Our goats... - Paw Talk

Rocheal · #1 02-25-2006, 02:02 PM

I just got a 4 week old goat about 2 weeks ago and he has been doing wonderfully. There was an auction out here Friday night and Kevin and I were planning on buying two more goats but we got out bidded on one ($90.00!!) and won the other. The one we won looked a lot smaller than she really was and is a bit older than Einstein (my 4 week old). I put the new goat in the fence last night when I got home (Einstein sleeps inside) when I woke up this morning it was raining but I figured I should introduce the two before anyone becomes teritorrial. The new goat was in the Dogloo sleeping when I put Einstein down. I watched for a while. Einstein bahh'd a few good bahhs and the new female didn't move at all so I figured she was scared so I went inside. As soon as I went inside and looked through the window, Einstein and the pig screamed as they got butted out of the Dogloo. I opened the window, yelled "No!" and she (the new goat) stopped but went at it a few minutes later. I was able to leave them out there all day with only two (that I saw) arguments.

My question is, does anybody know any tricks to get these guys to like eachother? I can't keep watching them like a hawk forever.

Mygala · #2 02-25-2006, 04:21 PM

You're going to have to let them work it out. They aren't "territorial", they are have a dominance heirarchy. They will each strive to be the dominant animal. The smaller the herd, the more intense the discussions will be. I'd recommend always having a herd of at least 3-5.

One other thing I'd recommend at this point, if you haven't had your male neutered, do it now. It will be a problem for you down the road if you don't. Intact males don't make good pets.

bob

**Scarlette** · #3 02-25-2006, 05:48 PM

They'll get along very soon since they're both so young right now. Bob is right, intact billy goats don't make great pets. I had an intact billy and he was quite mean to my female. He would butt her around quite a bit. At one point he got one of her back legs caught between his horns and broke her leg, he also did that to their kid. The kid required surgery with a rod put into her leg that never quite took.

Not to mention he loved to pee on his own face and would pee on the female. He was quite stinky.

Rocheal · #4 02-26-2006, 06:16 PM

Yuck!! We are definately going to get him fixed.

They are doing much better, though of course as I sit here I just heard Yoshi (the pig) squeel and jump out of the dog house. (all 3 were in there.. They always sleep that way)

I'm sure everyone will be fine. Plus, the pig is extremely fast.

That's pretty gross how they pee on their own face and share the wealth on others.

CTChin · #5 02-26-2006, 07:37 PM

How big is the dog house/igloo? You might want to think of something bigger, like a small goat shed of some sort. Goats absolutely hate rain and it is going to get tight in there when all three are full grown.

Rocheal · #6 02-27-2006, 07:28 AM

Yeah. Kevin and I are going to build some things for them to hide in a climb on. We've also got another fence to put up so our dogs can't get to the goats. I've heard absolute horror stories.

Any ideas on how high a platform should/shouldn't be? I know they love climbing and such. My friend has a toddler slide that the goat kids slide down! I wonder if the adults would?

DVM12 · #7 03-02-2006, 09:32 PM

Ditto to Mayagala.

Rocheal · #8 03-04-2006, 09:17 AM

They are doing much better. Nosey (the new goat) jumped into the house the other day and didn't know what the heck to do once she was inside. I had to chase her back out when she started pooing everywhere.

She is VERY protective of Einstein. No dogs or pigs are able to get anywhere near him without a quick head butt.

GeishaGirl · #9 03-14-2006, 03:27 AM

I LOVE Goats. We seen many goats and we love them. If I ever have the space, I would have a few!!

Rocheal · #10 03-14-2006, 08:59 AM

They're great lawn mowers!