Thank you for visiting Sweet Gum Minis. Below I will cover all aspects
of purchasing a goat at our farm from deposits and payment to shipping
and disease testing. Thanks for reading!
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General Information
Goats are social herd animals who do not do well when alone. If you are
new to goats and are considering just getting one please reconsider.
Goats who are kept alone cry non-stop and are depressed. For this reason
we will not sell goats by themselves unless you currently have goats.
Goats often do well as companions for other livestock so they can be a
horse etc companion too. Please know your horses disposition towards
goats before purchasing a goat or goats. Thank you for understanding.
All information given on animals is accurate and truthful to the
best of our acknowledge. We will not deign any information about any
goats on our farm. Goats are priced by how I feel they should be
priced. I have purchased goats before for more than I sell them for
as well as the other way around. I will not price a goat more than I
think its worth.
Please note that there will be no refunds of deposits period. We can
however, transfer it to another kid or adult currently available or
in the future.
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Deposits
Deposits are not taken on breeding(s), however we do take reservations.
Deposits are for kids or goats until their pick-up is arranged. Deposits
are $100 per
goat or half of sales price, whichever is less. Which simply means $100
for any buckling or doeling and $75 for a wether or 2 wethers together.
Deposits are not refundable, but can be
transferred to another kid or towards the purchase of another goat, your
choice. Should the kid die or become unsuitable for sale then deposits
will be
refunded in full to you or can be transferred to another kid, your
choice. If you have any questions about deposits or purchases email us.
We do accept paypal if you wish to send the deposit by paypal.
Please include a 3% service charge on all payments through paypal.
Please email or call to inform us of a payment coming through paypal
before sending it.
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Waiting List
If you would like to reserve a kid please email us with the dam's name
and what you are reserving. (Example, a blue-eyed doe kid from Nimue or
a Polled buck kid from Anna etc.) Your name will be taken down in order
by first come first serve. Once kids are born from that breeding you
will be notified of the kids birth and availability. If you're second in
line for a kid you will be notified that the kid is born, but the person
ahead of you will have first choice on reserving. As with all goats at
our farm, breeder reserves all rights to retain any kid to our herd.
We will notify those on the waiting list within 24 hours of birth of
the newborn kids. You have 3 days to notify us whether you want the
kids or not or the next on the list will be given the option to buy
the kid. Deposits should be sent within 2 weeks after you confirm to
buy a kid. Please send payment to:
Ashley Capps
119 W. King St.
Easley, SC 29640
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Payment
We DO NOT accept checks at pick-up!
This is not negotiable, bring cash or please have the goat paid for
before pick-up. We will however, accept checks for deposits and we will
take checks for full payment so long as they have had time to clear
before pick-up is arranged. If you wish to pay by check please contact
us and arrange a time frame. We do accept paypal, money orders and of
course cash. If you pay by Paypal, just choose the 'Personal' or
'Other' options when sending money to bypass the 3% Paypal fee. If
you do not, then you will need to include the 3% surcharge. We want all parties involved to be
happy with their purchase. Just drop us a line at admin@sweetgumminis.com with
any questions. Also, if you need a health certificate, please let us
know and add an additional $35 to the total price. Thank you!
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Pricing
I try to price kids as fairly as I can. Many factors go into account
when each kid is priced and this is also the case for each breeding. The
price is a projection of what we expect. Prices are subject to change
once the doe kids out, should the price increase, it would not affect
any reservations made before hand. The prekidding price will be honored
for reserved kids only.
Our base price for doe kids is $300. All first
freshener's or first time kidding doe's daughters will be listed at this
base price on the kidding schedule until they kid. So reserving a
doeling out of a first freshener is a great opportunity to get an
excellent doeling for a very low price. Once the doe kids out and we get
to evaluate the udder we've been dreaming of for the duration of her
pregnancy, the price of the kids may increase. However, as stated above,
the price will not affect previously reserved doelings. Proven
doe's doelings will be based on their dam and sire's merits and the
potential the kids have.
