🐐 Why Facebook Goat Advice Might Be Killing Your Herd

 And What You Should Be Doing Instead

Let’s just say it:
Facebook goat groups are a wild ride.

One minute you're learning how to band a buckling. The next, someone tells you to treat bottle jaw with garlic and positive vibes. And somewhere in the chaos, your goat is still... dying.

So here’s the truth bomb:
👉 If Facebook is your first stop in a goat emergency, you're already behind.

Let’s break it down:

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🚩 Red Flag #1: Everyone’s an “Expert”

You post a question:
“Help! My goat is down, pale gums, bloated belly!”

You get 72 responses in 3 minutes.

• “Give baking soda!”

• “Red Cell, NOW!”

• “Put her in the tub with warm water!”

• “Have you tried Nutri-drench?”

• “Sounds like copper toxicity!”

• “Sounds like copper deficiency!”

• “She’s dying. Sorry.”

Meanwhile, your goat is still laying there. Because nobody responding has seen her in person, and everyone’s guessing.

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🚨 Goat Diagnosis Requires CONTEXT

Here's what Facebook can’t give you:

• Temperature

• FAMACHA score

• Body condition score

• Behavior nuance

• Physical exam

• What actually happened before you posted

Goat symptoms overlap constantly. You need more than vibes and crowd-sourced shots in the dark.

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🧪 Real Experience + Real Tools = Real Help

Instead of relying on chaos comments, here’s what to do:

✅ Build a Goat Binder

Track every goat’s:

• Weight

• Deworming schedule

• Fecals

• Medical history

• Ongoing health conditions

(Need one? I made a branded one just for this.)

✅ Run a Fecal

Worm load doesn’t show in poop unless it’s already bad. Use your vet or learn to identify eggs BEFORE it’s crisis mode.

✅ Know Your VCPR Options

A veterinarian-client-patient relationship gives you legal access to meds like Banamine, antibiotics, and prescription dewormers.

✅ Follow Trusted Sources

Look for vet-led content, actual goat health educators, and breeders with decades under their belts. Not just the loudest voice in the comments.

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💀 The Hard Truth?

Some of y’all are losing goats because you're trying to crowdsource life-or-death decisions from people who don’t even own goats anymore. Let that sink in.

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💡 Better Plan?

Save Facebook for the memes.
Use real tools and real records to keep your goats alive.