Your first goat(s)

TriWinkle · #1 03/07/13, 12:16 AM

How did you find your first goats?

Why source did you use to locate them?

Would you use it again?

Knowing what you know now, would you use it again?

I used Craigslist. Knowing what I know now I may not. Probably look for a reputable breeder's site instead.

LFRJ · #2 03/07/13, 12:33 AM

First resource was right here! We read a lot about the various breeds, both on this forum, and through general web searches. (we actually steered clear of two breeds we liked because of the real world experiences we read about on this forum!).

We chose our breeds based on our wants vs our set up and climate. Most importantly, because we could visit with and learn from the breeder. Both breeds that we now own (meat & dairy) came from breeders who had registered animals and tested or closed herds. Two years later, when we were ready for a buck, we returned to the same, trusted breeder.

We used National breeder associations to locate breeders in our region. If we learned anything, it was to avoid rescue animals off craig's list, no matter how tempting. (and it has been tempting)!

cmharris6002 · #3 03/07/13, 06:03 AM

I bought my first goats from a 4-H family. I went to the county fair and found people who were highly respected with lots winning goats and asked if they had anything for sale

Now I buy from one of the top Nubian breeders in the nation ~but it was a wonderful way to start!

Pony · #4 03/07/13, 06:57 AM

How did you find your first goats?
Found them right here on HT. Started my research, looked all over, found goats that I like with a breeder who is very "user friendly" (Hi, Emily!)

Why source did you use to locate them?
HT goat forum.

Would you use it again?
In a New York minute!

Knowing what you know now, would you use it again?
Yup. Between Ozark Jewels and this forum, I have come into a whole wonderful world of Goatie Goodness. Great support, great friends, and even moved to the Ozarks, so now we're near a LOT of great goat folk!

I used Craigslist. Knowing what I know now I may not. Probably look for a reputable breeder's site instead.
Craigslist is okay if you know exactly what you're looking for, and if you are sufficiently aware to avoid being hoodwinked by a less-than-honest person.

Check your pm box.

Minelson · #5 03/07/13, 08:08 AM

How did you find your first goats?
I put a ''wanted'' ad in the local paper

Would you use it again?
no...now I know people from this forum that I would buy from

I think this forum is the best place to find healthy, tested, beautiful goats

Crazy Farmgirl · #6 03/07/13, 08:18 AM

My first goat doesn't count as she chose me! After she sparked my addiction and I decided to go looking I made every mistake there is and learned many lessons along the way!

How did you find your first goats?
Craigslist. I was unlucky enough to find the biggest lying POS selling goats in the state!! That's putting it mildly!!

Knowing what you know now, would you use it again?
Yes...with conditions. Now that I know what to look for and what I want I do still check there as there are some reputable breeders there.

I am also lucky in that I have the space and resources available that on occasion I can still "rescue" some very nice animals from very bad people/places! This is not a good idea for everyone I just happen to have a very large Quarantine area on a separate property so I can keep the rest of my herd safe while I test and nurse any sick animals! I can't save them all but have been able to keep some from going from one bad caretaker to the next, some have been euthanize for their own good as nothing deserves to suffer.

Hollowdweller · #7 03/07/13, 08:23 AM

Had always wanted goats.

When my wife and I were in college talked about it.

When we got our place my wife was out testing a well on this ladies place and she had goats.

She told her that God had told her to raise goats.

We got our first 2 from her. Grade Saanens.

I've never had anything but saanens and that was 1988.

Unfortunately one kid wound up having CAE. The other had genetically bad tasting milk.

However after learning on those and reading all the books I could to learn about the problems of goats I had to deal with I wound up getting some good stock after that and the rest is history.

Alice In TX/MO · #8 03/07/13, 09:24 AM

How did you find your first goats?
Pure dumb luck and karma.

What source did you use to locate them?
Ozark Salvage Lumberyard in Koshkonong

Would you use it again?
Luck and Karma work for me.

After that, we got goats from Emily of Ozark Jewels. ALWAY buy goats from reputable breeders. DO YOUR HOMEWORK.

Pony · #9 03/07/13, 09:33 AM

Dang. Next time I drive through Kosh, I'm gonna look for goats in the salvage yard! LOL!

nostawmama · #10 03/07/13, 09:56 AM

My husband and I are looking at a property this weekend that would be great for a few goats. He made mention of finding an auction or something in the area so that we could get some livestock. I told him "no sir we will not!" We have never owned goats before and we just do not know enough to make a good decision there.

He then asked exactly how you go about purchasing goats if you didn't go to auction, don't trust craigslist, and don't know anybody in the area.

