Talk me down people...Edit, I didn't get her :(

[miss_thenorth]

Ok, ppl, I am going to go see her tomorrow, what do I need to ask, and what do I need to look for?

 

[freemotion]

I'm not crazy right?

You don't really want me to answer that, do you?

 

[miss_thenorth]

Lol, !! she is 1 1/2 years. don't know about the kid, only that it was a single. And she is used to being hand milked. I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[freemotion]

Ask if they are milking now, how often (once or twice a day.) I'd ask about the baby....it is amazing how many people think you can wean a goat as soon as they are eating hay. And how many think you can switch from mama to a bottle late in the game. Ask me how I know....boy, was it traumatic when I bought Ginger at five weeks old.

Ask to see her get milked and try it yourself. What if she is a raging b*%$%#? You wanna know.

How old is she? (There are age/teeth charts online, but they only are useful for goats under 3, I think. If they say 3, well, take it with a grain of salt.)

Does she have horns? Observe her behavior with the other animals. I went to look at Ginger's mom, a doe in milk, and came home with Ginger instead. I did NOT like the way Ginger's mom used her horns with no warning and viciously. Not sure where Ginger got her personality, but I see a tiny bit of Grandma in Ginger's baby, Peach....but her horns go back, not sideways, so she is not as bad. So take your time and dress warmly and watch from a distance. For a while.

BTW, Mya has HUGE horns but is very fair in her use of them. Everyone sees her coming and she does a straight ramming bash, no hooking at eyes or bellies. I'm not saying horns are bad, if you don't mind them.

Ask if she's been tested and if you can have purchase contingent on clean bloodwork. They may say nevermind. Or you need to decide if it is important to you. I'd say less so if you are not interested in keeping goats once the cow is lactating.

Take a look at her feet. Have they been trimmed? Ever? Oh, you have sheep, you know this!

That's all I can think of right now!

 

[freemotion]

Oh, she is a first freshener......she might not be as strong in the duration of her lactation. She is a Saanen, however. Make sure her teats are a reasonable size and that she is reasonable on the milking stand and I'd show up for morning or evening milking if you like what you see and see exactly how much she is giving. You don't want a ff that takes a half hour to get a quart of milk out of.

 

[miss_thenorth]

Thanks. now I just need to hear back from the ppl. I just emailed them. I'll keep you posted.

 

[freemotion]

Uh-oh. Your use of that smilie tells me that you might as well bring the trailer with you and a hundred dollar bill and get it over with.....

 

[FarmerDenise]

My understanding on CL is, that it does affect the milk. I read that it was recommended to pasteurize the milk. Otherwise I hear it is quite manageable.


That would be a great price here too.
You are not going to get me to talk you out of it, I'm just another crazy goat pusher....

 

[Denim Deb]

What's CL? All I can come up w/is Craig's List.

 

[miss_thenorth]

CL is caseous lymphadenitis. It affects the lymph glands on goats and sheep. Well, he says she hasn't been tested, but she shows no signs of having They have been drinking her milk, and making cheese and ice cream. They are selling her, b/c they have corss bred her with a nubian, and they want the offspring. They are working on making their own strain of meat/milk goat. That's all I know for now. I am assuming that for this doe and her kid, they might have been bottle feeding and letting her nurse, but I will find out more tomorrow evening.

I am going to see her tomorrow after 5, and yes, I am bringing the crate and $100.