Our base price for buck kids is $200. Wethers are $75 each or 2 for
$125. First fresheners' bucklings are always listed as wethers on
the breeding schedules. Once the doe kids and we have a chance to
milk her, see her udder full and determine her udder quality, we may
change the status of her buck kids. Generally speaking, if a doe is
filling in nicely and we see characteristics of a great udder coming
in, we'll post 'YTD' in the buck slot on the breeding schedule. If
the dam proves worthy, her sons will then be priced by her
freshening and the individual buckling's confirmation. Proven dam's
bucklings will be priced by the dam's and sire's merits and
potential the kids have.
If you do see a first freshener that you would like a buck kid out
of, just email us to discuss it. I can give you a quote and mark you
down for a reservation and then once the doe kids we can determine
if bucks should be available from that kidding. I will not sell any
buck kids intact that I would not be willing to use in my own herd
breeding program.
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Returns
I have decided not to accept returns for any reason. If it is medically
necessary I can take the animal back into quarantine until a new home is
found, but we have decided not to accept returns due to the fact that we
do not know where they go or how they're treated nor what they maybe
exposed to once they leave. So all sales are final once an animal
leaves. Thank you for understanding this. Questions or comments, just
email us. You are always welcome, and we encourage you to see the goat
you're interested in before making the purchase. We can also provide new
pictures of a goat on request. I generally try to take new pictures once
a goat is listed for sale.
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Kid Care
Kid Care Schedule
Care of Bred Does
I have not missed a birth yet. I stall all my does in a
"kidding stall" at least a week, normally 2 weeks before birth at night
only. During the day they're out with the rest of the herd and I can
watch them from the window for signs. I check the ligaments of my does
faithfully. This method of detecting pending birth has never failed me.
The ligaments will drop and disappear. It will feel like you can touch
your finger tip to thumb around her spine. Best way to notice it, would
be to get use to feeling for them daily on your does. I check at least
twice, often more times a day. If she's a skittish doe then I only get
to check twice. Once in the AM when they eat their breakfast grain
before being turned out and last in the evening at their dinner when
they come up for the night. I have a baby monitor and video camera in my
barn to listen and watch the does with.
1 Month Before Birth
All kid's dams will be vaccinated with Bar-Vac CD/T and give and
given a selenium dose a month before their due date. This is a good
booster for kids. We have both vaccinated and not vaccinated but I have
found personally in my herd that kids thrive if their dams do receive
the vaccine and selenium before kidding. So we do all does now.
Birth
Iodine the naval
Squirt of Nutri-Drench as needed
We observe every kid nursing on their own before we take a much
needed break from the birth-fun.
-2 weeks
Disbudded and Tattooed
Tetanus Antitoxin
6 weeks
1st CD/T Booster
1st Deworming
8 weeks
2nd Deworming
2nd Bar-Vac CD/T booster
Hoof Trim
Ready to leave
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Bottle Raising
We are still
working to achieve a total milking/bottle raising herd. Our goal is to
milk all does who freshen on our farm, and bottle raise all kids. This
involves heat treating colostrum and pasteurizing milk for the kids
consumption. This may take us a couple seasons to complete. In the
meantime, any kid can be put on a bottle, just ask if you'd like yours
on a bottle and it isn't otherwise noted. |
Pick-up
All money due for goat(s)
must be paid on or before pick-up. If you are paying off the goat(s) at
pick-up bring cash. We do not accept checks at pick-up. No exceptions!
Bottle kids are ready at 2 weeks of age to go to their new homes.
Dam raised kids are ready for pick-up at 2 months of age (8-9 Weeks
old). Kids should be picked up promptly
after arrangements are made within 30 days. Adult goats are to be
picked-up by date made in email/phone arrangements. Boarding fee of $2 a day may apply
to any goats who exceed 30 days and are not scheduled to be
picked-up. I am a very easy person to work with, just let me know
your plans in advance and we'll have no problems.
