Too many goats?

TroutRiver · #1 07/26/11, 08:56 PM

So...I need to vent and rant about this crazy situation that I've found myself in. Hopefully some of you will understand. Sorry, this is going to be long, but I am stressing out and need some opinions and advice.

A friend of mine keeps a small herd of purebred nubians. All come from registered stock but she hasn't registered any of the kids born in the last few years.

She also rides a motorcycle. The other day, she got in a motorcycle accident and broke her leg very badly. She is going to be in the hospital for awhile and will not be able to walk for a long time from the way it sounds. So she needs to give up her goats, she cannot take care of them and it will probably be months before she will be able to walk well enough to care for livestock.

Before all this happened, I had been thinking about buying 1, MAYBE 2 of her does in milk that she wanted to sell, but now she wants me to take ALL of them. There are 8 total (I think). 4 does in milk (2 FFs) and 4 doelings born this year, one of which is the full sister to the buck that sired my kids this year.

I was honest and told her that I could not keep all of them, that I could take them if she really needs me to, but I will have to sell some. I just cannot keep that many on top of the 3 does that I already have and the 1 doeling that I want to keep. She said that was ok, and I can pay her later if I don't have the money right now, but she really needs someone to take them ASAP because she can't take care of them, and she doesn't know who else to call.

She has someone who is taking care of them just for this week...but that person is 3 HOURS away from me, and I don't have a truck or trailer...all I have is my '97 VW jetta

. I cannot transport 8 goats 200 miles in a jetta (one time I did transport 5 goats 100 miles in a subaru

). I asked her if this person would be able to transport them. Haven't heard a response yet

I want to help her out, and she is OK with me selling some of them, she told me to "use my best judgement" as far as finding them homes (she uses them for dairy, but really, I think they are more like pets for her). But if I do this I am going to have *15* goats!! And here I am, I've been reading all of this "you start with one and end up with 20" jargon you all post, and I've been like "oh, that won't happen to me"

How did this happen?

We haven't talked money at all yet, I told her that we needed to. What do you guys think would be a fair offer? I don't have a lot of money AT ALL right now, in fact I am really hurting financially. If it weren't such a dire emergency situation, I would not be interested in buying all of her goats. But I know she needs to get some money for them and does not want to just give them all away. I asked if she wanted me to just take care of them for awhile, and she can have them back when she can walk again, but she said she doesn't know how long that will be and she'd rather not have to worry about it (which I totally understand). I don't know what to do but I am stressing out!!

Alice In TX/MO · #2 07/26/11, 09:02 PM

It's part of the ubiquitous goat saga. This happens to us all, either with our own reproducing like rabbits or with someone blessing us with goats.

We feel your pain.

noeskimo · #3 07/27/11, 12:14 AM

You would be suprised at what has been hauled in my Jetta with the back seat down,goats, pigs and even a fawn.300,000 miles and still going.

Narshalla · #4 07/27/11, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by noeskimo

You would be surprised at what has been hauled in my Jetta with the back seat down,goats, pigs and even a fawn.300,000 miles and still going.

Yeah, but eight goats?!?!

Well actually, on second thought, I'd probably be willing to pay to see that, just so long as it wasn't my Jetta!

Alice In TX/MO · #5 07/27/11, 06:44 AM

We have a really good friend online here, NehiMama, who we trade goats with on a regular basis. She hauls hers in the back of her mini van!

mammabooh · #6 07/27/11, 07:19 AM

If you are going to haul them, do you have a friend with a pickup truck with a cap on it that you could rent for the day? If that is an option, make sure to put down a rubber mat or something similar for some traction for them.

If you're going to sell some of them, maybe you could work out a good deal for taking all of them, and then not pay her after you've sold a few and have cash. Maybe by then, she will be healed up and will want the others back...who knows?

Suzyq2u · #7 07/27/11, 07:22 AM

I can attest, the minivan works great

Not sure about a jetta though, lol. Sure wish we were closer, I'd help you 'unload' them, hehe. Good luck!

Fowler · #8 07/27/11, 08:30 AM

How do you haul anything in a Jetta?
Just got a visual. LOL

Cheryl aka JM · #9 07/27/11, 09:21 AM

When I broke my hip my family and friends came together and helped me take care of my animals (Thank you CarolT!) I was in a wheel chair for 7 weeks but was up and going pretty fast once the Dr let me put weight on it again. Your friend may be on her feet faster than she thinks. Hope so.

And as far as transporting the goats~ it's not dignified but I once transported some goats in the back of my sons hatchback hyundai with their legs duck taped together "hog tied". They gave up struggling and just lay there surprisingly quickly.

TroutRiver · #10 07/27/11, 12:32 PM

What about money, though? I don't want her to feel like she's getting ripped off, but this was kind of thrown on me all at once and saying "no" isn't really an option because she really needs help... I don't know what I can offer that will be fair and reasonable for both of us. I really don't want to buy all of her goats. I am willing to give her most or all of the $ that I get from the ones that I sell, but I know she would prefer that I don't sell all of them.

Alice In TX/MO · #11 07/27/11, 12:56 PM

You need to sit down by her bedside and talk about all this.

