and gets either meat/milk/show stock from their animals, they take better care of them I find. The novelty and cuteness of baby goats wears off over time and they become disposable or thrown out to pasture 24/7.

Make sure you stress to the parents that they do NOT let their children teach the cute babies to jump on them, butt them, or misbehave... it's cute now, but it isn't cute anymore when the babies are 150 lbs.

I give out disks with all sorts of goat information on them, health records and a little bit of pasteurized goat's milk with their new kids so they can transition them. I let people know it is OK to call me at ANY time with ANY goat problem they might have, and let them know that I will come out to help with hoof trimming, vaccinations, wormings, drawing blood/disease testings, if they aren't too far.

Shazza · #24 05/24/08, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zone

Everyone of us was a newbie at one point in time. Don't expect too much.

You have just stated the difference from you and this particular case...you are an adult (if your not then it blows my whole angle) and in this case the interested party is a child. I personally wouldnt sell a bottle baby if the parents werent as equally keen about Goats.

crazygoatgal · #25 05/24/08, 08:19 AM

I am going to try to see if this is just a "fad thing" or if they are in it for the long haul. My friend, who knows them, says that they are a pretty dedicated family and they live close enough to me that I can help with shots, trims, etc. And it is always my policy that if someone cannot keep a goat I sell to them, I must get first right of refusal for the same price I sold them. No one has seemed to mind this policy so far. I feel a real responsibility for these animals, but I am going to continue to pray about this and still want feedback.