Getting Ready For Your New BMR Kids
Looking forward to the day when your new kids come home is very exciting. But there are many things that need to be done in order to be ready for the kids. Here are some suggestions, but also check with other goat breeders in your area and with your veterinarian for more ideas and information.
Housing: Your goats will need a shelter that keeps them draft free, dry, and safe. If your new kids are just a few weeks old, you might be able to simply use a dog house or other small protected area. That will allow them to cuddle together for warmth and keep them out of the wind, rain, or snow. But the kids are going to get a lot bigger - fast. As they grow they will need more space. The space doesn't have to be elaborate. I've seen dog kennels with straw bales on the outside for insulation used, chicken coops, camper shells, and prefab storage units. My original goat house was a travel trailer that had been stripped down and "goat proofed". My current barns are concrete block with attached feed rooms for storing hay, grain, and pellets. Some people like to use an area like this as their milking area also. Be sure to plan ahead when deciding on your set-up.
I don't lock my goats into their house - ever. I've heard too many horror stories about barn fires and the animals being trapped inside. My goats can come and go from their house as they want. In fact, during the summer they prefer to sleep outside.
Fencing: I love using 54 inch high cattle panels. They are 16 feet long, sturdy and easy to install. However, small kids can fit though them so we line the bottom with chicken wire to keep them in. After they are a few months old, they don't fit through anymore. I like the pen to be as large as possible. Our first pen for two does was a 40 foot by 80 foot area. It was very roomy and we put "toys" in the area for them to play on - piles of rocks, tree stumps, and ramps. Goats can live in a smaller area, but I enjoy seeing them run and play. I've seen three does in a pen that was 25 X 25 and that seemed quite adequate.
Feeding your Kids: Your kids will be used to using a Caprine Bucket Feeder style nipple for drinking milk. You can purchase these from Caprine Supply or from us here at BMR. Our kids are fed pure, raw, goats' milk and we will give you enough milk to get you home and to transition your kids to what you will be feeding them. We recommend goat's milk from goats that are tested free of CAE and Mycoplasma, though pasteurized whole cow milk from the store will work, too. If goats' milk is available but the does are not tested, please be sure to fully pasteurize this milk, otherwise your kids may be infected with these incurable diseases. We feed approximately 40 oz. of milk per day until the kids are 8 - 10 weeks old. When you pick up your kids they will probably be getting fed twice a day - 20 oz. per feeding. Just ask us to be sure.
In addition to milk, your kids need to have access to fresh water, plus hay and/or small alfalfa pellets. I start them out on alfalfa hay and a small Caprine pellet. Then I change them over to a larger alfalfa pellet once they have grown enough to be able to handle the larger size. If you will not be feeding pellets, then just keep the kids on the alfalfa or an alfalfa/grass hay mixture. They should also have access to free-choice, loose, goat specific minerals. I use Sweetlix Caprine Magnum Milk loose minerals.
Vaccinating: I give a CD/T vaccine at 8 weeks and 12 weeks, with a yearly booster after that. Talk to your veterinarian about how, when, and with what product to vaccinate with for the best protection in your area. Also ask your vet if selenium and copper supplementation is necessary in your area.
Deworming: The severity and type of parasites that will affect your goats differs from region to region. Here in the very dry high desert of Arizona we don't have many parasite problems. Most areas, however, will have both internal and external parasites to deal with. Cocci in kids, worms and lice in adults. Talk to your vet about the best way to manage these problems. Just remember - a cocci or worm infestation can kill a goat in just a matter of weeks.
Traveling and Arriving Home: Your kids are very social creatures. Since traveling is a scary, new thing for them they will probably be most happy to ride with another goat kid buddy in the same crate as they are. That way they can snuggle together and feel a bit more comforted than if they are all alone. Once they are at their new home they will need reassuring and attention. They are very used to people being around and will appreciate having you spend time with them. Make changes to their diet slowly so they don't get an upset belly. Double check their surroundings to be sure that they are both goat proof and predator proof. The kids are used to Livestock Guardian Dogs being around, and we highly recommend having these wonderful protectors.
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles...
Traveling by airplane: Airplanes are fast, so the transportation time is cut down when traveling long distances. That helps reduce the overall travel stress somewhat. But it is expensive and scary (to kid, buyer, and seller). It also takes us over 10 hours to make the roundtrip to the airport. So it's already a long day for the kids before they even gets to the airport. We also need to charge for the airport run to at least cover our costs. The kids will usually have to be in separate crates when they fly.
Traveling by livestock hauler: There are companies that specialize in moving livestock - including goats and kids. These are not cheap but probably cheaper than other options. However, your animals will be mixed with other livestock causing a biosecurity nightmare. We work hard to have a very healthy, disease free herd, but can't guarantee what communicable problems the other animals might have. The circuitous routing can also take days or even weeks longer to get your new goat to you.
Traveling by car: Most times buyers decide to make the trip themselves, enjoy a vacation, visit the ranch, then head home with their new "herd". Especially for new goat owners it can be a great way to learn about goat care, see our set-up, do some hands on hoof trimming, feeding, milking, etc.
As of the fall of 2018 we have dispersed our herd. Please use the information above to help you select your goats from reliable breeders. Thank you all for your support.
Goat Sales
Prices and Policies
We offer fine Nubian Kids and Goats for sale from time to time. All of our Nubians are purebred and can be sold registered.
Goat Sales Prices
- Registered Does and Bucks $400 and up
- Doe Kids and Buck Kids with Registration Application $300 and up
(10% Discount on purchases of 5 or more kids from this category)
- Unregistered Bucks $200 and up
- Wethers $100 and up
Goat Sales Policies
We require a $100 deposit per reserved kid with the balance due within 7 days of the birth of the kid. If payment is not received within that time the buyer will forfeit their deposit money. Prices for reserved kids are for kids picked up by 3 weeks of age. After 3 weeks of age reserved kids will incur an additional $7.00 per day boarding charge. This is due to the cost of feeding the kids our pure fresh goat milk (instead of us being able to make cheese from the milk). While all reasonable care is taken to ensure the health and safety of the kids, Black Mesa Ranch will not be responsible for sickness or death of a reserved kid after it is three weeks old.
Deposits are refunded if your choice of kid is not born or if the kid is not up to our standards of quality. Deposits will not be refunded on cancelled orders. Refunds on deposits paid by credit card may incur a transaction fee. We will honor all reservations for kids to the best of our ability, however we do reserve the right to retain any kid as a replacement in our breeding program.
All goats are guaranteed free of CAE and CL. They are also all G6S Normal and carry the double high casein protein gene for better cheese making. All of our kids are sold disbudded. Any kids purchased as wethers will be castrated (banded) before leaving the property unless other arrangements are made and a refundable deposit given. There is a $20 fee for any replacement registration paperwork.
We prefer all kids and goats to be picked up at the ranch though other arrangements can be made.
Airport runs by BMR for shipping kids by air are $200 due to the 10 hour round trip from the ranch to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Buyers wanting to fly their kids are also responsible for having an appropriate shipping crate delivered to the ranch at least one week prior to ship date, and for reserving the flight (Flight Schedule must be approved by BMR first). Buyer is responsible for the cost of the flight, the crate, the health certificate, and the airport run. Due to airline heat restrictions for flying, we may not be able to fly kids after May 1st (earlier if a heat wave comes in).
If you are interested in buying a goat, please contact us for availability (or to be put on our waiting list) by emailing Kathryn or calling (928) 536-7759.
Sale prices, terms and conditions subject to change prior to sale confirmation.