Cheryl aka JM · #12 07/27/11, 12:57 PM

I don't know if it would be considered "Fair" but what I offered and Carol accepted when I needed help was~
In exchange for doing all my chores including the goats, chickens, cattle, horses, rats, snakes (I breed snakes) for a week until my son got home from school and I got out of the hospital and then doing a LOT of my chores ~I milked the goats my son brought the goats to me. My son did most of the chores but Carol still came by and did a lot of them including driving me to and from the Dr~ in exchange for that Carol now owns one of my milk goats (she needs to take her home~ letitia is still at my house but she belongs to Carol and Carol gets most of the milk off her~ I get some I do morning milking and provide all her feed).

Now~ you'll be taking those goats to your home for her~ so add up what gas will cost and deduct that from the cost of one of the goats. Then add up how much time it takes you to milk those goats and how much time it takes you to advertise and sell the majority of the goats (keeping in mind that this is your friend and your going to take less for you time than it is worth because of that). Then keep however many goats your gas and time equal. If you friend wants to keep any of the goats for herself maybe you could work out that for every four or five goats you keep and feed during recovery for her you keep one of those goats.

She is a friend who doesn't want to ask too much of you but needs some help. Find a way to make it "Helpful" and still leave her not owing you for the rest of her life.

TroutRiver · #13 07/27/11, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheryl aka JM

She is a friend who doesn't want to ask too much of you but needs some help. Find a way to make it "Helpful" and still leave her not owing you for the rest of her life.

That's the thing, I am more worried about me owing her than the other way around. All she said is that she needs me to take them and I can pay her later. She is having a 6 hour surgery on her knee today so I probably won't talk to her for another day or two.

mekasmom · #14 07/27/11, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroutRiver

What about money, though? I don't want her to feel like she's getting ripped off, but this was kind of thrown on me all at once and saying "no" isn't really an option because she really needs help... .

I would take them all. Keep the 2 that I wanted, and sell the rest. All the money goes to her minus your gas for transporting them. That's fair. It gives you 2 goats in payment of your services. And it pays her for the goats that you sell. I wouldn't keep more than 2 or possibly 3 for free though.
See if that satisfies her. I think it would be fair. If you don't do that, then she will have to sell them all herself and hire someone to care for them in the meantime.

Hollowdweller · #15 07/27/11, 04:08 PM

She should be paying you to take them.

Especially if they are nubians.

If you feed them for 1 year you will likely have more in them than you can get out of them.

I'm not sure I'd go for it.

Maybe ask her if you can take 2 for free, she can arrange to take the rest to the sale barn and then when she gets better she can either have them back or get 2 kids out of them.

This would be more fair.

hiddensprings · #16 07/27/11, 04:19 PM

You really need to talk with her and GET it in writing. She is under a lot of stress right now as well and might not remember what you agreed too later. I would suggest keeping the two that you really want and then selling the others. You keep the two as payment for assisting with selling the others.

Wish you were closer. I transport goats in the back of my Tahoe all of the time and I'd love to pick up a couple more Nubian girls.......

Just take a breathe. You'll be fine and everything will work out just fine

Pony · #17 07/27/11, 04:25 PM

If she wants to sell them, it might be best if she lists them on Craig's List NOW, while they're still in one place.

She may not see it, but she would indeed be owing YOU if you wind up taking all those goats.

If she really needs the $$$, then the time to sell is now, before they become a major liability.

So sorry you both find yourselves in this spot. It's rough. {hug}

crazygoatgal · #18 07/27/11, 04:32 PM

Where in Vermont are you? Maybe I can be of help to you. Heres my number 802 744-6056. Feel free to call me anytime. Lynn

olivehill · #19 07/27/11, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mekasmom

I would take them all. Keep the 2 that I wanted, and sell the rest. All the money goes to her minus your gas for transporting them. That's fair. It gives you 2 goats in payment of your services. And it pays her for the goats that you sell. I wouldn't keep more than 2 or possibly 3 for free though.
See if that satisfies her. I think it would be fair. If you don't do that, then she will have to sell them all herself and hire someone to care for them in the meantime.

This is the offer I would make as well. You said you did want some of her stock, so see if you can keep a couple for your hassle transporting, caring for and selling the rest and then just get the money to her for the others once they're sold.

TroutRiver · #20 07/27/11, 05:13 PM

crazygoatgal, I am in Wells, at the Larson Farm (larsonfarmvt.com). I will definitely give you a call as soon as I have them, which will probably be August 1st. Thanks!

I think I am leaning toward offering to give her the money from the ones that are sold, and keep 2 for myself that I'm hoping I won't have to pay for out of pocket. After all, this is a big favor, and I'm willing to do it, but I don't think I should owe her money on top of it. I also don't want her to think that I'm taking advantage of the situation... I am a sucker sometimes

As for selling them right now, they have already gone to Dover, NY for the week, where another friend of hers is taking care of them, but only for the week. She says her husband can most likely help transport them to me.

It seems silly now, because she lives right down the street from me. I told her when she first called me that I would be willing to go to her house to milk and care for them temporarily. It would have made so much more sense to do that then to send them to Dover, NY for a week, and then bring them back here

but oh well, what's done is done.