Goat question

Thanks!
It's funny you should say that cause just yesterday I was talking to a large goat manager (800 head) and he advised me not to keep any bottled fed bucks. He said they always turn mean.
The guy I'm getting my does from doesn't bottle feed his unless it's an emergency and they're all very friendly. It might be the amount of time spent with them?

MollyD

I read in Hobby Farms that you should never get too friendly with young Llama, Alpaca etc. because although they will love you to death, as soon as they start maturing they will challenge you as an equal....Its not that they don't still like you, they just see you as a herd member and someone to compete with. The article said that that was the reason so many handreared Llama have to be re-homed. I've also read that goats are very willing to include non-goat species into the herd (horses, dogs etc) unlike sheep which tend to flock with their own. Maybe that is why hand reared goats are said to "turn mean"?

I personally think that is what is behind the vicious Orpington rooster scandal--two of the three Orpingtons I have had now have come up to me and pulled on my pants leg for handouts. None of my other chicken have done that. They are very sweet and friendly--but maybe when the roosters mature and get protective, they see you as someone who it is safe to attack?

Well, it looks as I will not be having any Orpington roos anyway. I couldn't get Orpingtons. At least not until May 13th and that is too late for me to mix them with the hatchlings. Besides, I am getting 10 keets on the 14th or 15th. So, am going to keep two roosters from the hatchlings because the babies are red sex-link pullets.

No vicious Orpingtons here..LOL

GG

Molly, notice he said not to keep bottle fed BUCKS.... you don't need Bukcs to handle easily around the milking stall LOL

There are other reasons people bottle feed, including needing the milk to sell for profit. Some people keep cows to milk to feed their goats, and some people who raise calves use goat milk for them, so to each his own.

I am glad we bottle fed ours and they are easy to handle. Now tomorrow we will see how easy Brandywine is. Sam gets to hold her on the way home...

LOL true he did say bucks! How do you milk those ^_^ ?

MollyD

i remember a John Wayne movie where they were in Africa, and one character played by a great comedian DID try to milk a buck when they needed to feed a baby elephant! He didn't get any milk, but everyone got a good laugh!

I wouldn't bottle feed a male horse that would be used for stud dervice, so that makes perfect sense. You have to be the boss with those kinda guys...

I guess it's very different with the does then? Probably makes them gentler.

MollyD

We've never experienced any mean goats from bottle feeding. Just keep them in line when feeding-no jumping on you! You don't want a 125 pound goat running up to you and putting it's hooves on your shoulders!!

ABSOLUTETLY! [to you both]

Lol! Sounds like she likes to do a sneak attack too! Whenever you hear a goat running up behind you, turn quickly and look right at it. They usually stop quick and look at you, "What? I wasn't doing anything!"

My neighbor had a buck who would take a running start at anyone with their back turned to him. Everytime you'd turn he'd stop and act innocent but getting closer everytime until he'd give you a butt in the rear! My neighbor didn't keep him long!!

LOL it's that intelligence of theirs. Makes them get up to mischief!

MollyD

On the dairy said of goats buck and does are all bottle fed, makes for a nicer buck, almost not a good thing since mine always wanted to come rub up against my legs thereby leaving their very nasty scent behind.....ROFL.... But once I learned to make goats milk soap I didn't have much trouble getting their scent out of my cloths...lol

The main I was always instructed with it came to the bucks was to never, never and I mean never play a pushing came with them, where you would shove them away by placing your hand on their head... If you did this you were just incouraging them to start bunting you when they got older...

The beauty behind having the nigerians was their size, so when it came time to feed it was always so much fun, as those little ones would start this running in circles around me while I was feeding one baby and on it went till there was only one left and that one wouldn't know what to do so it would just stand there looking at me with a look it its eyes that said, so what happened to all the others, how am I suppose to have a race if you've taken them all away.... (After one was feld it was placed in another pen so as not to miss anyone.)

I never much like the milking bars, I always wanted to get my hands on each one and really enjoyed watching the personalities develope.

Oh I love the milking does... man they have a pecking order as to who is milked first and heaven forbid should a doe go in to be milked and it wasn't her turn, I would then have does jumping the gate to get into the milking stall and letting me know that it wasn't that particular does turn... This mainly happened during my first two weeks when I got the herd as I didn't know there was anything like nor did I know who the herd queen was, but let me tell you after that first week I just about had the pecking order figured out...LOL

Goats are so much fun and I hope you enjoy your as much as I did mine.

Thank you! I am so looking forward to having them here.

I've read about herd queens! One article said it was the oldest most experienced doe. Do you find that is so?

MollyD

You guys are going to think we're plumb crazy but this morning we were told about an unregistered young buck. Paul took one look at his picture (his name is Hammer) and decided we have to get him! After he's given in so graciously to me on so many things I had to return the favor so Saturday I am off to see Hammer in person and if he's as nice as reported I'll be bringing him home with me. Paul has sworn on a stack of bibles that he will help me manage him if he gets to be too much for me.

This is his picture below taken today.

MollyD

He's smiling!

LOL he does look that way. I think he looks a bit like a doggy with knee patches! Paul says he's a cutie. I think Paul is smitten with him ^_^

MollyD

Make a pet of him now while he is still little guy then it will help when he is so large. As those Boar males get rather large.

he is cute.....

