Avoiding heartbreak

[goatkid]

After reading some recent posts on this forum, I feel I need to say something to new goat owners. Please do not buy/sell/move does in late pregnancy and real early lactation. These are the times a goat is most likely to develop the metabolic problems of hypocalcemia and ketosis and even goat polio or acidosis. They are more sensitive to the stress of travel, feed change, new herdmates, handlers, etc at this time. If a breeder has a bred doe with bloodlines you want, see if they will be willing to hang onto the doe and kids for you until it is safer to move them. You may have to pay a boarding fee, but that's better than risking the goat's life. As a breeder, I would be willing to do that for a buyer. I want my goats to do well in their new homes and for people who are new to goats to have a good experience with them.

[Minelson]

We are all learning so much this kidding season..no one has died in vain. Unfortunately we learn the hard way sometimes on this path. Hugs to everyone who has suffered loss

[JBarGFarmKeeper]

Thank you for this thoughtful post!

[Backfourty,MI.]

I'm so sorry for your loss, it's the hard lessons we remember the most but we all learn from each other's experiences here.

[mrs.H]

How soon after kidding would be safe to move a doe? I'm looking at does that are due to kid in a month.