Baby goats afraid of the dark?

[Jillis]

I just did one last check through the window of the barn---making sure the tarps didn't get loose, the heat lamps are safe, freshly disbudded babies are okay and yaddayaddayadda...
Those goats were being rambunctious! Butting, jumping, nibbling the corner of the tarp that fell down and playing peek-a-boo behind it. Getting their hind end stuck on top of another goat's back and being pulled around with their butts in the air and a funny look on their face.
Then I thought, these babies have to get to bed. I figured, I'll turn off the lamps and they'll settle down and go to sleep. It has warmed up a lot and there is a light rain melting the snow. I fixed the tarp, went into the house and---turned off the switch to the heat lamps.
A few minutes later, they were maaaing so loudly it sounded like the window was open. They were in a panic! Red alert!
A tried to wait it out. I really did. But when my husband starting stirring around I figured better the goats stayed awake to play than him...
On went the light and the commotion ceased.
My question is: will they need a light forever and ever???
PS I look so weird these days. Here I am flitting about in the shadows wearing barn boots, a bathrobe, a jacket and my son's wool hat...I'd probably scare the heck out of any intruders...

[mammawof3]

If you don't turn the light on in the evening, and let them settle themselves in as it gets dark,they should be okay-it was the sudden "pitch dark" after light that scared them..i've found that my babies settle themselves someplace for the night as it gets dark, and usually don't move till morning-it is hard too make a goat move in the dark-try unloading them in the dark-you have too go after each one seperatly and pull them-where in the light, they would have all dashed out!

[Jillis]

That makes sense...however it has been so cold here that we must have all three heat lamps on at once...today it has warmed up considerably and I turned off one light and left the barn door open for the big girls to go in and out as they please...the kidding stall is tarped and with 2 lights they'll be plenty warm.
Once the electrician gets over the flu, we will be able to hook up the sealed oil heater and maybe then we can let the lights go out at night...

[AnnaS]

I had this same problem when the babies went from the bathroom to the barn. I have a baby monitor in the barn & got to hear them hollering after lights out.
My vet had the answer- classical music. It really seems to settle them down. They would yell through the hourly news & weather break.

[Jillis]

Thanks, Anna...I'll give it a try...

[goatkid]

I just had to laugh when I read about your new mode of dress. Us goat farmers come up with interesting outfits to meet our situations. I rarely go to bed in PJ's during kidding season. I wear sweats to bed so that when I go to check the does in the middle of the night, I'm dressed to deliver babies if needed. Over that goes barn boots and a barn coat if needed. Now wouldn't I look lovely if I had to rush a goat to the vet for an emergency C section. As for your babies, goats do not like change and they bleat loudly to let us know this. Best to change their lighting gradually. Baby goats are much like human babies in that they can and will sleep in a lighted area so long as it is quiet when they get tired.

[Jen H]

???? I thought sweats, a flannel night gown, barn boots, bathrobe, and beat up coat were the standard winter wardrobe.

[Michael W. Smith]

Hehehehe You gals would laugh at my goat clothes at night. Being a male . . . . . . shirt & underwear. Even during the day - early morning or evening. And we have a state road 25' from our house that I have to cross to get to the goats.

There has been more than a few times a walk out the house and quickly dash back in due to a car coming. Of course, I've also been on the other side and "conveniently" walk over to a shrub or something while the car passes by.

I know my luck is wearing out, and someday I will be on the other side in shirt and underwear and have a car pull into the driveway!!

[Jillis]

Originally Posted by Michael W. Smith

Hehehehe You gals would laugh at my goat clothes at night. Being a male . . . . . . shirt & underwear. Even during the day - early morning or evening. And we have a state road 25' from our house that I have to cross to get to the goats.

There has been more than a few times a walk out the house and quickly dash back in due to a car coming. Of course, I've also been on the other side and "conveniently" walk over to a shrub or something while the car passes by.

I know my luck is wearing out, and someday I will be on the other side in shirt and underwear and have a car pull into the driveway!!

The injured baby goat in the bathroom has seen everything I have...she makes comments too. My 16 yo son is so funny. He puts opened up newspapers on the top when he showers so the baby goat can't see him in his brithday suit!!!