Considerations Before Buying a Goat
There is a lot of really good information on the feeding and care of goats. An excellent resource for all things goat related is Fias Co Farm. I highly recommend you visit this page for feeding and care tips. Goat forums, Facebook pages, goat friends, etc. are great ways to get different perspectives and opinions for feeding and care.
A few things to consider before you buy a goat:
Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about my breeding program!
A few things to consider before you buy a goat:
- You CANNOT have just one goat. Goats are very social animals and they must have the companionship of another goat. Goats can become very depressed and ill if they do not have another goat for companionship.
- You must have a safe and secure place to put your goats. Nigerian Dwarf goats are smaller than other goats and require fencing that they can't escape. Don't underestimate their ability to "squeeze" through wire or find ways to climb and jump over fences. The fencing also needs to be sturdy and tall enough that predators (loose dogs, coyotes, foxes, etc) cannot get into the enclosure.
- Your goat will need a barn or shed that is free of drafts and is dry.
- A goat is a commitment of 10+ years. Please consider this before buying one for yourself or your children.
- Goats require routine care such as vaccines, deworming, and feet trimming. Your goat will also require a loose mineral that is made specifically for goats.
Please don't hesitate to ask me if you have any questions about my breeding program!
Sales Policy
Please read the entire sales policy before you contact me regarding purchasing a goat. These are the general guidelines that will be followed for purchasing. If you have any questions regarding any of my policies, please let me know. I am easy to work with and willing to make reasonable accommodations to help buyers purchase one of my goats.
As the breeder, I reserve the right to retain any kid, regardless of any outside reservations. This is for the purpose of keeping and proving my own stock. However, I will do my best to meet the needs of outside reservations. If I know ahead of time that I plan to reserve a kid, you will see this noted on the kidding schedule.
I also reserve the right to refuse to sell to any buyer for any reason. Please do not be offended if I ask a lot of questions or even require pictures of your goat shelter and fencing. I want to find the best possible homes for all of my goats. If you are new to goats, please do your research before purchasing a goat so you can provide appropriate feed, shelter, supplements, and care. I completely understand that we all must learn and I encourage new goat owners to contact me; I just ask that you have done some research before you inquire about a goat. Goats are very rewarding, but they are also a big commitment.
Please note - goats are herd animals and MUST have another goat companion. If you are unable to have at least two goats, please do not purchase a single goat. They can become very lonely and depressed; human companionship alone is not sufficient (and no, a dog, pony, chicken, etc will not be a sufficient companion). I will not sell a single goat to anybody that does not already have goats, no exceptions. If you purchase a registered doe or buck from me at full price, you can purchase a wether for 1/2 price (a 1/2 price wether would be $35) as a companion, if available.
Reserving Kids
Please see our Kidding Schedule for the upcoming planned breedings. For 2021, I will be accepting reservations with a $50 deposit (this deposit is non-refundable unless the chosen sex is not born or if the kid is injured/dies or non-breeding quality, or if I determine that the kid is retained in the herd. Refunds will not be given if you are unable to find transport, change your mind, or don't want the kid due to color/eye color/polled, etc). If you see a pairing that you might be interested in, please send me an email and let me know. The deposit money must be received within 7 days (Paypal at [email protected] is the best way. Personal checks are also accepted for deposits.) Our focus is on the conformation and milk production of our animals, not on the color. I will not accept reservations that have any coat or eye color, polled, wattles, or any other similar stipulations; however, feel free to contact me and let me know what you're looking for and I'll try to keep that in mind when kids are born.
When the decision has been made to purchase a kid or when your reserved kid is born, the buyer has 7 days to send a non-refundable deposit to hold the kid until weaning; the deposit will be $100. Payment by Paypal or cash is preferred; checks are accepted if sent in advance with sufficient time to clear the bank. Please note, this deposit is non-refundable. If you later decide that you no longer want the goat, I will keep the deposit because I have lost other potential sales on this goat. The exception to this is if the goat dies or is injured prior to you picking them up, the deposit will be refunded in that case.
Picking Up Your Kid
The kid is expected to be picked up and the remaining balance paid in full within 2 weeks of weaning unless other arrangements are made ahead of time, a fee of $1 per day may be applied if the kid must stay longer than 2 weeks after weaning (charges will typically only apply if I am running short on room to hold the kid or if the amount of time I have to hold the kid after weaning is a lot longer than "normal"). If the kid is not picked up at the agreed upon time and other arrangements are not made or I cannot reach you by phone and/or email, the goat may be re-listed for sale and your deposit will be forfeited. (This sounds harsh, but it is really only meant to avoid situations where buyers keep "rescheduling" their pick-up date for months and months. These types of situations usually imply the buyer is not serious about the goat and is probably not the best home for the goat. This does not mean I will sell your goat out from under you if you have a emergency come up and have to make other arrangements for pick up. Just stay in touch with me so I know what the plan is and know that you are serious about completing the purchase of the goat.)
