Since all you're looking for are pets and have no intention of breeding, is there a specific reason why you're paying a breeder's price? I mean really, you can look on Craigs List and find goats pretty regularly and since you don't need to worry about genetics, you only have to worry about the general health of what you might consider purchasing. I mean did the seller take good care of the animals, and are they healthy? You don't want to bring diseased stock onto your property. Yes, I understand bio-security, and I understand there are risks buying untested animals and the like. I also understand starting a relationship with a breeder. However;
There's no need to pay a breeder's high price for a pet goat. You say you won't be considering breeding for several years yet. There are good people with healthy goats who are selling for any variety of reasons... their (human) kids may have had them for 4H and are now out of the program. Or they may be moving and can no longer keep them, getting older and downsizing, etc. There are hundreds of reasons. There are good goats available and you might save an excellent, friendly animal that otherwise might not fare so well. And you might get them at an excellent price. Just a thought... The decision is obviously up to you for the reasons most important to you
Hope you'll share some pics of them when you get them!
There's no need to pay a breeder's high price for a pet goat. You say you won't be considering breeding for several years yet. There are good people with healthy goats who are selling for any variety of reasons... their (human) kids may have had them for 4H and are now out of the program. Or they may be moving and can no longer keep them, getting older and downsizing, etc. There are hundreds of reasons. There are good goats available and you might save an excellent, friendly animal that otherwise might not fare so well. And you might get them at an excellent price. Just a thought... The decision is obviously up to you for the reasons most important to you
Hope you'll share some pics of them when you get them!