Should I do this?

[Michael W. Smith]

Sounds like a deal to me!! I certainly wouldn't worry about your children catching anything from the goats (you aren't an over protective mother are you?!?
As for the shots, I've had goats for over 8 years and have never given my goats any shots. (Oh my, the HORROR! (Gasp)!!!!!!)

Sounds like your friend has her hands full and doesn't have time (or finances) for the goats right now. You can help her out plus help yourself to some free brushhogging!!!!!

Your friend might decide she likes not taking care of goats while you and your children find out you love taking care of them.

Sounds like a win - win situation!

[mygoat]

well first of all the most expensive vet trip i have ever had was when our vet pulled daisy's babies. it came to 43.00 for saving her life and her two kid's live, plus a bottle of penecillin! shots are usually about a dollar each if you take them to the vet. where do you live? im about to get bottles of vaccines out of a catalog, and there is ten doses per bottle, so i'll have 3 left over. i could show you how to give them.

[AnnaS]

[QUOTE=Wilbursmommy]She has offered to loan them to me for "awhile" so that they can eat some of the privet that surrounds our property. QUOTE]

I'm pretty sure that privet is poisonous to goats. Also, if they are tearing up your friend's goat pen, they will likely tear up your pen too.

As far as routine health care, you will need to learn how to trim hooves and then trim them every 6 weeks or so. You can do that with pruning shears, and it's easy to learn. There is just one vaccine, CD Tet, given once a year and costs about $5/bottle which will do 10 doses.

From the circumstances you describe, these goats might be permanent- you'll probably end up buying hay and spending other kinds of money on them. Just something to keep in mind.