Should I sell my goats?

goats are escape artists at heart, so keeping them I'm sure isn't the easiest thing, but they are lower cost to keep than, say, a cow... I think you need to balance milk/cheese and sometimes food against the money right now and the extended cost of getting milk and cheese down the road...

I expect much depends on how you want your land to look. Goats can be very destructive, so without proper fencing they can be a real nuisance. However, with enough space they can be very independent - you just need to milk them. If you sell now, you can always buy more again later. It isn't good to become attached to these animals.

Well, is less work worth the loss of milk, cheese, and occasional meal? Do you have cows as well.. or just the goats for milk? Can you afford to purchase milk and cheese if you no longer have the goats?

If you are strapped for money and you are don't have the time you want taking care of the goats,I would sell them. I know goat meat is becoming more popular now a days. I think you are better off selling the goats instead of keeping them.

You should weigh if your goats are doing more bad than good to you before you sell them. You might feel regretful in the beginning but you'll get over it soon if ever you decided to sell them.

First, I really admire you for all you have taken on and managed to keep going this long. I have been tempted to get some chickens or ducks for eggs and insect control, but realize I'd never have time to care for them. I can barely manage the time to cook and garden a bit and keep us in clean clothes. I imagine it's hard to keep your sanity living in a half-built house while caring for children and goats by yourself. That has got to be stressful. I pretty much agree with the others as to how to make the decision. I'm facing a similar problem with my extra books for my business -- the unlisted ones that are filling up almost than two houses, a shed, and a garage. I know they will probably survive me and I'll never get them all listed, let alone sold, in what's left of my life. I'm tired of seeing them everywhere, but I paid for them and don't just want to throw or give them all away when they might be worth something. I figure I will at least never run out of something to read, lol. And for sure, I'll never have time to be bored. Is it possible for you to keep just a couple of goats for milk and cheese to lighten the care load instead of either keeping or selling them all? Maybe there are families whose kids are in 4-H that might want just one goat each. Are there people near you that might help with the goat shed in exchange for some of that milk and cheese? Just thoughts. You might be able to barter some of the milk and cheese for things you need more.

How much longer will your partner be gone? That might help me determine what I can handle. I think at this point I would probably sell them, but begin to look for income to replace them with once the facilities are built. Are any of your children old enough to take over the day to day care of the goats?

Hi GreenMoo! I think you should think about it again. How much do you save from the cheese and milk that the goats offer you? If you sell the goats, will the time and energy you used to spend to the goats be able to make up for the cheese and the milk? If you think that you will have more time to do other productive things which can also make you afford to buy cheese and milk, then I think you should sell the goats. Or maybe, you can sell a few and leave one or two behind. I just feel it's a waste to not have the free cheese and milk. Can't you just tie up the goats in a tree and just let them loose when they have to eat? Good luck!

That's a tough call but if you need the money I would go for selling the goats...since your goal might be off in the distance..don't give up on it...just put it off for a while!

People in my area will give away sheds if someone is willing to take them away. We have a free newspaper that we pick up at the store and there is always someone looking to get or give a shed away. Are the goats making it so you can afford milk, cheese and occasionally meat? Is the price of their feed more than milk, cheese, etc.? Would selling them help you to fix something at the house? Would you miss them? I don't know how many you have, but would selling half and keeping half help you? If you get rid of the goats, would you be able to afford a job? It's hard to help you because there is so much to consider when you want to change your lifestyle like this. Goats are hard. Pigs are easier, but you only get meat.

Good day greenmoo , So how much does a goat go for these days anyways? Is it really worth it to sell them and how much would it cost for you to replace them in the future if you were to replace them? These are all things you need to ask yourself before making that kind of decission. What would you do with the money you got from them...is that more important than the cheese and milk you get from them? Would you use that money to improve your living conditions? I don't know what work is required to upkeep the goats other than what you are telling me and it doesn't sound like fun. Do you not have a husband to help you with them as you only talk about your older son? I live in a big city of over a million people so we aren't allowed animals like goats in our yards. Some days when I am mowing the lawn I wish I had a goat or some geese to eat the grass. I had a friend a long time ago, that had two big white tame geese in their yard, it was fenced in and they couldn't fly so they couldn't get out. They got them so they wouldn't have to cut the grass but it only lasted one summer because they had to butcher them when winter came because they would never live through our winter when we get -30C at times. But you can't do that anymore, against the law now to have such animals in the city. Now that 4 months have passed what did you do with your goats? Did you end up selling them and if so do you wish now that you hadn't? Cheers and happy mylotting my friend Talk to you soon, Chris

What will you do for milk, cheese and the occasional meat the goats provide? You will have to get them somehow so figure that out before you sell the goats. Can the children help take care of them? Can you sell the milk and cheese and make some money from the goats? Look at all the advantages of having the goats then list the disadvantages. Are there shortcuts you can take in their care or duties others can do? It's a shame to sell the goats but they are more trouble than they are worth, go ahead. But take into account the losses you'll suffer without them and find out how much it will take to compensate for that.

It seems to me that you hated to sell your goats .You had no choice but to do that.I can't help worrying about your kids' nutrition without milk and cheese.I wonder if you have taken a milk substitute into account.

Judging the problem you are facing it is really hard to decide on this point. You badly need some money and on the other hand those goats are also essential part of your family. And your family is dependent on those goats that you have. So before deciding that you will sell those goats, I want to ask a question- Is there any urgent need of money? Yes the answer is yes then you have no other choice but to sell them. But if you can afford for sometime, I will suggest not to sell those goats because you are totally dependent on those goats. By Selling goats you can make some quick cash but in the long run you will suffer. I hope you will take the right decision

As long as the goats are providing food for your house i dont see a problem having them.

Selling the goats would provide you more time to do things other than care for them. However, you need to consider the amount of money they save you by providing food for your table. Could you finish the house with the money you'd get by selling most, but not all the goats? On the other hand, you could consider the goats your business. That way, no one should think ill of you for building a shed and good fencing for them. Consider all your options before you make a final decision.

So?! Have you sold them already? I think it's just a matter of time-management. If they take up so much of your time taking care of them, time which could be spent on something else, then maybe it's really time for them to go.

Rather than sell your goats, why don't you hire them out to people who, like me, don't have a lawnmower, but wants the grass in their backyards eaten.

If they are really bothering you, then there is no need of keeping them. You can still buy others sometimes later atleast when you will be better settled. Otherwise, I think is hard to deal with those creature when you are not really focused. It is tiresome indeed.

Well I do understand what you are talking about. We had awhile ago 3 goats and we didn't have a chance to milk them. Because what happened is that one of the female got pregnant and I did get pregnant in about the same year ,and right after the goat give birth I did feel to milk her, on top of the household work, my kids were helping to take care of them,otherwise I would have had a lot more on my hands and my husband had a job and yep if you don't have your kids helping you it is a good load of work,we had chicken on top of that and ducks. So I had the whole charge on my back when my husband was at work, but because I homeschooled my 5 kids their chores was take care of the animals and the dishes ect.....