Buying goats this week....

CAjerseychick · #1 09/18/13, 12:03 AM

So have looked thru all 300plus goat listings for this area and the one I commute to once a week (SF bay area)...

What do you all think- there is a very healthy goat herd (they are organic and feed only off brush in the lower Sierras) I am thinking of getting a mama and her twins from.... I offered to pay for the CAE/CL testing the goat fee is only 75 per goat (its a commune that is selling them)...
Or, there are two actual breeding farms with tested herds that will have kids in the spring (mini Nubians which are pretty close to the Kinders I was looking for)...
Or.... there is a random person in town who will sell me two mini toggenburg doelings ( I was thinking of getting them tested it will cost me $100 but its only 200 for both)....

Not sure which way to go-- we need: weed eating/ lotsa brush-- would like to milk if not Now in the future, and really are unlikely to butcher, they would be pets along with 14 free range chickens , 3 dogs, 3 cats....

GreenMomma · #2 09/18/13, 12:17 AM

I am too new to goats to comment on which ones might be best, but I had a friend do the blood draws and then I just sent the sample to U.C. Davis for testing. It was just under $15. That might make a difference in your selection...

Doug Hodges · #3 09/18/13, 07:58 AM

Im thinking momma and twins depending on your test results. I assume the second choice is a couple of kids? You cant just have one. Personally I wouldn't want to start with bottle babies. To much can go wrong.

CAjerseychick · #4 09/18/13, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug Hodges

Im thinking momma and twins depending on your test results. I assume the second choice is a couple of kids? You cant just have one. Personally I wouldn't want to start with bottle babies. To much can go wrong.

The kids in the spring I will wait to have weaned, and yes the minis available now are 5month old doelings--
My only hesitation on the mama and kid pair is that they roam on 850 acres now and I dont know how they will take to confinement--

I have to keep them in a small pen for a couple of months to work with my dog around them (I got her over chicken killing so I am pretty sure I can do it with goats her drive is more small animals but still, I dont want to lose my goats-- the chickens free range and she doesnt look twice at them anymore- but it takes time)....

Does anyone know where I can get a blood draw kit? If the owner stabilizes the limb I can draw the blood myself (does Tractor SUpply have them?)...

$15 does make a world of difference....

Clovers_Clan · #5 09/18/13, 10:57 AM

If you are going to have to pay to test, be sure you are looking at good quality, healthy in appearance goats to begin with. Its a waste of your money if they come back positive for something. Its also a poor investment to have disease-free but poor producers that will bear kids of little value.

Test for sure. But find good goats first, then decide if they are worth putting extra money into paying the testing. Personally I wouldn't do it unless they are pretty awesome registered stock. But then again if they weren't high enough quality for the breeder to have invested in testing why would I want to?

For economical goats in good health with average performance your best bet is to negotiate with a reputable breeder with a clean herd. They may have a few goats with lower production or less than show quality performance but that would make great pet/homestead goats. You can get them cheaper without papers. There are plenty of breeders who own a few different breeds who on occasion may do mix breeding. There is nothing wrong with the offspring, it was an oops breeding or they didn't have an unrelated buck so they outbred to a different breed. Most of my goats match this description, and they perform perfectly well, I just can't show or register them.

It sounds like you don't need a lot of milk. So one doe and a few wethers might be perfect for you. Wethers are a dime a dozen, they cost about the same if they are healthy from grand champion lines or terminally ill sale barn scrubs. I'm speaking of dairy goats obviously. They serve two functions meat and companionship. Chances are the reputable breeder that sells you a doe has several to choose from as well at a reasonable price. The great thing in purchasing 2 or more the goats already know each other, no need for quarantine and less stress on them individually.

motdaugrnds · #6 09/18/13, 02:33 PM

I'm personally biased against mini-goats of any breed. As for as the breed, I only had one toggenburg and her milk was the best tasting I've ever had. Would love to have another.

As for fencing, you might talk with the owners about the goats you're considering. Some goats do just fine with regular fencing that is usually about 4-1/2 to 5 ft high; and if you're going to get mini goats, I doubt you would have any problems penning them up in a pen long enough for your dog to get use to them.

As for testing, it is a personal bias of mine to only buy goats from a herd whose owner can produce proof they have already been tested. Most reputable goat breeders do this. I certainly would not pay for it myself as I'ld want to know if they were clean before I bought them.

CAjerseychick · #7 09/18/13, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

I'm personally biased against mini-goats of any breed. As for as the breed, I only had one toggenburg and her milk was the best tasting I've ever had. Would love to have another.

As for fencing, you might talk with the owners about the goats you're considering. Some goats do just fine with regular fencing that is usually about 4-1/2 to 5 ft high; and if you're going to get mini goats, I doubt you would have any problems penning them up in a pen long enough for your dog to get use to them.

As for testing, it is a personal bias of mine to only buy goats from a herd whose owner can produce proof they have already been tested. Most reputable goat breeders do this. I certainly would not pay for it myself as I'ld want to know if they were clean before I bought them.

Yes well, the pair I still have to see (5month old doelings) are mini Toggenburgs! I was thinking to pay for the testing (about $30 per goat plus the vets travel fee) and then not buy them if they tested positive. Is that silly though?
There is a Breeder of registered mini Nubians that I am on the wait list for - for a doeling in the spring.... I like what I hear of the Nubians personality-- and I am told a mini Nubian gives 2/3 the milk for half the feed of a fullsized Nubian, plus the smaller size might be nice for our first goats....

Pony · #8 09/19/13, 09:05 AM

biotracking.com will have the test kits you need at a reasonable price.

Good luck in your search!

CAjerseychick · #9 09/19/13, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

biotracking.com will have the test kits you need at a reasonable price.

Good luck in your search!

Thanx Pony.
The moms are tested babies arent am thinking of risking it-- timing is a factor-- I have alot more time off Oct/Nov/Dec than i will in the Spring (busy at work plus Grandpa is being shipped out here in Jan to recover from surgery)-- I need to get my giant schnauzer trained to goats! Asap-- I was thinking to have the little doelings penned up in the chickens yard over the winter (its partially under our porch ramp very sheltered and built right back of our covered garage) so dogs can see them and learn to not touch them, at least for a couple months before we let them explore the pasture-- area is about 20ft by 15ft more than big for 6month old minis I think...

Pony · #10 09/19/13, 12:41 PM

If the moms are negative, then no worries. I'd go ahead and get them.

CAjerseychick · #11 09/19/13, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

If the moms are negative, then no worries. I'd go ahead and get them.

Thats what I was thinking. Thanx....