Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome interested buyers to our farm by appointment only.  Contact us for scheduling.

Yes, we are able to deliver purchased goats to any location within the state of Virginia.  However, additional fees may apply based upon travel distance or other necessary accommodations.

No, not at this time.  Any animal purchased for slaughter must be received by the buyer alive or we may offer delivery of purchased animals to a slaughterhouse of the buyer's choosing.

We actually do not have a set age at which our kids are posted for sale.  Technically, we wean at 12 weeks and so any time after that they would be available, but our focus is on weight and proper weight gain indicating a healthy "ready-to-thrive" animal.  Kids that are growing consistently and are looking robust and healthy at 12 weeks, will be made available for purchase.  Those that may be lagging a bit for any reason may be held until we are confident that they are demonstrating healthy growth.  Kids reserved by buyers prior to weaning will be contacted as the expected weaning/pick up date approaches if any concerns are present.

We do not perform disbudding (horn removal).  

Yes!  Contact us today and request addition to the waiting/contact list for the upcoming spring's kidding season.  Include name, contact information, specific desirable traits, preferred age, sex, etc. in which you are interested.  Once all our new kids have arrived and our selections for sale have been made, we will send out notice to all parties that have requested to be contacted prior to the kids being placed on our "For Sale" page for public view.  Those contacted will receive photos, pedigree, and a physical description of each kid.  Each recipient will have a 1 week opportunity to place any kid(s) they wish to purchase on reserve.  All reservations will be taken as a first come, first serve basis.  After 1 week from the day of contact, all animals for sale will be added to the "For Sale" page for public viewing.

We may also sell an older animal on occasion as well.  Those parties on our contact list will also be notified if/when these animals become available for purchase.

There has been a lot of research done and more is ongoing regarding the benefits of not having a regularly scheduled deworming program for goats and other animals as well.  

All animals carry with them a certain number of parasites called "load."  So long as the load does not exceed the host's ability to thrive, no significant detriment is being caused to that host.   If the parasite load should exceed the animal's threshold, they will begin to show clinical signs such as a low famacha score (indicating possible anemia), weight loss, skin issues, hair loss etc.  The thought is that regular deworming ("old school" method) regardless of whether the animal(s) is clinical (symptomatic) or not actually does more harm than good by causing parasite resistance to the medications.  With each treatment, some of the parasites always manage to survive.  After repeated exposure to the medication, only the resistant parasites remain, over time rendering the medication ineffective.   Without any means to control the resistant parasites, the animal succumbs to its infection.

For this reason, we choose to only deworm those animals that are clinical, unless specifically requested by the buyer.

Goats are herd animals and can suffer from stress if they are not matched with a companion.  We strongly recommend that if you do not already have goats at home, that you purchase a minimum of two to provide that companionship.  Some goats learn to accept other farm animals as herd mates such as horses, smaller breeds of cattle, and sheep.  If this is the route you are choosing, be sure to consider the appropriate size and personality of both parties to avoid potential injury or death to the animals as well as any health concerns of mixing species.  We reserve the right to refuse a sale based upon an unsafe living condition for the animal.

A general rule of thumb for housing would be an interior space of a minimum of 10 square feet per goat with an additional isolation pen no smaller than 4ft x 6ft to be used for quarantine, kidding, rehabilitation from illness or injury, etc.  Animals will develop a hierarchy within the herd and the lowest level individual will need room to escape the matriarch should she decide to defend the grain pale, hay bag, feed trough, etc.  If you intend to breed multiple goats in the future, additional space should be provided as well as additional "kidding pens" to separate birthing mothers from the rest of the herd.

A paddock intended to provide forage should contain no more than 6-8 goats per acre.  This can vary greatly depending upon the quality of forage available (browse is better than grass).  Smaller paddocks may be used of course but will require higher amounts of supplemental feeding.  Outdoor areas should be a minimum of 250-300 square feet per animal and contain environmental enrichment.  Myotonic goats do not usually climb fences but do enjoy opportunities to jump onto low to the ground platforms, bridges, or logs.  Keep the objects low as a fainting goat falling from height may cause injury.

Bigger is always better.  Too many animals in a small space can often lead to stress and stressed animals may become more susceptible to illnesses.  It will also quickly deplete the vegetation available and hungry goats may resort to eating plants that are possibly toxic or stripping the bark from trees to acquire more nutrients.  Higher densities also increase the propensity for parasite infestation.  Consider these numbers as guidelines but always provide more space whenever possible.  Field rotation is an excellent program to implement, if possible.

We do our very best to ensure that on the day you arrive to take your new goat home that you are receiving a healthy, robust, ready to thrive animal.  We are confident that you will find success.  Otherwise, we would not make the sale.  Our goal is not to sell sick or injured animals, passing them off as healthy.  Unfortunately, environmental conditions outside of our own farm are a concern or contamination and so all sales are final.  Should you experience any issues, we are happy to discuss your concerns and make any recommendations we can to improve the difficulties that you may be experiencing.  We are also more than willing to answer any questions that you may have prior to purchase or long after the sale has been made.

Its important to keep in mind that goats are browsers not grazers (cattle and sheep).  They much prefer woody and stemmy vegetation such as briars, blackberries, raspberries, saplings, and vines to grass.  They are often used for clearing such "brush" from pastures or wood lots for later use by grazers or for maintenance of pastures.  This is the primary food source that we provide for our goats.  They absolutely destroy invasives such as autumn olive, Callery pear, multi-flora rose, and native species as well such as Virginia creeper and poison ivy.  