Should 60 days pass without written or verbal contact then all
moneys paid will be forfeited and the goat will be either put back
up for sale or kept by seller's discretion.
Please address any and all concerns you might have at pick-up with
the goat(s) you're purchasing. Do not wait till you have the goat
home to email with questions or complaints. Goats will not be
accepted back under these terms. We are happy to work things out in
person.
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Shipping
We do ship kids. In most cases two can be shipping together in
the same crate saving you a second shipping fee so be sure to ask about
multiples. Please call the airline you wish to use in advance to verify
if you are planning to ship two together. ALL fees and expenses incurred
for the flight including, vet health certificate, any testing your state
requires, crate for shipping and other supplies are the buyers expense.
We will be happy to drop your kid(s) off at the airport ready for their
trip after all arrangements and payments are made. No kids will be
shipped if only partially paid for or by COD so do not ask. A rough cost
for supplies is $35 for vet health certificate, $15-20* per test
requested, $55* crate and the flight averages around $150-250* depending
on airline, number of kids, destination and other factors. (All
prices and conditions mentioned above are subject to change so please
verify costs before submitting payment.)
Since we plan to show don't hesitate to ask if we maybe
attending a show and we can deliver kids or adults that are for sale for
no extra cost to a show. The shows we anticipate attending for 2007 are
mainly in GA, SC and NC but others maybe added later.
**Note on shipping. We can take kids to the
Greenville/Spartanburg airport for shipping. If the kid(s) must be taken
to the Columbia airport then additional transport costs will be
incurred. It takes at least 2 hours one way to get to the Columbia
airport from here. Contact for quotes.
*These prices are subject to change. Quotes will be given if serious
inquires are made.
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Registration
All Nigerian Dwarf kids born at Sweet Gum Minis come with triple
registration (ADGA, AGS & NDGA). They will have ADGA, AGS & NDGA
applications. If you wish to name your kid please contact me as soon as
possible. Otherwise we will name kids.
All Mini-Mancha kids born at Sweet Gum Minis are
eligible for TGMR and MDGA registration. All materials needed will
either be supplied, applications or registration will be supplied.
Kids who require DNA typing will have this preformed
before being sold. In that case the goat will have its registration
already provided at time of sale.
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Disease Testing
When we do our disease testing we include ALL animals here. That can be
bucks here on loan, goats sold, everything! We do not skip ANY animal
for testing. We test all animals on our property 6 months and older. The
reason we do not test under 6 months is because the test is not accurate
due to the young stock not building antibodies therefore they'll return
negative either way. So we test all animals over 6 months of age. Which
will include our young stock's sires and dams.
We have tested for CAE since we began raising Nigerian Dwarfs. Our
herd has always been negative. We have never had a positive animal
on our farm. We have never had a lesion, abscess or questionable
mark on any goat at our farm. We take pride in maintaining a healthy
herd.
*March 2007 1st CAE
all tested, all NEGATIVE by WADDL.
*May 2008 CAE all tested NEGATIVE by WADDL.
*November 2009 CAE whole herd tested NEGATIVE by Bio Tracking.
*November 2010 CAE whole herd tested NEGATIVE by Bio Tracking.
*January 2012 CAE
whole herd tested NEGATIVE by the Rollins Laboratory, NC State Vet.
*January 2012 JOHNES whole herd tested NEGATIVE by the Rollins
Laboratory, NC State Vet.
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Guarantee
All kids are guaranteed healthy and free of any known health problems
upon leaving the farm. We abide by the rules set forth by the American
Dairy Goat Association as seen here on this page under section XIX
Recommended Trade Practices For Members.
http://www.adga.org/2004-trade-practice.html#98
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Go to Breeding
Schedule
Go to Sales page |