Hehe. I said go to the goat forum on HT and ask around! I then expounded upon the greatness of this subforum.

Otter · #11 03/07/13, 10:11 AM

How did you find your first goats?
Why source did you use to locate them?
At the local livestock auction, there was an Amish farmer who would sometimes bring in a batch of dairy bucklings. My friend and I watched to see who exactly who was bringing exactly what and then talked to him about getting doelings right off his farm.

Would you use it again?
Sure! Why not? Not that I need to for goats, but for other kinds of livestock, yes.

That was years ago, in upstate NY. Right now, every goat on my place (except the 2 just born here

) comes from a fellow HTer. Specifically Southurngurl, Yarrow and Pony. I'd go back to any of them without hesitation.
I also keep in touch, and send pictures. Speaking of which, Jodie is doing great, lounging in her favorite sunning spot as I type.

HT is a great resource!

Nancy_in_GA · #12 03/07/13, 11:38 AM

We have a state ag department publication with classified ads so I placed a wanted ad in there and also checked their for sale ads.

I was lucky too. We bought 14 kids from 3 different breeders. I had no idea at the time what to look for. We had occasion to have 6 of them tested (at least one from each farm) over the years, and none tested positive for CAE or CL. But no selling or breeding was ever planned, just a forever home no matter what.

Jyllie63 · #13 03/07/13, 04:37 PM

I found my first one right her on HT

. Thanks Roseanna!

motdaugrnds · #14 03/07/13, 04:47 PM

I researched goats to find the type my aunt use to raise, i.e. Nubians. In this search I discovered a couple other types I was interested in, i.e. Alpine and Toggenburg. Then I looked up owners of these types in the Dairy Goat Directory to find some near me. I drove over and picked up one Nubin, one Alpine and one Toggenburg.

Oh yes, I would use this directory again!

IndyGardenGal · #15 03/07/13, 05:20 PM

I sent a message to someone that had a better idea of good tested stock relatively close to me. I cannot explain how thankful I am to have been directed to her. I've purchased goats from her several times now. She's a great lady that has always answered any questions I have had. She hooked me up with another goat lady near her. Both are awesome, and I love the stock I have from them.

Now I'm getting stock from an HT member, and I'm sooooo excited.

I just advise looking at your herd goals, as well as management style when considering buying. After, of course, finding clean, tested herds.

Dreamgoat Annie · #16 03/11/13, 05:22 AM

I've had quite a few wethers over the years and though I bought them unwisely (mostly through classified ads), they were all good, healthy boys.

Claudia Gurn gave us our first bottle babies when we visited MAC Goats to take pictures for one of my books. Later we bought our Boers from various people at Yahoo's the_boer_goat list.

I met Emily Dixon through the_boer_goat and liked what she posted, so she was the first person I contacted when I wanted a dairy goat. Almost all of the goats we've gotten since then come from Emily's, though if we were breeders, I'd love to have Yarrow's stock too.

Sue

mammabooh · #17 03/11/13, 05:54 AM

I called a lady I know who has raised and showed goats for many years. Although she raises Nubians and I wanted Lamanchas (or Alpines...I hadn't completely decided yet), she was able to give me lots of names of breeders to buy from and those to avoid. Turned out that I recognized one of the LaMancha breeder names from when I went to La Leche League meetings when my son was a baby. I gave her a call and told her that I wanted two milkers, wasn't interested in showing, but that I wanted disease-free girls that would provide years of milk. She picked out two first fresheners for me, and I bought them. I actually got a Nigerian Dwarf from her also, but that one went to a new home last summer.

ansinfamily · #18 03/11/13, 10:27 AM

How we got our first goat-
we went to a poultry farm looking for hens and the cutest lil billy followed us around like a puppy so I had to have him.

Our next 7 goats came from a nice lady on a Facebook group I belong to that was afraid her neighbor would hurt her herd.
Would I use the source again-
Sure. So far we are very happy with our find.
I would also look into reputable breeders if I ever decide to get registered goats.

EarthStone · #19 03/11/13, 10:48 AM

How did you find your first goats?
Why source did you use to locate them?
A breeder down the road told me about someone she hd sold a good buck too that would have 1/2 Nubian kids.

Would you use it again?
Knowing what you know now, would you use it again?
Yes, they really were good goats, for just regular plain goats. If I just wanted goats to eat brush or milk, I would deff. go back - if I wanted show goats, I would use another breeder.

TriWinkle · #20 03/11/13, 11:38 AM

Unfortunately, I don't think there are many of you in/around my parts....Cool to those of you who have that as a resource.