Author Topic: Not been around much (Read 8622 times)

Roxy · « **Reply #15 on:** April 17, 2010, 11:03:17 pm »

Fingers crossed she holds her kids this time.

We should have had two due in June, one a pygmy, and the other one of the smaller sannans, both by our pygmy billy. I think the pygmy was in kid, but think she reabsorbed too. Hard to tell with pygmys, they are short and fat all the time!! Quite capable of breeding twice a year too, if allowed!!

ballingall · « **Reply #16 on:** April 17, 2010, 11:11:22 pm »

Lol, short and fat, maybe I should just describe myself as a pygmy too!

Are you keeping the pygmy male away from the girls then now? I think kids twice a year would be a bit much. I find once a year more than enough to cope with.

Beth

Roxy · « **Reply #17 on:** April 17, 2010, 11:25:09 pm »

Yes, he has had different girls with him, since. Also got his castrated son, Barnie, as company. I am fortunate that we have a selection of goats, male and female to keep each other company. Although they have their little groups, and some groups do not get on with the others ......Paddy the big Alpine billy does not like any of the goats unless they are female!!!

ballingall · « **Reply #18 on:** April 17, 2010, 11:36:09 pm »

Funny, my big AN male is like that! He hates other males, unless they are quite young and not a challange to him. Poor Carrick is going to have to move in beside him soon.

Beth

ukag0972 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 18, 2010, 07:46:13 am »

I'm finished kidding now!
Only had 2 pregnant this time as my AN billy snuffed it. He did leave three very gorgeous kids, 2 of which are boys so will be castrated and eaten later. The wee girl, I'll keep for my ever increasing stock!!!

little blue · « **Reply #20 on:** April 18, 2010, 04:26:49 pm »

Beth, if you don't mind me asking... do you get a vet a put them to sleep, and does it cost, say the same as an old dog?!
And how do you then go about the 'disposal' of the kids?

I know the regs, its the practicalities I'd like to understand....
Cheers

ballingall · « **Reply #21 on:** April 19, 2010, 10:55:24 pm »

Regarding the collection, its exactly the same as if the kids are stillborn, they should still be collected b the abbatoir, which all costs money of course!

Regarding the other, different methods are used, some not very pleasant. Some people drown male kids in a bucket of very cold water virtually straight away, other people hit them on the head first, then drop them in a bucket of water to make sure. I have a friend who has a humane killer, but I don't know if he ever used that on his newborns or not. There are also people who take them to the vet, and yes it costs much the same as having a dog or rabbit put to sleep.

I have said before, and will do so again, that I am very lucky in that mum is a trained vet, and that also our vets are very, very good, and will let her have the medication she needs for the kids. They wouldn't normally let someone have it, but because she is qualified their are happy. Actually it's remarkable we have built up such a good relationship with our vet as we only lived here 5 years. However, we do still also go to our old vet occasionally.

Beth

little blue · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2010, 08:07:12 pm »

Quote from: ballingall on April 19, 2010, 10:55:24 pm

Regarding the collection, its exactly the same as if the kids are stillborn, they should still be collected b the abbatoir, which all costs money of course!

does the abbatoir have to collect, or can you take them?
and what paper work is needed? and who provides it?

I've tried looking on DEFRA but it gave me a headache and feelings of inadequecy!

as you say, its great that your mum is a vet.

I asked our vet (who are, on the whole brilliant) if we could administer the vaccinations to our dog, as she is nervous aggressive & we hadn't had her that long from the rescue. they couldn't remove her stitches after spaying, but we could (husband trained her to roll on her back on the command "itchy nipples!")
they were adamant that we couldn't, causing her great distress & setting back her socialisation .... yet the day before had given me 6 syringes set up with ivomectin for the pigs - first time we'd done it!!

Roxy · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20, 2010, 11:31:33 pm »

We usually take our dead goats to the abbatoir, but they do have a collection service. Not sure they would be happy to drive over here for a new born kid though. Charge £15 for a goat, but when we took the pygmy the other week, he charged me a tenner cos it was small (it was very small in fact!) so I would say they would want a tenner at least.
people used to get a big wide necked bottle, put some chloform on a cotton wool pad, and then put the kids head in, and it would just go to sleep and not wake up.

ballingall · « **Reply #24 on:** April 21, 2010, 10:02:11 pm »

I don't actually know if they will take delivery! Have never thought to ask that! They give you a reciept thing- no need for a movement form as the animal is dead. Not sure if you would need a movement form if you were taking a live goat to the knackers to be destroyed. Our knackers/disposal men will put down (using a bolt gun) when they collect if necessary.

Beth

little blue · « **Reply #25 on:** April 23, 2010, 10:00:22 pm »

thankyou....

Roxy · « **Reply #26 on:** April 23, 2010, 10:54:36 pm »

I did not get a receipt for any goat I have taken, they did not check ear tags either. That applies to the dead ones, and the couple of live ones we took too (which were not going to recover). They just took the cash ......I am surprised with all the paperwork we are expected to fill in, that something does not need to be recorded at their end.

Same with the horses, he collected, I paid cash, no paperwork, I still have the passports for all my departed horses.