Head Shaking, Staying in House?

TheNelsons · #1 10/19/05, 03:55 PM

Howdy...
Well I got my first goats and I have questions..lol These two are going to be friends for our family milk goat if and when we find her...

They shake thier heads a lot, do goats just do this or what? or maybe they have something in thier long ears?

They are both bottle kids, 9mos, both are sweet, but miss thier "human" mommy LOTS.. They cry after me when I go in the house and follow me all over the place.. It is GREAT!

They have a large play area, but today have stayed inside thier new "house" -barn? They just got her yesterday so maybe they are still just scared?

They seem healthy, have been wormed and given shots... They do seem to have gotten a bit of bloat on the ride over...

Any Thoughts

Jillis · #2 10/20/05, 07:12 AM

Awwwwww! They sound so cute! I can't answer most of your questions but as a newbie I can tell you this: Every new goat I have gotten except one 4 year old Nigerian Dwarf Doe has cried the first couple of days when I went to the house...
The doe was a girl who had been bought earlier that year by the lady I bought her from...she seems a little bewildered and sad to me. She likes when we give her attention but hasn't warmed up too much to the other goats. For a goat, she is kind of a loner...makes me kind of sad, actually.
From, Jill, who really is too involved in her goats...

pookshollow · #3 10/20/05, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Every new goat I have gotten except one 4 year old Nigerian Dwarf Doe has cried the first couple of days when I went to the house...

Angel, my Nigerian cross doeling still cries when we leave the barn, and she's been here since August!!

She cries when I'm in the milking parlour with Polly, particularly every time she hears my voice. Such a suck, LOL. Heck, she hollers when she hears my car pull in the driveway.

TheNelsons · #4 10/20/05, 08:32 AM

I think Beauty and Sammy (the new goats) are fine...

They are coming out of thier barn more and more on thier own and whenwe are around they are out and about! They were just nervous.

The head thing is looking like a show of irritation from itchy bodies. I was brushing them this morning and saw a small brown/black bug on them, flea like but not flea. I am thinking mites or lice so we are off to the feed store to get Seven and Permethrin dusts to dust them and thier sleeping area.

I believe Beauty's eye is blind, she almost froze to death as a kid so maybe it happened then? I can see to puncture or trama to it, but she shys at you coming on that side, she turns her head a bit when she walks, and it is pretty cloudy so that would be my guess..

They are sooo much fun I can see why everyone get so in to thier goats! I told my husband they seem like pringles "No one can have just one!"

trappmountain · #5 10/20/05, 08:56 AM

They'll settle in. Sounds like they are doing better. You found the problem and are taking care of it. You'll love them. I got mine in May and they have stolen my heart. Not that it takes much for animals to steal my heart.

goatladie · #6 10/20/05, 09:22 AM

So, did you go with the Nigerians?! How exciting for you guys, new goats!

TheNelsons · #7 10/20/05, 09:38 AM

No, We decided trying to chase down our family milker was going to make me nutty, ok nuttier so we took a 9mo old Nubian wither and his 9mo old Spanish/Nigerian doe buddy... They were both bottle babies and are SUPER loving and sweet! GREAT for us to start with and will make great buddies for a good sweet milking doe when we find her. I wanted to get the best start possible so we started with the friends for our future milking doe, well ok they are now my new best friends also...lol

Goat Freak · #8 10/20/05, 10:09 AM

Glad to dee that you have such nice goats. all of our goats are friendly, except a couple yearlings we bought, but one of our mutt goats, Lola, takes the cake. She was born on our property, 2 girl goat born her, her sister was first, and she was born to a not-to-friendly mother and to a TERRIBLE SKITTISH BUTT HEAD OF A FATHER. For some odd reason though, she was and still is the most friendly goat we have, she is actually tied with Queenie. She has also passed on this wonderful trait to her new daughter, Ivy, who si just as sweet, and yet MUCH prettier than her mother, so she will be staying as well. Well see ya, bye.

pookshollow · #9 10/20/05, 10:28 AM

So, what's the goat version of "Crashyitis"?

I started out with 2 in May, and am now up to 7!

I don't know about Pringles - something much more addictive than that!

I still have one that is very skittish, although her sister is friendly enough, both Nigerians. Everybody else wants to climb in my lap - or jump on my head! LOL

Glad to hear that yours are coming around - it doesn't usually take long, once they figure out that you are the source of all good things.

**mygoat** · #10 10/20/05, 10:41 AM

If I want to go outside and avoid hearing Boston's loud cry, I have to walk on tiptoes and whisper; she is a year and 6 mon or so.
Goats will probably stay indoors for the first week or so that you have them. Also, get some ear mite treatment from you livestock store. You may want to get them a vet check as well, and vaccines
Good luck
~Dona

TheNelsons · #11 10/20/05, 05:56 PM

PooksHollow~I am already addicted to whatever drug they sprinkle them with before they bring them...lol

Dona~Thanks for the advice, They both were wormed and got thier CD&T, along with 2 blood tests (can't remember the name of the tests)... However I am thinking of having my vet Dr. Pope (I am so very lucky, he grew up with goats and still has them) come out and look at them just for a baseline...

Well I am off to play with my goats **Grin**