Well yesterday I went back to the goat farm I'm getting my does from. One of them wasn't as I remembered her so he let me change to another better doe. The one I originally chose was a percentage, this one is a purebred. Her babies are purebreds too. She's 99% Anyway on Tuesday she and the kids are coming here. The other doe (her full sister, they were triplets) will be coming the next week because we're still working on getting her bred. Now after that happened I sat down to think and it really made no sense to get an unregistered buck for two purebred does with many ennobles in their pedigree so then I thought well in about two months the two bucklings will need to move into separate quarters and a wether with them would be nice. This morning I did more thinking and it just did not make sense to drive 160 miles in a truck at today's gas prices to get a wether when there are so many close by so I cancelled. I will get a wether in July from the same seller (who's only 30 miles away) as the does. I told him to pick me a good 'uncle' for the boys.
As for the Clancy sisters (I call them that cause their sire's name is Clancy) if I can't locate the right registered buck for them I will go the AI route in December.
I know it seems like I keep changing my mind but it's just that as I get more information I have to adjust my decisions. Paul is very sad about Hammer but I told him one of the bucklings looks just like Hammer, the other is a paint and both are adorable! Once they're here I will take pictures of them and post.

MollyD

Good choice, Molly! Nothing wrong with changing your mind especially if it saves you money and betters your herd :)

Lana

Thanks Lana. I was feeling a little down at not getting Hammer but just could not justify using him on quality does. It made no sense to get him instead of a good registered buck when you figure the purchase price is the main difference between them since both have to eat, be sheltered and given medical attention as needed.
I'm very happy about the sisters. This second one is so gentle. She wanted me to keep scratching her (they're shedding their winter coats) and later she was following me around and the kids were following her. We looked like a parade! LOL

MollyD

Molly; get a wire dog brush and brush your girls out. It makes for a real bonding experience. They goats love it. Or if the weather isn't too cold, just save them down, and give them a quick bath. Help to get rid of the dry skin.

goodnes, Molly, i get busy for a few days, and you go and drop the Hammer for a purebred, so now how many new animals will this make for you???

tf

tf there will be 4. Two does and 2 buckling kids all purebreds.
meadowyck we have Buck's (our horse that passed on) old curry comb. Will that do the trick?

MollyD

oh yes that will do just fine.

Molly I'm warning you before you know it, your numbers will grow and grow. Goats are very addicting. I train dogs and I found the goats to be as smart if not smarter than dogs.

Wait till you have babies, of course your babies will be way larger than mine were but you will find that you could spend all day out watching the babies. They always bring a smile or laugh to ANYONES face.

4 goats.... ho wmany chicks, ducklings and goslings? LOL you are in for a life changing expereince, enjoy ^_^

meadowyck they must be very addictive cause I started out looking for one goat and now there are 4 coming. Two of those are month old babies and yes I was perfectly happy watching them! The babies kept running up to me and putting their front hoofs on my legs. They wanted me to scratch their heads. bet those little horns itch as they're growing! Anyway I was aware that bad habits begin when we're young so I gently kept putting their hooves back on the floor and then I would scratch them. That way I hoped to get the message across that putting their feet on me was unacceptable behavior. Cute now but not so cute when they get bigger!!! I can see me being knocked over by them LOL. I was at one point surrounded by month old babies and younger all wanting to be petted. Like being in the middle of a large litter of puppies!!! I had a blast!

Tf 4 goats, 25 chicks, 4 Cayuga ducks and a sexed pair of Chinese White geese (all I'm missing is a partridge in a pear tree LOL). Last night I dreamt that the box with them had arrived and it was as big as me. I could see little eyes peeking out the air holes but they weren't making a single sound. I was so upset at that and kept trying to figure out why. Now I know they're going to be honking, quacking and chirping!! LOL Where's my Tylenol? ;-) Yep this will certainly be life changing. No more lallygagging in bed till 7am!

MollyD

^_^

When we built the house we sold off all our stock and it wasn't long before we started up again!! They give you a great reason not to sleep in and boy, I think all the animals are entertaining(who needs cable!!!). You are going to have blast with everyone Molly!

sue

Was suppose to be today Sue but the fence wasn't ready yet so I talked to Jim (the seller) and we're on for tomorrow afternoon. First the doe with kids and second trip the other doe.
Chicks, geese and ducks are also suppose to arrive tomorrow so I may just decide to have myself a nervous breakdown around 6pm tomorrow :-)

MollyD

and when you do we will be right here...

LOL you may hear me all the way down in Texas!

MollyD

MollyD I'm closer to ya, I'm just south of Cleveland, OH so don't you worry. Let your heart guide you and when you are unsure like TamaraFaye said we are here for ya.

Once you get going with them you are going to wonder what you ever did before they came...LOL

I found out that on our little 1 acrea lot here we can have livestock and when I found out my DH said a big FAT NO.... we don't get to go anywhere now cause of my six collies and not having found the right person to take care of them. I just keep thinking is I had 3 or 4 milking does that not only would I have my goats milk again but my butter and best of all the cheese.... and well of course the antics of the goats and last and a very important great fertilizer for the GARDEN....LOL how is that to justify getting some... But my husband keeps reminding me that I would grow the herd too fast seeing as how the nigerian does can have as many as 6 babies at one time.... I guess I have to give in but let me tell ya, if we ever get back home to Kentucky or down to my home state of Florida, you can bet your last dollar I'll be getting some goats.

Take pictures and post.. I love looking...

meadowyck,

LOL and I was worried with my Boer gals who can have up to 4 at a time!! 6 babies!!! That's a lot.

My doe and kids arrived on Sunday. I posted pictures in another thread named Goats Have Started Arriving. :-)

MollyD

I'm heading over there to see them. Too cool... Yes but my babies were only a 1 - 2 pounds at the most, where as yours usually start at 5 pounds...... ouch.......LOL