What should I do?

[akmtman2]

I have neighbors who are moving to Virginia because of medical problems. They have an alpine goat and want to sell her before they go. She is supposed to be pregnant as of the end of September. I looked at her today. I'm no goat expert having aquired my two nigerians only two years ago, but she looks powerfully underfed and I was wondering if I did get her and started to feed her properly if she might still deliver a healthy baby? They are hurting financially and need the money so I didn't want to dicker on the price, but I also don't want to buy a goat that will cost way more in the end.

[wildhorse]

Id have a vet check her out first then go from there.

[ozark_jewels]

I have bought *severely* malnourished bred does in the past. Three produced healthy normal kids for me. One produced a problem kid who was never "right" and I had to put down at two months of age.
If you do buy her, be sure to up her nutrition *slowly*.......doing it fast can cause all sorts of problems. Good hay, alfalfa of some form, plenty of minerals, and very little grain.

[akmtman2]

Thanks for the advice, and info. The vet option is not an option, unfortunately. I decided to get her. I'm going to up her feed slowly so she can adjust. My goats love seaweed mixed with a little molasses, I heard this was the best way to get goats their minerals. They hardly touch the loose minerals I have out. The air is so wet here that they turn to a soupy mess if they are left out free choice, so I offer it at milking time and they push it away and reach for the seaweed. Alfalfa pellets are what my goats get in the winter, also because of the excessive moisture in the air. Hay went moldy on me last winter. Everything gets bucketed as soon as it arrives.
Again, thanks for the advice.

[armeda]

Good luck with her!

[DixyDoodle]

I would be very careful about bringing what appears to be just an underfed goat into your own herd. Perhaps she is skinny for other reasons, such as disease, and may spread something to your other goats. I would give the goat a really good going over with your hands. After all, you did say you were buying this goat, not getting it for free; you should never expect to buy a sick goat.

Off-coloured gums, watery eyes, coughing, skin lumps/bumps, or other oddities, such as a raw looking behind, and I would stay away! And even if you decide to take this goat, I would quarantine it from your other goats for a few weeks or more, just to be sure. Get her fed well for awhile and then see how she is.

I know it's tempting to take "freebies" or "almost freebies" and I've been guilty myself of it. I got two really nice goats out of it but did pay at first: my doe developed a lump on her neck and I thought my herd would be done for; I should have quarantined her longer than I did. It turned out to be a burst salivary gland (probably a poke from a horn at feeding time), but it could have been worse. Be careful!

Just my 2 cents.