Discipline for bottle babies?

cjb · #21 04/05/10, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken in Maine

Why would you want to nip THAT in the bud... that's typical baby goat behavior! Right now we are bottle feeding 11 ranging in age from 2 days to 8 weeks with individual bottles. We also have 7 more does to kid over the next 3 weeks. We would not trade that experience for the world. That is the fun of having those little ones. We can and probably never will be able to teach goats to act like well behaved children THEY'RE GOATS FOR god's SAKE! We/you need to learn and be comfortable with normal goat behavior or find some other type of livestock that would be better suited.

Maybe the subtitle explains it " blissfully unaware"

Of course some may find this reply offensive but reality often is.

Let me go ahead and point out what parts of your post are rude and inappropriate:

This:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken in Maine

THEY'RE GOATS FOR god's SAKE! We/you need to learn and be comfortable with normal goat behavior or find some other type of livestock that would be better suited.

No need to shout or to suggest finding a different type of livestock. You can express your opinion without using that tone.

This:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken in Maine

Maybe the subtitle explains it " blissfully unaware"

.. is a personal attack and won't be tolerated.

We can discuss and disagree but there's no reason to jump down another poster's throat.

GBov · #22 04/05/10, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjb

Let me go ahead and point out what parts of your post are rude and inappropriate:

This:

No need to shout or to suggest finding a different type of livestock. You can express your opinion without using that tone.

This:

.. is a personal attack and won't be tolerated.

We can discuss and disagree but there's no reason to jump down another poster's throat.

As I am hoping to get some doelings in the not too distant future and have small kiddies to keep safe and happy I have found the suggestions for goat control really useful. I just hope the OP is still reading to get the help too!

Minelson · #23 04/05/10, 06:25 PM

I let mine jump all over me until it started to hurt. Then I just used my knee into the chest when they would jump up and they learned very quickly that they would not get their treat unless all 4 feet were on the ground! Baby goats are so much fun!!!

edit to add...mine are mini's which might make a difference, I don't know.

topside1 · #24 04/05/10, 07:59 PM

We'll said Minelson, enjoy your goats...Topside

Cyngbaeld · #25 04/05/10, 08:34 PM

I don't have time to wade thru all the replies. Goat babies need to learn not to jump on humans. They do get bigger and can injure somebody. Their herd mates handle it by head butting, but a good kick will work as well. You don't have to do it hard enough to injure, just hard enough that they "listen". Teach them now so they aren't a problem later.

You can also make a feeding box that forces them to keep their feet on the ground or kneel to eat. Make it out of boards or plywood with a solid top, solid sides and the front is solid except a slot that they can reach thru to get the bottle. You'll have to figure out the best way to train them to use it or fence the area so they can't reach the bottle any other way.

Don't let them get in the habit of jumping on you and don't worry over much about hurting them. Goats are pretty tough.

dm9960 · #26 04/05/10, 09:14 PM

lots of good advice here. I have a couple of 1 year olds that are 'jumpers' at feeding time. any other time they are well behaved. So I now feed them through the fence, wait until they are done eating, then go out and enjoy their company. I wonder though if I should instead actively train them to stop jumping on me?

Minelson · #27 04/05/10, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dm9960

lots of good advice here. I have a couple of 1 year olds that are 'jumpers' at feeding time. any other time they are well behaved. So I now feed them through the fence, wait until they are done eating, then go out and enjoy their company. I wonder though if I should instead actively train them to stop jumping on me?

It's totally up to you...I would tend towards trying to train them, you might be surprised at how quick they learn! And it's only 2...
If feeding them through the fence works for you there is nothing wrong with that

Lazy J · #28 04/05/10, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyngbaeld

Don't let them get in the habit of jumping on you and don't worry over much about hurting them. Goats are pretty tough.

Hmmm....

Some are worried about hurt humans, while others are worried about hurt feelings.

Interesting.....

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #29 04/05/10, 10:26 PM

I think its a fine question. Not all bottle babies will jump when they grow up, but some will and then you have a problem.

I havent had bottle babies in a few years, but most of my kids have always liked to jump anyway.

When they are little I push them down, not too hard or rough, but just enough to get them off. They need to learn that it's ok to want to hug and cuddle, but not ok to jump up. When they are down, I go down to their level and we socialize down there.

Most of them get the hang of it soon enough, but if I have a big kid who's jumping up and hurting me, then a gentle bop on the nose gets the message across. No hitting or smacking, just a bop.

This is what works for me.

desertshi · #30 04/05/10, 10:58 PM

I respectfully disagree with allowing them to just "be kids." I think it is important, with any animal, to start creating boundries early on. They need to learn that humans are "herd queen" "top dog" "pack leader" whatever you want to say. Of course, this doesn't mean that they will understand that they shouldn't jump right away. It is to be expected, as with any animal, that you have to have patience.
Horses. Same thing. Foals like to buck around, nip, kick and play. They do it with their moms, it is typical foal behavior. It is NOT okay to let them do it with humans because foals get big, quick. Dogs. Puppies bite. Typical puppy behavior. NOT okay when they get bigger!
For me, it is the same with any animal. I totally understand why OP came to look for help to nip it in the bud now! I would too!

Hope you are still reading all of those helpful comments QoTL!!

shanzone2001 · #31 04/05/10, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topside1

There is a classic herd queen grunt that is often mimicked... …..Topside

I can see and hear it now...me out with the goats attempting to make a herd queen sound!:smiley-laughing013:
I am sure it works for some, but I would probably sound like an injured goose and scare the little kids away!!!

topside1 · #32 04/05/10, 11:49 PM

Another way to disciple goats young or old is to squirt water in their face for misbehavior. I personally place my knee into their adult brisket area, training with quick results. So these are two ways to train an adult. I may have one jumper for every 30 adult goat I've owned....Just thought I'd mention the squirt bottle, cheap training too...I'm the let "kids be kids" poster. At 3 months old my little kids will do cartwheels on command if asked. Well maybe not cartwheels...Very little discipline, just lots of routine. Animals thrive off routine. Cool thread, even got CJB involved...Topside

topside1 · #33 04/05/10, 11:52 PM

Sadly I have the sound in my vocabulary and use it daily. Usually at milking time. Grunt on, Grunt off works every time....Topside

Immaculate Sublimity · #34 04/06/10, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjb

Let me go ahead and point out what parts of your post are rude and inappropriate:

No need to shout or to suggest finding a different type of livestock. You can express your opinion without using that tone.

We can discuss and disagree but there's no reason to jump down another poster's throat.

Thank you CJB, for pointing that out... its not easy for someone new to a situation to make their way in this world - wanting whats best for their livestock and homesteads, and not quite knowing how to get there. Thats where looking to people with -experience- comes in. This board was set up in that fashion... for people to come and ask their questions, and get advice from others that have been there and done that. the pack mentality in pointing and laughing or maintaining a holier than thou attitude in suggesting someone should just throw in the towel because obviously they aint got the -experience- doesnt help anyone and its really rather highschool, heckling, bullyeshness. Maybe we should focus on having graduated away from that.