[Roxy]

about little Finlay.  It looks like he will be a true pygmy size, having the pygmy sire, and his mum also, although neither are registered - well as far as I know.
He is very nicely marked, maybe even nicer than Bobby his father.  Usually pygmies are not disbudded, but I was thinking of having him done.

The decision is whether to castrate him.  Can't do him yet, everthing about him is so tiny.  The cats look enormous next to him.

I have discussed selling him, in which case I would go ahead and castrate, as he has more chance of getting a pet home then.  But OH was horrified at this suggestion.

But keeping him intact, is no use to most of my female pygmy goats, as they are his mother, auntie, sister etc, but there again, Bobby now has some daughters in our little pygmy herd.

If we keep Finlay then Bobby would have to go as we certainly do not need two intact billies.

[princesspiggy]

I have discussed selling him, in which case I would go ahead and castrate, as he has more chance of getting a pet home then.  But OH was horrified at this suggestion.

i would definitely castrate him then he can get a happy home, got to be cruel to be kind. we have a pet ram lamb that we kept intact, but should have castrated him, makes life alot more difficult when they are older. he cant share with the ewes but gets beaten up by the other tups so stays up by the house with the chickens. if he was castrated we probly would have sold him years ago , but wev kept him cos a) he was the kids pet, b) his behaviour is still ram-like so wouldnt like to sell him as a pet if case he hurts someone c) we have the space and cant face eating him.
different species but same scenario.
 

[wytsend]

Defo castrate ... no other decision to be made.  He will keep his sweetness if done.

[little blue]

book Finlay in at the vets to be disbudded .... and ask them to ring him while he's unconscious ... most importantly, dont tell your O/H till AFTER he's done!
less eye-watering altogether, to be honest thats Mr's objection isn't it!

whether you keep him or re-home him, its surely better that he's castrated

[Anke]

I would second that, if he's not register-able than I would think castration and pet are his best chances. I am in a similar situation, and unless someone comes back to me by the weekend I will have to put a ring on my wee GG kid too (and as he's polled it cannot be done while he's asleep, so I am not looking forward to it).

[Roxy]

I can ring the little fella here - no problem.  Just that, I do want to keep another intact pygmy, and in my view, he may be a better option, than buying in an older one who could be set in his ways......hmm......will make a decision now.  Castrate him though, and hubby will want to keep him and he will be another mouth to feed and not productive!!

[Anke]

But not a very big mouth to feed I guess? And he could always go as a pet/companion if you sell a female?

[Roxy]

No .....I think he will only be compact in size, although the amount of milk he is putting away, he may turn out the size of our big goats.

Have two people who have seen him, and want to buy him.  One lady had the cash in her hand ready!!  I did not take it, as I am not sure she could cope with bottle feeding.