Hi everyone!! I wanted first to say Thank You sooo much for your words of kindness and donations to myself and my daughter to help us regain ground after our fire. We are now starting to really settle into our new place. I would like to ask a question though. If we put an ad in the local bargin trader for unwanted farm animals do you think we would get a response? I am hoping not to have to spend an outrageous amount of money on getting a new start on the animals. Just looking for some chickens, a goat and who knows what. Any ideas? Sue

-- Sue (rainbowacres1@yahoo.com), November 13, 2001

Answers

Yes......they will come. One man trash is another man's treasure. We were given a mule no one wanted and "Sarah" is the MOST wonderful nonperson I have ever met. She is truely the sweetest pet. Nothing ventured.........Best of Luck!!!

-- Susan (baaamaid@goatweb.com), November 14, 2001.

Yes, but be sure to note any conditions you have about what you will take. Like 'no lame animals unless delivered' or whatever. I am sure you will get some. There are always folks who need animals to go to a good home for one reason or another.

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), November 14, 2001.

You could even go to the local farm auctions and see what they are selling. Of course, be VERY careful in the animals if you do deceide to buy them. Or just talk with the people at the auction selling animals they may have some of their "better" stock at home waiting to be sold privately too. Good Luck

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), November 14, 2001.

Some people are without honesty and will dump their problem animals at any oppertunity. I would not seek this in the public format but rather through friends and other people you know, that way there is a moral link. Remember to isolate any new livestock until you have time to tell if they are sick or hard to handle, ect.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), November 14, 2001.

You might want to post a notice in your local feed store. Anyone with animals is usually there at one time or another.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), November 14, 2001.

I am sure you will get calls. You do have to ask yourself why would someone give away an expensive animal? There are a number of good reasons and a lot of bad reasons to give away animals.

Be selective in what you take. Be realalistic. Have some extra money set aside for vet bills.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), November 14, 2001.

yes you can do it , make sure you get the persona name and info , many will not like that , tell them its just to let them know how the animal is doing .... on caveat , be ready for lots of kittens and dogs offered , if you dont want them put that in the ad, as well as having the person deliver it to you ,

we got our steer that way , and next year when he is in the freezer we will be very happy , we live in ND , and there arent a lot of milking farms here , and the beef folks dont like to mess with dairy breeds , they dont put on weight fast enough so he was free , we could have taken more , but didnt have space

one other thing , as well as isolating , go to the farm store , and buy some pennicillin , and some wormer , it should be your first course of action in any animal is to worm it , even if it was supposedly just done ....

good luck!!

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

Where are you, I had nice ewes last year that I culled only because I wanted to downsize. All of them had been giving me twins each year. I hated to sell them at auction because it was assumed they were nothing. Next year I want to cull one more but she gives triplets every year and raises them solely by herself. I am downsizing to only raising enough for myself a few others for sell. When I had 17 breeding ewes, lambing almost put me under and because I had a billion babies running around I sold alot at auction where I am not sure if I got my money even back. This is better, you can make money on beef but difficult on sheep. So...people do give good animals away.

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), November 14, 2001.

Yeah, where are you? I have a few extra critters....I'm in western Washington State.

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), November 14, 2001.

If you are near me (central coast Calif) I usually have a few hens extra. I have thought about advertising to get some ducks like that.....that someone can't keep. Maybe I just will. Good luck with yours..let us know how it goes!

-- Jenny (auntjenny6@aol.com), November 14, 2001.

Wow, thanks for the encouragement and ideas!! I really never thought about posting at a feed store(duh!). I'm in southeast North Carolina near the South Carolina border. I am the one who had the fire and am still trying to gather things(tools, books,canning equiptment,etc.) back. When we had the fire our shed/barn was close to the house and it went too. It is slow going but we are doing it. This board has really helped me get it back together. I really didn't know if we could do it again but here we are!! I would LOVE to meet others from NC. Thanks again!

-- Sue (rainbowacres1@yahoo.com), November 14, 2001.

Hi Sue, I was thinking about you and your daughter the other day. I hope you received many treasures from your request after the fire, and I am glad to hear that things are getting back to normal for you. Unfortunately I don't live closer or have any animals to donate, just the mags and books. Is there anything that you still wish for? (reading material) I would be glad to comb thru my bookshelf again. Again, glad to hear things are looking up. Kim :-D

-- Kim in Indiana (kwcountrygirl@aol.com), November 14, 2001.

I live in Southwestern Nevada. If you were close enough to me, I would gladly share goats, sheep, chickens, canning supplies, cooking and baking equipment, household supplies, etc. I just found Countryside on the web. The day after Christmas last year, I also had a terrible fire and lost SO much. Any kind of help is a step toward getting your life back in order........even a kind word. I wish you and your family happiness and the very best in the coming holiday season.

-- Donna Cooper (Sudschick@hotmail.com), November 16, 2001.