We supplement with high quality 2nd cut hay as needed primarily in the winter as their preferred vegetation goes dormant.  

Does also receive a small ration of grain each evening.  This allows us to train the animals to return to the shelter each night for inspection for any signs of injury or illness and to be sure all our goats are in peak body condition.  We increase the ration of grain during gestation and lactation to aid the does in the physical demands of those times.

Bucks and wethers do not receive any grain of any kind unless it is for a specific medical need to promote weight gain prescribed by a veterinarian.  Feeding grain to bucks increases the risk of "blocking" because of the high phosphorous content of most grains.  Blocking is the development of Urinary Calculi, also known as stones in the urethra causing an obstruction.  This is a serious health risk and requires veterinary attention immediately.  Bucks are more prone to developing an obstruction due to their longer and narrower urethra.  

We choose to provide the goats with as much of a natural forage diet as possible, but we also understand that is not always possible for everyone.  It does not mean that you cannot maintain a happy healthy goat.  Generally speaking, each goat will need a ration of grain (14-18% protein) and 2-5lbs of high-quality hay/forage per day).  The grain amount will depend upon the chosen grain (check bag recommendations), age, weight, and status of the animal (doeling, pregnant, lactating, etc).  If your goat is in good body condition with a healthy coat, its likely getting ample nutrition.  Always remember to keep clean fresh water and loose minerals available at all times.

It is a common misconception that a goat will eat "anything."  Goats will eat their most preferred foods first and move along to other plants (browsers).  Only when these desirable plants are exhausted will they turn to less preferred forage.  Most of the commonly found toxic plants are only consumed out of starvation, curiosity, or learning what to eat and what to avoid.  Typically, these plants are not consumed in high enough quantities to cause significant health risks and are avoided when quality food/forage is provided.  

We do not offer any recommendations as to actions that should be taken against these plants as the species will vary upon location.  Instead, we suggest you research which toxic plants may be in your area.  Use field guides or contact a horticulturalist or forestry agent to identify which species are present in and adjacent to your goat areas and consult with your veterinarian regarding which may be of highest concern to determine any course of action.

I will say that ornamental plants are usually of greatest concern such as yew, which can be deadly in even small amounts.  Keep your goats contained within appropriate areas and avoid planting ornamental trees, shrubs, and grasses within reach of goat fencing/boundaries.

The answer is, no.  Myotonia is genetic neuromuscular disorder that causes the goat's muscles to contract usually when startled.  The muscles of the legs and back stiffen and are unable to relax for short periods of time.  Often, if on uneven ground or their momentum causes them to lose their balance, during these episodes they may fall over or "faint."  The goat does not lose consciousness and the episodes usually last for only a few seconds before recovering with no harm to the animal.  The degree of myotonia varies between each individual and episodes range from little to no stiffness, stiffness only in the legs, to frequently falling over.  Each animal's degree of myotonia is listed within their MGR documentation.

Field rotation is exactly what it sounds like, rotating animals to feed from one field to another.  If you have the space to do so, this system provides many benefits for your animals and can save you money on your feed and potentially your vet bills in the future.

It works by allowing the animals to forage and browse the vegetation of a smaller field, but before that vegetation is exhausted, the animals are moved to another in order to allow the vegetation in field #1 to recover and regenerate.  Not only are you encouraging fresh new growth in each field, but you are also breaking the life cycle of parasites, namely  Haemonchus contortus (barber pole worm, (BPM)).

To execute this system effectively, you must find the balance between the number of goats you place on a field that can be sustained by the forage available.  About 90% of BPM larvae are found in the first 4" of vegetational growth.  You must move the animals prior to the vegetation height being reduced that low.  Many will choose to relocate them at a height of 6-8" to allow some additional buffer.  Numbers  of BPW can be significantly reduced when fields are allowed to rest a minimum of 45 days between animal's access, but 60-90 days or more would be even better.  This helps the vegetation have time to create more regeneration to support the animals for the 60-90 days it takes the first field to recover.

The drawbacks to using this system is that it requires a greater area of land to be used (more fencing) and/or may reduce the number of goats that your land can support.  

The benefits are reduced parasite loads and consistent supply of fresh new growth of vegetation that has the highest nutrient content and palatability.  These will in turn improve and maintain herd health, reduce feed costs, lower the potential for creating medication resistant BPW's allowing treatments to have higher success rates when needed.

The hardest thing sometimes for buyers to understand is the "sticker shock" when they are told the price of the animal in which they are interested.  The simple fact is that, as with most things, "you get what you pay for."  We pride ourselves on breeding and raising healthy and robust goats ready to thrive in their new homes.  This means that throughout their lives with us they are provided a healthy diet, routine medical inspections, treatment if/when needed, and the necessary infrastructure to maintain a healthy living environment.  All of these items require an investment of time, energy, and resources to ensure that you are getting the best animal possible.

We register each animal with the Myotonic Goat Registry (MGR) to preserve the breed and to provide the data which other breeders can use to assess quality and ensure clean bloodlines.  Despite all of our best efforts, not every goat is created equal.  Some are ideal specimens and command a higher price for the value they bring to preserving/enhancing the gene pool.  Others may have a rare color or pattern.  Some may not be born with the strong genetics of the quintessential myotonic goat, but would still make an excellent, pet, companion, brush clearer, or table fare.  

Prices vary from one animal to the next based upon how they stand up to all the expectations of quality that we value here at Crooked Horn Farm.  We are happy to work with all buyers and all budgets to meet your objectives, if possible.  If nothing is available within your budget, you may request to be added to our annual waiting list for future opportunities.