I don't want goats!

unregistered65598 · #1 04/02/11, 11:43 PM

When I first joined HT, I found this forum and was immediately addicted to the baby goats, but over the last few months, hearing about all the kids and momma's dieing I just can't do it. I think the kids are cute as can be, but I can't handle the losing them or momma's part. So thanks....but no goats for me. I am so sorry for all of you that have lost them, I can feel each and everyone's pain in their posts, it's not a pain I want to deal with.

Goat Servant · #2 04/02/11, 11:54 PM

Merks Im sure you know that trouble gets posted. It's like the evening news on tv, not much gets said about the easy smooth stuff.
That being said, in the business of livestock there is loss, plain & simple. Some years more than others, most years hardly at all & even no loss.
Hon there is pain. Unavoidable pain. Livestock husbands wives children family, it comes with life.

unregistered65598 · #3 04/03/11, 12:07 AM

I understand what your saying...but I just don't know that I can handle all that. There is one goat farm in our area, that I plan to go talk to and maybe get some hands on experience with. I am a bit of an awwwwww goshie gosh girl. Gotta work on that

dunroven · #4 04/03/11, 12:15 AM

Listen, don't give up on goats just because some of us are having tough losses. I don't know about the rest, although I feel I can speak for most of us. We do have, sometimes a short time of pain associated with losing one that we have tried extremely hard to save, but you know, when the good times come, which are more than the bad times, It is all so completely worth it.

Its the same with all the animals. I raise rabbits, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, horses, pigs, and cows. If I lose baby rabbits? I feel exactly the same way. I love animals, period, AND there are normally far more rewards than downsides, you just have to realize, there will be years of learning and years of succeeding. Take each one as a gift, and enjoy all of it.

Get your goats. You won't regret it.

thaiblue12 · #5 04/03/11, 12:19 AM

Are you far out West? East? Or closer to Denver?

I have goats and some are for sale

Plus I know a lady up North who runs a milk share program who has bottle kids for sale, both of us test.

It is hard to take it if you do lose them unless they are meat goats and you plan was to eat them.
People on here post about the bad, asking for advice, etc but there are also good posts and cute baby pictures. The good outweighs the bad in most cases.

Like with any animal including pets there are deaths, some due to old age, some due to a stupid ditch jerk who breaks your fence, illness etc. Some can be treated, some can be avoided and some will take the animal's life despite your best efforts.

Come over to the psycho side and get goats, lol.

unregistered65598 · #6 04/03/11, 12:25 AM

Just seems the loses out weigh the good times. I also hold a job outside of my job at home, what if I am not there to help? What if I should have been there instead of being at work or in bed deep asleep I just don't know if I can take that. I have had dogs and cats give birth no problem, Don't know if I can handle the problems goats seem to have, that's why I am going to see if the one goat farm will be willing to teach me before I get them.

unregistered65598 · #7 04/03/11, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thaiblue12

Are you far out West? East? Or closer to Denver?

I have goats and some are for sale

Plus I know a lady up North who runs a milk share program who has bottle kids for sale, both of us test.

It is hard to take it if you do lose them unless they are meat goats and you plan was to eat them.
People on here post about the bad, asking for advice, etc but there are also good posts and cute baby pictures. The good outweighs the bad in most cases.

Like with any animal including pets there are deaths, some due to old age, some due to a stupid ditch jerk who breaks your fence, illness etc. Some can be treated, some can be avoided and some will take the animal's life despite your best efforts.

Come over to the psycho side and get goats, lol.

We are on the NW side of CO about 30 min from the Utah border. The cute baby pics is what got me wanting them, them horror stories is what is giving me pause.

6e · #8 04/03/11, 12:51 AM

It's always the horrid that mostly gets posted.

Generally speaking, you won't have any trouble. We didn't have any trouble this year except bloat in one baby goat. Everyone has been fine.

walkswithgoats · #9 04/03/11, 01:13 AM

life on a farm involves death. thats just how it is. everyone deals with death but we see it more full circle i think. i see the goat get bred, see its belly grow, feed it, care for it, am there for the birth (at least i always try to be), and am there to witness life being brought into the world. but being a farmer also means that momma may reject the runt, i wrestle mom to hold still and let the runt nurse, momma refuses to have anything to do with the runt, i bottle feed runt, wake up at all hours of the night to keep it fed, clean the bathroom 20 times a day because runt is living in there and on my lap, and i'm there when runt wont eat and wont eat, and when runt goes to the beautiful pasture in heaven i am there for that too.

not everyone can deal with farm life. they buy steak in pink foam and plastic wrap without thinking of the cow it came from or the quality of life that cow lived.

some people raise their own cows so they dont have to wonder what their meal was fed when it was alive or if it had a good life.

Creamers · #10 04/03/11, 02:35 AM

Truth be told. . .had I known the time I'd have with goats or the potential that exists for problems . . .I'd never have gotten them to begin with, but I'm addicted now, and it is too late. lol.

Reptyle · #11 04/03/11, 03:47 AM

I'm thinking if everyone starts posting their cutest baby goat pictures the cuteness overload would be too much...Merks couldn't resist

LFRJ · #12 04/03/11, 04:23 AM

I can actually empathize with you Merck, and we HAVE goats. We decided to wait to breed ours for a lot of reasons, but one of the biggest is that we are not ready for that. We do have a good vet lined up though. He's an old timer, mostly involved with horse and sheep, but has an affinity for maternity and birthing. We feel we're in pretty good hands and still aren't ready. Hopefully by next year.

