Hasn't any one but me noticed you haven't been on here for a while? its ok if you haven't got anything to say but you help a lot of people and I just want to know that you are still out there if I need you.

-- Corky Wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.net), March 10, 2002

Answers

Corky, If you go to lusenet and down to the list of forums you will see dairygoats. She still goes there. I imagine she is having lots to do with the kidding season in full swing.

-- Karen in Kansas (kansashobbit@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.

Me!!! Not have anything to say?? :)

This is my busy time of the year, goat stuff of course. Show secretaried this last weekend, have kids on the ground, and milking now. Helped a guy buy some doelings today, and picked up some doelings to resell (from someone who used to frequent this list ;) I only have 4 left to kid, have 13 kids on the lambar right now. Picking up and buck (please be born!!!!) and a new milker this month in Lousianna, and then a hoity toity high dollar buckling (please please be born!!) in April from Wyoming. Mix all of this in with spring break, children, husband, and I am busy! Not to busy to check my mail and to visit Countryside though! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.

Vicki, where do you find all these leads to buying quality goats? What should we expect to pay for a good doeling?

-- Narita (hsnrs@att.net), March 10, 2002.

Hi Narita, what a pretty name, and it went on my list for goat names :) Quality depends on what you want. A new young milker who is milking 9 to 14 pounds, over a gallon to a gallon and a half, sounds like a really good idea. Well for us show folks we actually worry about a doe who milks to much too young, as she will ruin her attachments and have an udder that is swinging. This may make a really good homestead milker, unless of course she will have to browse heavily wooded, or sticker brush places. Though good buys can be found at a backyard breeder, so can disease and other problems, not because of neglect but from simply not knowing. I purchase most of my stock from individuals who have some or all registered stock. Something show quality like the guy bought today is from 250 to 500$, and these were week old kids. The 1/2 Togg and 1/2 Nubian doelings that are the same age will only sell for 150$. The hardest part of picking a goat is to remember that though we want them to be nice, it is so much more important to look at her mom, her sisters, her Dad and the Dad's other kids. She gets all the good and the bad qualites she will have from them. It takes an awfully good buck to improve a really poor udder, so better to pass on a cute young doe no matter what her price if her Mom's udder is horrible. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), March 10, 2002.