My very silly goat

**gone-a-milkin** · #1 09/04/12, 11:12 PM

Remember how I got those 3 Angoras a few months ago?

There is Aurora, the white mama goat.
And Reggie the little rockstar kid mohair dude, Aurora's kid from this year.

Then there is CeCe.
She is a virgin doe, almost 3.
The word "flighty" really does apply to her. She is timid. And skittish. And at the very bottom of the pecking order.

It finally rained "for real" for the first time since I have had these animals.
We got 2.5 inches over a couple days of steady rain.
What I learned is that Aurora will NOT let CeCe into the goat bunker when it rains.
She just tosses her head and gives the stinkeye and so CeCe cannot go in and cuddle up.

Now, I saw that happening and quickly put together a 2nd shelter right next to the other one.
But guess what? CeCe wont lay down in there by herself. Instead she lays just outside the other shelter IN THE RAIN.

I tried locking her in the other shelter and all she did was attempt suicide by flingflanging.
She went berserk being locked in there away from the herd.
I finally let her out because she was going to make herself sick being drenched and miserable.
Plus the goat pen is kinda close to my bedroom window. Ahem,.

Anyhow, I thought you all might enjoy seeing what she looked like that day.

I am going to try my hand at hand shearing these goats sometime this month.
They are getting THICK coats now.

I am need to address this housing issue pretty soon.
My plan right now is to lock Aurora away ffrom the bunker for a couple weeks. Basically shun her.
This will get Reggie completely weaned (he is 5 months old) and let him and CeCe bond some.
Hopefully after that things will be different. (?!)

Here is a shot from last month so you can see the 'bunker' and the mean white goat who is dominating it.
My very silly goat - Fiber Arts

I need to take some new shots of Reggie.
The Box Elder leaves that are falling from the drought all stick to his soft fiber.
He is like a walking leaf pile, but the leaves are only on the top.

Just keeping you all appraised of my adventures here.

jd4020 · #2 09/04/12, 11:17 PM

They look so soft. I hope you work out the shelter problem. I've never had a goat so domineering they wouldn't let a herd mate into whatever building I was using for a shelter. Is it possible to pen off one end of your shelter and put either Aurora or CeCe in it when it rains? Then she would be safe & dry and still be with the others.
Thanks for sharing.
God bless,
jd

**gone-a-milkin** · #3 09/04/12, 11:23 PM

CeCe is so timid that she wont even go near Aurora.
All she does is toss her horns. CeCe does not assert herself, but instead dramatically spins away and puts on her tortured face.

I have had numerous other goats in this same pen and they always would share the bedding space.
So this is a brand new one on me.

I

Marchwind · #4 09/05/12, 07:00 AM

GAM you maybe onto something with the weaning of Reggie. Could you erect a little roof/lean to right where Cece hang out by the door/opening? Old mama goat is mean mugging the poor girl in that one shot. Poor Cece!

**gone-a-milkin** · #5 09/05/12, 07:24 AM

If I extend the covered area then Aurora just plants herself further out.
I tried dry stacking some cinderblocks inside the shelter to make kind of a wall in there but
Aurora guards the doorway and CeCe is so cowed that she wont even TRY to get past her.

I may end up getting rid of one of these does if I cant get it sorted.
A certain amount of bullying is to be expected with goats. Its one of the things I most dislike about them.

Maybe the weaning will work. Now I just need to wait until it isnt 100* out.
I know it will be stressful for ALL of us. LOL

Miz Mary · #6 09/05/12, 12:35 PM

they are SO cute !!! I hope they start getting along better for you !!!

weever · #7 09/05/12, 04:00 PM

What a nuisance. Goats aren't the only animals that do that (but I'm sure you knew that).

I'm not sure about the shelter needed in 100 degree heat, but I'm pretty sure that rain won't hurt CeCe. It's just hard to watch...

**gone-a-milkin** · #8 09/05/12, 05:48 PM

Nobody gets any special shelter from the heat (not even me).
They have deep shade and cool water to drink. That's it.

The rain probably wont hurt her, I agree.
I do wonder what would happen if there was an icestorm, for example.
When it starts to get really cold?
Is she REALLY too stupid to come in out of the rain?
Evidence points to yes, so far.

Maybe I shouldnt even worry about it though.

PKBoo · #9 09/05/12, 07:54 PM

I LOVE CeCe's locks (even when soaking dripping wet!)

Your description of the "stinkeye" cracked me up, until I actually saw the picture - she really IS giving her the dreaded "stinkeye" - your description was spot-on!!

They are just beautiful GAM! I am so happy for you to have that wonderful mohair fleece to play with - I can't wait to see what you do with it!!!!!

As for the middle school lunch table drama, it's probably not anything to worry about, even once the cold comes. Our sheep always go running for the shelter when it starts raining/snowing, but the alpacas are happy to just hang out. Their wool is so insulating, that it's dry next to their skin, and I would imagine angora goats would be the same way.

I know I always feel bad about them being out in the rain, but there's plenty of space inside, and some of them go in, and some of them don't, and it changes all the time, so it's not a dominance issue.

What about if you extend a little roof over the part that she was laying against? That might work - Aurora wouldn't be able to plant her big self there! Maybe a little extension all across the front, so there would be options for her...

Thanks for posting these pictures - I really enjoyed them!

mamajohnson · #10 09/07/12, 12:45 AM

GAM - 'grounding' the mama should help. Put her in a stall or something locked up and then you may have to put the other girl in the main shelter and close the door. She will eventually settle down. Make sure mean mama can't bash the door open. Or better yet, put mean mama in a pen by herself. There may be some mournful cries involved.
I have one I am about ready to ground away from the whole herd. She is mean as a bucket of nails.

And is bullying my older mama goat. Makes me mad. I have whopped her on the head with a stick a few times. My goats are milk goats, don't know if that makes a difference. But I stick train them. If they get out of hand I find a stick that will 'whoosh' when I swing it. They usually settle real fast when they hear it sing through the air beside them. Of course it may take a whop on the ear for them to understand what that sound means...but just one. hehe...

Do you think it might be too late in the year for sheering? I am pondering this with the alpaca that are coming this weekend. Can't decide. I might just let them keep their fleece until spring. It will be my luck we have a hard winter if I sheer them now.

**gone-a-milkin** · #11 09/07/12, 08:09 AM

MamaJ,

The breeder of these goats says they shear them twice a year; March and September.
I can see that if I dont do Reggie his wool would be dragging on the ground by February.
I have also read that Angoras are prone to some nasty skin issues if you dont take whe wool off.

I caught up CeCe ysterday and trimmed her hooves and tried to really feel her condition under all that coat.
It went really smoothly. She is such a quitter that she just stood there after a moment of fighting me.
She is going to be the first one I attempt to shear.

Look forward to some funny looking haircuts soon.

Ana Bluebird · #12 09/07/12, 11:58 AM

Oh, how cute! I miss my angora goats, and they had certain sleeping arrangements too. One gray goat I could walk out and cut fiber as I needed it to spin---she was very nice about it. And they did have a tendency to have mites---but you can get stuff to put down their backs and it works great. But DO shear twice a year or you will have a mess! Thanks for sharing the pictures---made my day!

Sonshine · #13 09/07/12, 01:31 PM

Awww, poor Cece. Hope you get the housing thing fixed soon.

mamajohnson · #14 09/07/12, 01:53 PM

How cool is that! You get fiber twice a year!!!
Are you using hand sheers or electric? I hope you get haircut day pictures!!