You could always start with a few wethers to get your feet wet - with no worries about pregnancy et al. Or, get a couple of does in milk without the buck. They' will keep you in milk for a long number of months before you have to decide whether to breed them - and you don't actually have to do so. After they've dried up, they can just be pets for a while, or resold or something. We like our goats, but it is a lifestyle change with some decisions along the way.

Backfourty,MI. · #13 04/03/11, 05:52 AM

Like Most everyone else has said here Merks, the good outweighs the bad most of the time. Of course one's going to act off 1 day maybe & you wonder what's going on, You may have to help pull a kid or one comes down with pneumonia but with any livestock there are losses.

I'll be honest we've lost a couple over the years & I was ready to throw in the towel but DH said "I still like having the goats" so we still have them & I tell you I never wanted goats from day one, it was all his idea & 6 years later & I dearly love everyone of them!
Go over to thaiblue12's house or the dairy close to you look around, talk some more, don't give up yet. Maybe they won't be for you but if they are you'll never regret having them.

Alice In TX/MO · #14 04/03/11, 06:01 AM

Most of us don't come on here and post the 364 days that everything is wonderful in the goat pen. We ask for help the one day that things go wrong.

Yes, it looks overwhelming. But, if you read the goat or horse board, I bet you see the same thing.

And, if you read Melissa's board (Countryside Families), you never want to live within ten miles of ANY neighbor because they are all loonies out there.

Wingdo · #15 04/03/11, 06:43 AM

Merks,

It is like this: If you are not ready for the cycle of life (including the trials and heartbreak) on the farm then you shouldn't get in to livestock until you have experienced a bit more. Life teaches us, regardless if you are ready or not, that nothing is forever, so some days are much harder than others but the good days always/should/can/will make up for the bad. About all you can really do is play the game and wait for the time when your experiences teaches you that it (life and death) wasn't anything personal... its just the nature of life.

Bradenberry · #16 04/03/11, 06:51 AM

I'm still new to goats, have 4 & I'm glad I didn't realize the expense & work that goes into them before I brought them home. But - I wouldn't have it any other way & can't believe I've lived half my life without goats, they are really sweet, fun & on the other hand, easy to care for. So far my 10 yr old has gotten a little sex education & next will have a little birthing education, hopefully no life & death education yet but it does come with the territory.

It's a big decision though - you do need to REALLY want them to not mind raking poop, fixing fences, giving shots, spending money, etc, etc.

julieq · #17 04/03/11, 07:33 AM

I had to actually stop reading and responding on the goat forums (I'm a member of two) earlier in the year for awhile. We've had goats since 1998 and yes we've lost a few, but the high mortality rate on the forums was actually depressing and I found myself needlessly worrying about our own upcoming kidding season. I totally agree that it becomes at times like the national news, i.e. overwhelmingly negative.

The difference is that for those of us with established herds, we can actually walk out to the barn and see healthy, happy goats, bouncy kids and know that all is well. For the folk considering getting their first goats I'd highly suggest that they visit experienced local goat breeders and get a more balanced perspective.

stormywood · #18 04/03/11, 07:34 AM

Oh. I have so much to say on this subject, I will try to be brief.
Being a former city chick who knew NOTHING at all about raising goats or any farm critter.
I started out with one two goats from a sale barn, they were so cute and little, awww. Lost one in a matter of days, bawled my eyes out, heartbroken.
I didn't think I would ever get over it, still hurts.
Now I raise, goats, had 7 beautiful babies this year, bought 3 bottle baby Nubians to add to my herd.
I am raising all of our critters from babies here, have lost a few, but learned ALOT. Each problem has become a learning experience, I am a better Farm Mama now. It is the greatest joy to watch all of my healthy, happy babies! I still get freaked when someone isn't feeling well, but I NEVER give up. The love that radiates from our Farm is overwhelming, so worth all of the pain. Cleaning up Poo is my biggest complaint, chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, cows, dogs, cats, Poo!
Goats are great! Mocha, the original goat is now a Grandma to Spring born to her daughter Windy. Windy was my first animal birth, things went well, but I was freaked out. Spring needed a little help, but only a few tugs, I knew what to do, didn't phase me a bit. Now I need to work on me and my "what ifs" and quit worrying so much. Read, ask and educate yourself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stormywood · #19 04/03/11, 07:38 AM

I would also recommend, buy from a private seller. I have learned that sale barns are like a grade school, a petree dish of germs and disease. Alot of our critters were from a sale barn, started out sick, TG healthy now!

Our Little Farm · #20 04/03/11, 07:50 AM

Merks some goats are stronger, hardier than others.

We had some that were cross bred and very hardy. We never lost one or had problems.

However, saying that, we have sold our goats and gone completely over to heritage Jacob sheep. They are so much easier, very hardy animals. Much easier to raise naturally/organic.

Don't be afraid of what you read here. It is the worst of what can happen, the good stuff is not commented on so much. Think about how many members there are on HT and how many deaths there have actually been.