Is it safe/okay to buy "free" , "giving away" or auction animals???

[chickened]

Excellent advice!!

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[bagendhens]

i think it could go either way depending on what your looking for...if you know what your looking for and know what to look for in terms fo health/temperment ect then there are some good finds out there, there are some genuine people out there that need good homes for retired livestock, pets ect.
ive never been to an auction...so i cant say either way on that...

but i think if your looking for something specific its best to go direct to the breeder.

 

[bossynbella]

I think craigslist is honestly way better then an auction, we have bought multiple chickens, ducks, guineas off of craigslist and its wonderful, you get to see where they where raised, talk to the people who had them and see how they where taken care of. The Auction on the other hand, I am done with. We had multiple problems last year with a disease brought home from one. Wiped out over 100 birds costing us 1,000 of dollars for a $16 crate of chickens, and we did quarantine them, unfortunately our peacock didn't realize that and flew into there pen (8' tall fencing) and then back out. We also have a min. horse we got at an auction and recently paid (with the help of a rescue group thank God) $500 to geld because of where his testicles where located, there was a scar there, showing that whoever dropped him off at the auction had tried to geld him then realized what the cost would be. We where faced with the choice of $150 to put him down or $500 to geld him. Because of where they where located in him, the testosterone was driving him nuts, the vet said leaving them would not be safe for him or us. So I say Craigslist is fine, but you need to be really really really careful at auctions! and when you Quarantine, make it a run with a top ( vet told us even wild birds can spread it from one pen to the next)

 

[bagendhens]

one of the things we say often...
most FREE/Cheap pets end up costing more in the long run lol

 

[NYboy]

What are you looking for? Show quality or pet, if you are looking for something to show a good breeder is your best bet. If you are looking for a pet you can find nice animals cheap or free, just takes alot of looking.

 

[RiverOtter]

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That is a big, fat, it depends

For instance. I got a free 7 month old Golden Retriever once. With his crate but no papers. He needed shots, neutering, worming, better food and lots of time.
None of that is free.
But the people I got him from paid $600. They did get his papers - but had to buy the crate - and he still needed shots, neutering, worming, good food and lots of time when they handed over all that cash.

The inherent costs of a dog don't change because he has a bigger purchase price.

Anybody here watch House? He says "People lie" and often they do. The horse you buy from a private seller is just as likely to be drugged as one at the auction house, the day old calf just as likely to scour, the hen to bring disease into your flock, and that pup in a box and that $600 pup from that glossy ad are each just as likely to bring you a load of heartache and vet bills ...
UNLESS
you are an educated buyer.

The best protection against getting burned is to be an educated buyer

 

[WriterofWords]

It's a personal choice that you have to make. I will take them in a heartbeat, it's not the animals fault the owner is letting them go and if they are sick but not bad I'd rather take them and save their lives.

 

[lasergrl]

If you think for even one second you might BREED goats, do NOT buy one without a CAE CL neg. test on the parents. That is unless you will be selling for butcher.
Goats are one of a few animals I never get from an auction. Once the disease is in your soil (CL) it isnt going away any time soon. You also wont have much of a market for animals born of diseased or untested animals.

NOW if you find one and fall in love with it you can draw blood and send it out for testing very cheaply. Then you just have to descide what to do if the tests are positive (goat is delicious)

 

[chickened]

Right on!!
Quote:
That is a big, fat, it depends

For instance. I got a free 7 month old Golden Retriever once. With his crate but no papers. He needed shots, neutering, worming, better food and lots of time.
None of that is free.
But the people I got him from paid $600. They did get his papers - but had to buy the crate - and he still needed shots, neutering, worming, good food and lots of time when they handed over all that cash.

The inherent costs of a dog don't change because he has a bigger purchase price.

Anybody here watch House? He says "People lie" and often they do. The horse you buy from a private seller is just as likely to be drugged as one at the auction house, the day old calf just as likely to scour, the hen to bring disease into your flock, and that pup in a box and that $600 pup from that glossy ad are each just as likely to bring you a load of heartache and vet bills ...
UNLESS
you are an educated buyer.

The best protection against getting burned is to be an educated buyer

 

[chickened]

Oh no you eat them?... i'm kidding... get it?

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