Sales of Adult Animals
Adult animals offered for sale will follow the same policy as kids. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due within 7 days of you deciding to purchase the goat. The remaining balance plus any costs for shipping or testing is due in cash or by Paypal prior to pick-up (or shipping date) or 2 weeks in advance if paying by a personal check. If the goat cannot be picked up within 2 weeks of purchase and other arrangements have not been made, a fee of $1 per day may be charged or the goat may be offered for sale to another interested party and your deposit will not be refunded. (Please see my note, above, under "Picking Up Your Kid" about this policy.)
Health Procedures and Disclosures
Kids are dam raised and will not be weaned prior to 8 weeks; often, they will stay on the dam longer (typically, I won't let kids go before the end of show season which is August 1st). . Before going to their new homes, registered kids will be tattooed and disbudded (unless otherwise noted). I no longer give CDT vaccines to kids before they leave. My herd is tested free for CAE, CL, and Johne's annually. Paperwork for registration and/or transfer with ADGA will be ready for the buyer. All animals are guaranteed to be healthy and disease free at the time of sale. Because we cannot control environmental influences and conditions once said animal leaves our property, we cannot offer any further guarantees. All kids will be disbudded, however, we can never guarantee that scurs will not grow, especially in buck kids. We do our best to watch for possible scurs and re-burn as necessary. While we breed for milk production and conformation in accordance with the Nigerian Dwarf breed standard, we cannot guarantee the kid's future milk production, height, or breeding soundness. We will do out best to describe all kids and adult animals to give you the best information possible to make your purchase decisions. If you have specific concerns or traits you are looking for, please let us know so we can give you the most relevant information possible.
We are more than happy to provide DNA results on any kid we sell! We are working on getting DNA on file for the entire herd; at this time all of the bucks and many of the senior does are done. If you would like a DNA test, the buyer is responsible for the cost of the DNA kit (cost is less than $30). If the dam of the kid you are buying isn't tested yet, don't worry; we will cover the cost of getting the dam DNA tested first. We want all our customers to be comfortable that they are getting exactly what they pay for. Alpha s1 Casein testing can also be sent in for around the same cost.
Shipping Your Goat
We are willing to ship kids via airline from Great Falls, MT. Buyer will be responsible for the cost of shipping, health certificates or other testing specific to their state, and the purchase of their own kennel. The kennel can be purchased and shipped directly to our location. Flight cost is likely to be around $400-$500, depending on where its flying; however, many airlines are making it more and more difficult to airship.
I highly recommend ground shipping with Amy Sporna of 5 Star Transport or Brian Gorman of Blarney Heights Farm Transport. I have shipped goats with both of these individuals and highly recommend (and I have a huge mistrust for most ground transporters!) Currently, our vet charges $45 for health certificates plus a trip fee of approximately $60; if we are able to combine other vet work we need for our herd with the trip for the health certificate, then the trip fee will not apply. Obviously, these are only quotes and could vary significantly depending on where you are shipping the kid and what time of year it is.
Please note: in no case will we ship an animal that has not been paid for, in full, prior to shipping (if paying by check, there must be sufficient time for the check to clear prior to shipping.) If the payment is not received, the goat will not be put on the plane/trailer.
Delivery Options
Feel free to contact me with any questions at all! I may be able to make arrangements to drive animals part-way for the cost of gas or deliver for free to any show we are attending. Let me know where you are located and I'll see if I can work something out!
As the breeder, I reserve the right to retain any kid, regardless of any outside reservations. This is for the purpose of keeping and proving my own stock. However, I will do my best to meet the needs of outside reservations. If I know ahead of time that I plan to reserve a kid, you will see this noted on the kidding schedule.
I also reserve the right to refuse to sell to any buyer for any reason. Please do not be offended if I ask a lot of questions or even require pictures of your goat shelter and fencing. I want to find the best possible homes for all of my goats. If you are new to goats, please do your research before purchasing a goat so you can provide appropriate feed, shelter, supplements, and care. I completely understand that we all must learn and I encourage new goat owners to contact me; I just ask that you have done some research before you inquire about a goat. Goats are very rewarding, but they are also a big commitment.
Please note - goats are herd animals and MUST have another goat companion. If you are unable to have at least two goats, please do not purchase a single goat. They can become very lonely and depressed; human companionship alone is not sufficient (and no, a dog, pony, chicken, etc will not be a sufficient companion). I will not sell a single goat to anybody that does not already have goats, no exceptions. If you purchase a registered doe or buck from me at full price, you can purchase a wether for 1/2 price (a 1/2 price wether would be $35) as a companion, if available.
Reserving Kids
Please see our Kidding Schedule for the upcoming planned breedings. For 2021, I will be accepting reservations with a $50 deposit (this deposit is non-refundable unless the chosen sex is not born or if the kid is injured/dies or non-breeding quality, or if I determine that the kid is retained in the herd. Refunds will not be given if you are unable to find transport, change your mind, or don't want the kid due to color/eye color/polled, etc). If you see a pairing that you might be interested in, please send me an email and let me know. The deposit money must be received within 7 days (Paypal at [email protected] is the best way. Personal checks are also accepted for deposits.) Our focus is on the conformation and milk production of our animals, not on the color. I will not accept reservations that have any coat or eye color, polled, wattles, or any other similar stipulations; however, feel free to contact me and let me know what you're looking for and I'll try to keep that in mind when kids are born.
