How to Know if A Goat is Sick

If you're new to raising goats, you might wonder how you will know if one of your goats is sick. While some signs of illness are self-explanatory, here's a handy checklist for "what a healthy goat looks like" so that when things are off, you can be on top of the situation. Also check out our list of goat diseases so that you can match your goat's symptoms to a possible cause - and treatment.

Signs of Stress in New Goats

When you first buy your goats and bring them home, they may be stressed from the transport. And stress is also a sign that something may be off in your goat care: perhaps not enough, or the wrong kind, of food, or insufficient water intake, or maybe one goat is being bullied by its more aggressive herdmates.

Whatever the root cause of the stress, the signs of illness below can also be the symptoms and signs of stress in goats.

At their worst in a newly transported goat, these can develop into shipping fever - characterized by pneumonia, diarrhea, a fever over 103.5 degrees F, nasal discharge, coughing, or rapid breathing. If you suspect shipping fever, contact a vet immediately.

Signs of Illness in Goats

Weakness. Your goat might not walk normally, or won't be her usual playful self. Her head and ears may droop. Not getting up at all would be the most extreme sign of weakness.
Not eating or drinking as usual. If your goat isn't drinking or eating normally, something may be wrong.
Pressing head against wall or fence.
Not urinating, or difficulty urinating.
Feces aren't normal. Goats usually have pelleted feces. If your goat's feces is runny or loose, this indicates diarrhea.
Pale or gray eyelids and/or gums. Healthy goats have nice pink eyelids and gums.
Hot udder. This can indicate an abscess or infection of the udder.
Limping or staggering.
Runny nose and/or eyes.
Coughing, funny breathing, or unusual crying.
Isolation. If your goat isolates himself from the rest of the herd, something may be wrong.
Ears held strangely.

Tips and Tricks for Selling Produce at the Farmers Market

Overloaded with vegetables, herbs and chickens, or just thinking about next year? Whatever your motivation, bringing produce and food to sell at the farmer's market is a cornerstone of many small farms' marketing plans. Before you pack up the van or truck, learn how to maximize profits and minimize undue effort when you sell at the farmers market.

Choose Your Products Wisely
Let's face it. Everyone has piles of zucchini, heads of romaine, and cucumbers. What are you going to offer that's different or unique? Is it a specialty lettuce, an heirloom tomato, or an uncommon herb? Check out this list of alternative crops as a jumping-off point for a brainstorm session.
Think outside the supermarket. What can you offer customers that the supermarket or even the local food co-op cannot? Some of the more unique things I've seen recently: sprouts and shoots, microgreens, rare lettuces, rare or uncommon herbs like marjoram, and value-added products like elderberry syrup, dried herbs, and bags of mixed roots with instructions/ideas for cooking them.

Information Overload
Potential customers go gaga over information. Clearly labeled prices are a good starting point. But go above and beyond. Make signs that answer your customers' common questions. Put information about your growing practices on cards for people to look at. Do your laying hens have names? Make a sign proclaiming, "Henrietta lays the yummiest eggs!" Get creative, think eye-catching.

Some things to think about when making your signs:
Is it organic, free-range, pastured, integrated pest management? Name the quality, then describe what it means to the customer.
Is it specialty, heirloom, or rare? Maybe a sign explaining that Roy's Calais Flint Corn is a rare, heirloom variety common in New England in the 19th century will spark someone's interest.
How do you use it? What is it good with? You might share that your kale is particularly tender, and that the baby leaves can be eaten raw in salad, for example. Selling a unique or uncommon herb? Suggest pairings with other herbs and with foods.

Bring photos of your farm, and print off your "About Us" page from your website and have it available for customers to read. While you're at it, it's a good idea to have business cards with your farm's name, location, hours, and website available. Brochures on CSA shares, copies of any newspaper or magazine articles featuring your farm -- think of anything and everything that showcases who you are and what you do and bring it for customers to look at.