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04/26/11, 08:58 PM
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Living the Dream
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 204
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Okay, Goats Were a Bad Idea
How in tarnation am I going to be able to sell or butcher these babies????
We have had animals pretty near all my life. I have no problem with butchering pigs, chickens, steers. But, these babies are so stinking cute! SO much personality!
And *I* was not going to fall for the whole "goats are addictive' nonsense... Talking to a lady in town about her doe and buckling...even though I don't need any.
WHAT is up with this?! I've become a dreaded "softie"!!
__________________
"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24
Last edited by MrsSurplus; 04/26/11 at 09:19 PM.
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04/26/11, 09:02 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Hello, my name is ................., and I'm a goat addict. 
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Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/26/11, 09:03 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: pennsylvania
Posts: 461
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Did you name them? lol I think it is harder when you name them. Mine are number 1 and number 2.
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04/26/11, 09:11 PM
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My kids have hooves
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Virginia
Posts: 2,224
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This is why I keep mine as pets only. 
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Beth ~ Old Church, VA
3 Nigerian Dwarf goats, 4 cats, 3 Pekin ducks and 7 chickens. One very patient husband~
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04/26/11, 09:14 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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LOL I've barely got my "herd" together and I'm trying to figure out how I can make room and conjure up funds to add La Manchas.... lol
I skip get togethers because of goat related stuff.... My mother in law is already griping because have 3 blog post that are goat related and thinks that at the rate I'm going I should just make a blog just for them.... I enjoy shopping for goat stuff more than clothes...My FB album for the goats has the most pictures...
Hi, my name is Crystal & I am a goat addict 
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04/26/11, 09:18 PM
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Animal Addict
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 12,211
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I think that everytime I see these cute baby pics...I am too much of a softie.
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Becky
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04/26/11, 09:28 PM
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Living the Dream
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
Hello, my name is ................., and I'm a goat addict. |
LOL.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hardworkingwoman
Did you name them? lol I think it is harder when you name them. Mine are number 1 and number 2.
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Um...not really. I mean... The boys, well they're Oompa and Loompa.
The girls...well, they're...um... Leah... and Rachel...and, worst of all...Little Ann.
Maybe I'll just keep 'em. Because everyone needs Nubian/Boer cross doelings, right? 
__________________
"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24
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04/26/11, 09:50 PM
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Animal Addict
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 12,211
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Little Ann??? You are done for, my goat loving friend.
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Becky
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04/26/11, 09:51 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 24,108
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Yep...I would keep them.
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Teach only Love...for that is what You are 
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04/26/11, 10:03 PM
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Living the Dream
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 204
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beccachow
Little Ann??? You are done for, my goat loving friend.
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Okay...Little Ann...she's the tiniest of all of them. And definitely, if a crazy person were actually going to keep the Nubian/Boer crosses she wouldn't likely keep the tiny one when the other 4 are big strapping things..
But, the thing about Little Ann... Well, when I hold her and my 1yo daughter at the same time Sadie wraps her little arm around Little Ann's neck and Little Ann nibbles on Sadie's earlobe. Really. What are you going to do with that?
__________________
"How many are your works, LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures. " Psalm 104:24
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04/26/11, 10:04 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: ohio
Posts: 1,068
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ooo! Sadie has a pack goat!
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04/26/11, 10:40 PM
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Caprice Acres
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 11,231
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No reason not to keep doelings if you've got room and you like them. You could always market them later as bred does or proven does if your herd goes in a different direction or if you get better at selling.
The wethers, however, just keep telling yourself they're going in the freezer - unless you can afford a bunch of animals taking up the space, feed, BoSe, copper boluses, wormer, and maintenance time as productive does or bucks... I know I can't. Once the first one goes, the rest are a lot easier.
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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.
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04/26/11, 10:47 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: middle GA
Posts: 16,654
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I can't imagine butchering or eating our little goats, BUT, if it came to the fact that my family would go hungry unless I did, then I would figure out a way to do it.
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04/26/11, 11:57 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Oregon - East of Eugene
Posts: 198
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You're done for MrsSurplus.  I have a feeling I'm going to be right there with you when my first girls freshen. I'm sure DH will not be happy.
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04/27/11, 08:42 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southern Idaho
Posts: 4,032
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Since we bottle raise all our kids, there is no way we could consider butchering one. Fortunately we're easily able to find pet homes for the mini and ND wethers.
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04/27/11, 09:42 AM
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The cream separator guy
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern MO
Posts: 3,919
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I wouldn't butcher babies, never. I know some who do, and the thought makes me sick. (no offense to those who do) But once they get older, stinky and ugly it's quite all right to send them to the butcher, but we don't do any of that ourselves.
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I'm an environmentalist, left wing, Ron Paul loving Prius driver with a farm. If you have a problem with that, kindly go take a leap.
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04/27/11, 12:29 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,355
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Quote:
Originally Posted by julieq
Since we bottle raise all our kids, there is no way we could consider butchering one. Fortunately we're easily able to find pet homes for the mini and ND wethers.
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See, I was just going to post that if you bottle raise them, it's EASIER to send them off because by that point they are such a raging pain in the keister, you'll want them gone by any means available!
That's been my experience anyway...
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04/27/11, 12:31 PM
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Caprice Acres
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 11,231
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I would much rather butcher my extra boys and know that they never went without and met with a humane end, than to send them to some of the horrid pet homes I've encountered over the years. It's very rare to find an adequate pet home that's knowledgeable, I've found.
I bottle raise the dairies too... but the extra boys take up time, money, and space - simple fact of the matter if you're trying to cut costs. Even if YOU can't butcher them, consider getting them done professionally or selling them at a meat sale... I prefer doing it myself with our small numbers because I believe it's most humane and I can guarantee their handling, but eventually I may have more than what we need to fill the freezer and it's just going to have to be done one way or another. With raising livestock, you must realize that the extra males are likely not going to 'forever' homes or 'good' homes permanently. Even most placed in pet homes will likely go through an auction barn or exchange hands once or twice before being butchered. Very few live out 12+ year lifespands with open pasture, adequate nutrition, and excellent healthcare. It does happen - but not often enough for my taste.
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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.
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04/27/11, 01:33 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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We sent 2 miniature alpine bucks to freezer camp...
*I* am a wimp about it & can't be there for it.....but once the deed is done and they no longer have anything that makes them recognizable as goat, I'm okay with it...
Evil Twin went to freezer camp at 4 months old and I wasn't even a tiny bit sad......he earned and lived up to his name 100%.
Bottle babies may be a different story... I'm thinking of getting a lambar for next year so any non keepers won't have to interact with me as much.
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04/27/11, 01:38 PM
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Unreality star
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 9,894
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrsSurplus
But, the thing about Little Ann... Well, when I hold her and my 1yo daughter at the same time Sadie wraps her little arm around Little Ann's neck and Little Ann nibbles on Sadie's earlobe. Really. What are you going to do with that?
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What you are going to do is keep Little Ann 
__________________
Recognize the beauty in things, in creation, even when thats difficult to do.
Be loving, show compassion. Create while we're here.
Enjoy this life, be in this life but not be of it.
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