Free goat, want your imput... (long)

[Love my Critters!]

Yesterday evening, a man that lives a few streets away stopped by my house and asked us if we would take a 2 year old pygmy doe. He said he had baught it for his grandkids, but they moved to another town and she is all alone. He said she only given sweet feed and grass (not grass hay) to eat

, so I'm sure she needs to be wormed and have her feet done. He said she is very gentle and follows him like a dog. He said he has noticed how well we take care of our girls and wants his goat to go to a good home. He said he has had some other "takers" but he would go look at their house/yard and inclosure and it wouldn't be nice and the goat wouldn't have shade, etc. or the people want her to BBQ her!
So here's the deal... I have Nigi dwarf does, both are 2 years old and hopefully both are pregnant (for the first time). My girls were also disbudded. This other goat has horns about 3 inches long or so. We told him we would discuss it, and call him for maybe a "trial" run. I do not want anything to happen to my girls in this process. I know about the butting over food so I'm prepared to feed them far from each other (that is really all I can do), what else can I do to make this go over smoothly? My girls are in a fenced in acre or so with a 3 horse loafing shed for shelter with misters set up in them for the heat. The chickens also free frange in the goat pen as well.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[aaronzclark]

SURE I would take her in a sec and worm her shots, etc. and it is no big deal putting them together they are the same age goats butt each other either way. Just don't breed her with a nige buck

 

[lasergrl]

I would never take in a goat with unknown background.

You need to worry most about CL disease. Look it up. There is a test but its not accurate. The goat can have internal abscesses, sneeze on your goats and infect them. There is also CAE and Johnes disease but the test is more accurate.
If you must adopt her, a quarenteen area is a must. She should be shaved down to look for scars that could mean old CL abscesses, blood tested for all three diseases first. Even if the blood test for CL comes back you arent in the clear but it may make you feel better.
Many people are learning and only buying stock from cl/cae/johnes neg herd. CL alo stays in the environment for 7 years, is contagious to human and other mammals.
There is no reason not to breed her to a nigie buck if you want too. Many people do it, and they are approx the same size.

Tiffany
(Muddy Rock Nigerian Dwarf Goats)

 

[snaffle]

After having goats for several years, I would never take one in that had horns.

 

[montyhp]

I would probably take her and quarantine her for a while. Maybe take her to the vet before you give access to your other goats.

Doesn't sound like you have a big commercial breeding operation where disease is a catastrophe (OK, you don't want your pet goats sick either, but you can watch her very closely). I have adopted goats with quarantine and had no problems.

I also had a half pygmy half nigerian buck for a while. Beautiful animal and sire to the 5 kids I currently have. Unless you are breeding purebred animals I think the mix is fine.

Just expect there to be some headbutting during the adjustment. All of my goats have horns. I did get rid of a pygmy wether one time that liked to head butt me in the knee. Not malicious, just playful, but I was 3 months post knee surgery at the time and did not want to take any chances.

Monty

So TX

 

[Love my Critters!]

Thanks for the feedback guys and gals. We still haven't decided one way or the other. I am a little concerned about the horns, but not greatly. The biggest concern I have is the disease part and I don't have a bunch of extra money right now to do blood testing to check for disease because I was laid off in March and my daughter is going to start school next month and we all know how much $$$ that costs.
Our goats are purely for pets, mixing breeds of all females doesn't concern me because there will not be any breeding. My registered nigi's hopefully will have babies my daughter will someday want to show in 4H if I can get her started on it.

 

[lasergrl]

the tests are only $15 for all three

If you intend to sell kids you need to test eventually, if you want to get the full price. If the mothers are positive for CAE you can do things to prevent the kids from getting it. Many goats die early from these diseases unnescassarily.

http://www.pavlab.com/services/index.html

 

[Love my Critters!]

Thanks,
Thats great, I didn't know you could send the blood off. I know the only "large" animal vet we have here in town that will deal with goats charges a small fortune. Just to make a house call is $70.00 and that doesn't include any of the blood draws or tests.

My does were tested when I bought them. I was just concerned about the possible new comer.