Okay, Goats Were a Bad Idea

We don't have any problem butchering ourselves once they get older! But I agree I could never understand anyone who kills them when they are little or even newborn.

LOL. I will be able to help DH butcher after the deed is done (the one we are considering keeping and eating for ourselves) - the rest will likely be done by the butcher so we can resell. Little Ann...well, I better look into training pack goats. And maybe Leah. I know we have NOOOOOO need of a Nubian/Boer cross but, well, I love her. Mmm...need to find ways to make them odious to me...

And..I do agree with Mygoat - that has been our approach on all our animals: we know they lived healthy, happy lives. But..my cows and pigs never had Little Ann's nibbles or Leah's smarty-pants attitude! Anyway, I can do it...I just never realized how stinking sweet these kids are!!

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"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24

We have never had to butcher our babies, Thank goodness because I don't think I could do it either, I just love them all. But like Mygoat says at least you know they were taken care of & they then had a purpose & were butchered humanely rather than find out later someone abused them I guess.
Sure hope all our bucklings sell this year because DH already told me their going to the freezer if they don't. He will take them to the butcher if it comes to that because he loves them too. Hopefully it won't come to that but I can't wether & keep 3 more boys. Well I could, Dh thinks we can't!

I guess I didn't realize the poster that was concerned with eating LITTLE babies. I haven't yet, but I bet I could if necessary. As we drive towards a more sufficient/profit driven farm, I've become more practical. Also, after you butcher a few, the rest become easier and easier to do and process. There was once a time where I said I would NEVER butcher a goat, EVER!

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Dona Barski

"Breed the best, eat the rest"

Caprice Acres

French and American Alpines. CAE, Johnes neg herd. Abscess free. LA, DHIR.

Lol we're not planning on eating them until they're 5+ months. You know, the calves and piglets are cute babies but by the time they're butcher size they have poopy rears and they just don't resemble the cute little babies they were. That and the other stock just aren't as personable and social as these goats are.

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"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24

You could butcher Oompa and Loompa(Willy Wonka fans, huh?), when they are older and much less cute.
If you keep and breed the girls, you let them dam-raise their kids, don't name the kids or pet them or do anything to make them tame. Its much easier to butcher dam-raised kids that won't let you pet them and don't have names. That way you can keep tame, loving Leah, Rachel and little Ann. They will earn their keep and provide you with meat. Its a win/win.

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Emily Dixon
Ozark Jewels
Nubians & Lamanchas
www.ozarkjewels.net

"Remember, no man is a failure, who has friends" -Clarence

Excellent advice!

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LOL. Yes... 4yo ds named Oompa and Loompa... I suggested Doopi, tee, and Doo for the girls. (2yo dd wanted to name the girls Laura, Mary & Carrie...I knew that was a BAD idea!)

So, Nubian/Boer cross doelings would give a reasonable amount of milk? It would be great if I bred them to Boers and they had 3/4 Boer babies - provided I could not get attached..

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"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24

Yep...we bought 6 wethers last summer to raise as meat goats. We did butcher 4 of them...but I ended up selling 2 as pets because I just couldn't bring myself to shoot them. It's a lot harder than killing a chicken

It's better in a way that I'm so poor because I CAN'T afford to keep them as pets. If they aren't going to make milk, and I'm not going to use them for meat, then I HAVE TO sell them as pets to someone who has the money to keep them just as pets. If I had the money to spare, I'd be in BIG trouble!!

I don't know how you do that! The only way I can help with the meat rabbits we raise is to never name the babies & I very rarely pick them up & love on them! Otherwise we'd have hundreds of those eating us out of house & home!

Face it=== you're doomed to be a goat crazy person like all of us!!!! lol

LOL. I read that I was doomed to be a "crazy goat person" instead of a "goat crazy person." I think both are equally likely.

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"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24

hahahaha I read goat crazy person too ! Remember ,I warned you . I said don't do it , but you wouldn't listen to me ...... tee hee heee

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-Amy
~Helpmeet to my best friend~
~Keeper at home with 6 little blessings~

Lol YOU are probably the person MOST responsible for this! When is your birthday? I have an addictive litte white doeling... Wait! When is little Izzy's birthday? I have something for HER!

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"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24

hahahaha I have NO idea what you're talking about !!! And no waaaaaaay am I going to tell you our birthdays ..... Unless it meant you were going to visit !!!! But know this ,if you show up with goats .... You will be sent home with replacements (and I'll throw in other kinds of critters as well .....)

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-Amy
~Helpmeet to my best friend~
~Keeper at home with 6 little blessings~

I read it as crazy goat person too lol

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