Need a little advice

Okay, I am a bit in a quandary. I have a doe kidding soon, and someone who wants a doeling to keep her other little goat company and eventually breed with. They are planning on getting another wether and doe so they have enough goats to have each have company. They want the doeling at a week old, and since I have to always pull a kid or two from the dam as bottle babies anyway and they have access to goat milk I agreed. I agreed to a very reduced price because they said they had X amount of money to begin with and it will save me some work, plus I know the other breeder that is giving them a very good price on another doeling as well. Now they don't have even that much if they come to get the doe and are asking me to come down even more and am hoping I will throw in a wether.

Here is the problem, as we already considered giving them a wether kid out of the same dam just because it will make life easier on the dam. I am having second thoughts that they can care for the animals if they are sitting that tight. I am leaning toward sticking to my price, though I don't technically have to. I have not dealt with this issue before. I have helped out local people where we have formed a network, but this person is far away and already having issues with her other bottle baby. In fact, I'm wondering if I should have tried to "help out" at all. Can anyone give me some practical advice or a kick in the pants? I know the doeling would be well worth twice what I have already agreed to if sold locally; am I enabling a disaster?

I agree with Deborah on this. A man came to me earlier this year saying he wanted a companion for his single goat. I gave him the price $100 for a weather...and then he told me he wanted a lawn mower but he didn't want to marry one. I didn't sell to him. Word got back to me later that his other goat had died. I think it may have been urinary stones, but I could be confusing that with another person... I tend to listen to my gut, and if something says they wont be able to care for their goats, I'd rather keep them here. I'm not a perfect herd mother either, and I have lost goats due in part to my inexperience and ignorance, as well as factors beyond my control, but I at least think that I do the very best that I can for my herd, and if that means reading, asking questions, testing and observing or packing them in the car and rushing to the vet, I'm going to do it. It's not to say that money isn't ever tight from time to time, but If I ever were at a point where I could not do those things, then I would seriously have to reconsider owning goats. And I sincerely worried about that when I got laid off earlier this year. It was not something I wanted, but if I had to I was ready, and had someone I know and trust would take care of my herd if it came to having to give them up. I don't like the idea that a person wants to get a goat because they think it will be like a dog...and that research and planning, and MONEY isnt required when having goats. I don't know if what I am saying makes sense, but I hope it does.

Replies

Jordana Heath October 31, 2011 at 7:21am

Thanks Glenna. I am talking to them today. It's hard to do, but I just can't let them have the goat, and it turns out the other breeder has decided the same thing on their own as well. That's bad news when both of us had the same hesitations...
Glenna Rose October 29, 2011 at 10:26am

"help someone in need" . . . Seems to me your first loyalty is to your goats and not to a stranger regardless of how well-intentioned they claim to be. Following your gut is a valuable action; that you question is your answer. The "someone in need" in this case is your four-legged kids, not the potental buyer. Just my opinion.
Jordana Heath said:

Thanks, you both make me not feel so guilty over the doubts. It breaks my heart not to help someone in need if I can, but I have this nagging feeling it would not be helping. I think I will stick with the price on the doe I already gave, and if they can come up with the money I will know she will be cared for. If they give up easy it wasn't meant to be.
Jordana Heath October 28, 2011 at 9:52am

I know what you mean Jackie. Our goats are the most valuable thing/creature we own, getting care and treatment only second to our children. Every time I come read this I become more sure I need to tread firmly and carefully here. Thank you!!!!!
Jackie K October 28, 2011 at 9:45am

Jordana-please don't feel guilty and please stick to your guns. If the purchase price is such an issue then how is the buyer going to afford feed and hay for the winter? People value what they have to work for, not what they can wheedle out of other people for free. I realize times are hard and that I may sound harsh, but if money is so tight for this buyer then perhaps it is not the ideal time for her to be buying goats and taking on the commitment that goat-owning entails. Good luck!
Jordana Heath October 28, 2011 at 4:49am

Thanks, you both make me not feel so guilty over the doubts. It breaks my heart not to help someone in need if I can, but I have this nagging feeling it would not be helping. I think I will stick with the price on the doe I already gave, and if they can come up with the money I will know she will be cared for. If they give up easy it wasn't meant to be.
Adrienne October 27, 2011 at 8:04pm

I agree with Deborah on this. A man came to me earlier this year saying he wanted a companion for his single goat. I gave him the price $100 for a weather...and then he told me he wanted a lawn mower but he didn't want to marry one. I didn't sell to him. Word got back to me later that his other goat had died. I think it may have been urinary stones, but I could be confusing that with another person... I tend to listen to my gut, and if something says they wont be able to care for their goats, I'd rather keep them here. I'm not a perfect herd mother either, and I have lost goats due in part to my inexperience and ignorance, as well as factors beyond my control, but I at least think that I do the very best that I can for my herd, and if that means reading, asking questions, testing and observing or packing them in the car and rushing to the vet, I'm going to do it. It's not to say that money isn't ever tight from time to time, but If I ever were at a point where I could not do those things, then I would seriously have to reconsider owning goats. And I sincerely worried about that when I got laid off earlier this year. It was not something I wanted, but if I had to I was ready, and had someone I know and trust would take care of my herd if it came to having to give them up. I don't like the idea that a person wants to get a goat because they think it will be like a dog...and that research and planning, and MONEY isnt required when having goats. I don't know if what I am saying makes sense, but I hope it does.
Deborah Niemann-Boehle October 27, 2011 at 5:09pm

Whenever I have found myself in a situation like that, I always regret it when I continue working with people who get difficult. OH, the stories I could tell you! They only need two goats to keep each other company. If they are tight on cash, they certainly don't need an extra wether to feed. They might just be asking for him so they can sell him or eat him. It's taken me years and multiple mistakes to stop feeling sorry for people and to get tough and stick to my principles.

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