Greetings..

I hope this is an appropriate place for me to post a few questions.

I had been planning to get two pygmy goats next Spring. The last time I spent any significant time around goats was many decades ago..through an international heifer project. I've been spending some time the past couple of months reading up a bit on the basics.

Today there was an ad in the paper for a 'free to good home' 4 y/o female. And, I thought I would ask people's opinions on this opportunity before I call them.

I can shelter her in a roofed and walled porch. And I can fix it up so she will be comfortable. I don't have fencing but I am around 24/7 and I can bring her out when I bring my house dogs out. I can get proper hay and grain easily.

I'm concerned about judging her health when/if I go to see her. What should I look for? I'm aware of hoof maintenance. But, I'd like to hear about some hints and tips or links that might be of use to me. I'd also like to know if it's okay to just have one. If she was raised solitary what should I know when introducing another?

So..basically, I'm a clueless but wannabe pygmy goat owner. I don't want to do anything that will be detrimental to the goat or to me. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

PC

-- PC Hillery (pcha@ludl.tds.net), September 08, 2001

Answers

Id go and see it,, you should be able to tell right off , if its happy or not. Hapy usaully means healthy. ANd ask the owners,, bet they will help more than you want.

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 08, 2001.

I have a single Pygmy named Munch who is almost 4 months old. I got hime when he was 3 weeks old. He hangs around with me a good part of the day and actually I prefer his company more than our pups! Yes, a friend would be great for him & I do plan on getting at least one more, but, he is not lonely as he hangs out with the turkeys & chickens when he is not with me. A single goat (I have found) can become way too attached (two of my girlfriends has/had one) so it could be a problem of it getting too dependent on you. I'd say go with your instinct.

-- Pamela Hood (pamandmatt@earthlink.net), September 08, 2001.

If she is NOT a solitary goat, and is with other goats now, I'm sure she'll be very lonesome by herself...besides being kind of freaked out by the move on top of it...you might be better off asking if they have another goat you can buy too. If she's already been by herself...then it might work out alright...take a close look at her quarters and how much space she's been used to...see if it's clean. Does she have a clean water bucket? Nice setup for feeding hay, etc. Ask about vaccinations of CDT for enterotoxemia. Ask when she had a fecal checked..the results of that exam...if she had worms, or when she was last dewormed. Check to be sure she doesn't have runny eyes or nose. Her coat should be shiny and clean. Run your hands down her back and neck and sides for lumps/abscesses, etc. Check for lice down near the skin on top of her head and on her legs. Be sure and take home some of what she's been fed, and gradually incorporate it into what you're going to feed to make the change a gradual one to prevent a digestive upset. If you have other animals at home, ask about how she might react to them (dogs for instance). These are some things I can think of off the top of my head... Hopefully she'll have been taken care of properly, so you can do the same! Good luck! :)patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats

-- Patty (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), September 08, 2001.