When the decision has been made to purchase a kid or when your reserved kid is born, the buyer has 7 days to send a non-refundable deposit to hold the kid until weaning; the deposit will be $100. Payment by Paypal or cash is preferred; checks are accepted if sent in advance with sufficient time to clear the bank. Please note, this deposit is non-refundable. If you later decide that you no longer want the goat, I will keep the deposit because I have lost other potential sales on this goat. The exception to this is if the goat dies or is injured prior to you picking them up, the deposit will be refunded in that case.
Picking Up Your Kid
The kid is expected to be picked up and the remaining balance paid in full within 2 weeks of weaning unless other arrangements are made ahead of time, a fee of $1 per day may be applied if the kid must stay longer than 2 weeks after weaning (charges will typically only apply if I am running short on room to hold the kid or if the amount of time I have to hold the kid after weaning is a lot longer than "normal"). If the kid is not picked up at the agreed upon time and other arrangements are not made or I cannot reach you by phone and/or email, the goat may be re-listed for sale and your deposit will be forfeited. (This sounds harsh, but it is really only meant to avoid situations where buyers keep "rescheduling" their pick-up date for months and months. These types of situations usually imply the buyer is not serious about the goat and is probably not the best home for the goat. This does not mean I will sell your goat out from under you if you have a emergency come up and have to make other arrangements for pick up. Just stay in touch with me so I know what the plan is and know that you are serious about completing the purchase of the goat.)
Sales of Adult Animals
Adult animals offered for sale will follow the same policy as kids. A non-refundable deposit of $100 is due within 7 days of you deciding to purchase the goat. The remaining balance plus any costs for shipping or testing is due in cash or by Paypal prior to pick-up (or shipping date) or 2 weeks in advance if paying by a personal check. If the goat cannot be picked up within 2 weeks of purchase and other arrangements have not been made, a fee of $1 per day may be charged or the goat may be offered for sale to another interested party and your deposit will not be refunded. (Please see my note, above, under "Picking Up Your Kid" about this policy.)
Health Procedures and Disclosures
Kids are dam raised and will not be weaned prior to 8 weeks; often, they will stay on the dam longer (typically, I won't let kids go before the end of show season which is August 1st). . Before going to their new homes, registered kids will be tattooed and disbudded (unless otherwise noted). I no longer give CDT vaccines to kids before they leave. My herd is tested free for CAE, CL, and Johne's annually. Paperwork for registration and/or transfer with ADGA will be ready for the buyer. All animals are guaranteed to be healthy and disease free at the time of sale. Because we cannot control environmental influences and conditions once said animal leaves our property, we cannot offer any further guarantees. All kids will be disbudded, however, we can never guarantee that scurs will not grow, especially in buck kids. We do our best to watch for possible scurs and re-burn as necessary. While we breed for milk production and conformation in accordance with the Nigerian Dwarf breed standard, we cannot guarantee the kid's future milk production, height, or breeding soundness. We will do out best to describe all kids and adult animals to give you the best information possible to make your purchase decisions. If you have specific concerns or traits you are looking for, please let us know so we can give you the most relevant information possible.
We are more than happy to provide DNA results on any kid we sell! We are working on getting DNA on file for the entire herd; at this time all of the bucks and many of the senior does are done. If you would like a DNA test, the buyer is responsible for the cost of the DNA kit (cost is less than $30). If the dam of the kid you are buying isn't tested yet, don't worry; we will cover the cost of getting the dam DNA tested first. We want all our customers to be comfortable that they are getting exactly what they pay for. Alpha s1 Casein testing can also be sent in for around the same cost.
Shipping Your Goat
We are willing to ship kids via airline from Great Falls, MT. Buyer will be responsible for the cost of shipping, health certificates or other testing specific to their state, and the purchase of their own kennel. The kennel can be purchased and shipped directly to our location. Flight cost is likely to be around $400-$500, depending on where its flying; however, many airlines are making it more and more difficult to airship.
I highly recommend ground shipping with Amy Sporna of 5 Star Transport or Brian Gorman of Blarney Heights Farm Transport. I have shipped goats with both of these individuals and highly recommend (and I have a huge mistrust for most ground transporters!) Currently, our vet charges $45 for health certificates plus a trip fee of approximately $60; if we are able to combine other vet work we need for our herd with the trip for the health certificate, then the trip fee will not apply. Obviously, these are only quotes and could vary significantly depending on where you are shipping the kid and what time of year it is.
Please note: in no case will we ship an animal that has not been paid for, in full, prior to shipping (if paying by check, there must be sufficient time for the check to clear prior to shipping.) If the payment is not received, the goat will not be put on the plane/trailer.
Delivery Options
Feel free to contact me with any questions at all! I may be able to make arrangements to drive animals part-way for the cost of gas or deliver for free to any show we are attending. Let me know where you are located and I'll see if I can work something out!
