problem billy

sir muggs · #1 08/23/06, 10:08 AM

Spring of 2005 we got two bottle lambs from a neighbor, just for a hobby. I was raised on a cattle ranch but am new to goats. Anyway the doe had kids this march and are doing well but the Billy is a real pain as I've heard most become. I enjoy having him around but he is quite aggressive and my wife fears if he ever escaped from his pasture, what might happen. My father in law was crossing the pasture last weekend and got knocked down by the billy.
My question is can a Billy be banded at this age, 1 year 7 monthes, and if so would this take away the agression and other negetive issues of housing a billy or is it too late and be better to find another home?

Jillis · #2 08/23/06, 10:17 AM

You could always eat him...

**mygoat** · #3 08/23/06, 10:26 AM

Bucks do not make good pets. When most people raise young bucklings they initially think it's cute that they head butt you when they're little. Well, if you let them, they quickly assume that they are more dominant over you. Since all you do is run away from a charging buck, their ideas of dominance are reinforced. You need to stand up to this buck.
What I did to my buck is this :
When he charged me (well, he charged the buck behind me, but he didn't wait to make me get out of the way or avoid me) I simply hoisted him high up in the air by his horns and slammed him down to the ground. I then sat on him for a long time, didn't let him up. After he calmed down considerably, I let him up. I only had to do this once and now he's completely concious of where I am at all times and makes sure not to anger me.
In my opinion, you should contact your vet about wethering this buck. He is too old to band, but a veterinarian is able to castrate older bucks. He will calm down considerably, but he stay moderately aggressive unless you stand up to him now, as a buck.
Good luck!

ozark_jewels · #4 08/23/06, 10:28 AM

At this point, if he has actually knocked your father-in-law around................I would arrange a date for him. Two dates in fact. The first date would be with a well-aimed bullet, and the second date with the freezer. He is too dangerous, its not worth it.
If you just have a couple does, see if you can find someone in your area to breed your does for you. No need to keep a buck for two does if you don't have to. I would not breed with a very aggressive buck.....temperment is partly genetic, partly enviromental......
If you decide to have him wethered, the vet will need to do it surgically. He is too big to band.

Sweet Goats · #5 08/23/06, 10:29 AM

I would not band him at that age, the stress lone would kill him. It isn't that much to have a Vet casterate him. That is what I would do if you plan on keeping him. Good luck.

goatkid · #6 08/23/06, 09:14 PM

I would only keep this guy a buck if you need him for breeding. I have a buck who has a history of being aggressive if you go in his pen, but not when he's out in the yard. This year, I notice he's mellowing around me. I'm not sure if it's that he's 3 now or if it is because I stand up to him and let him know I'm in charge.

chamoisee · #7 08/23/06, 10:42 PM

Eat him, don't even use him for breeding. Aggressive personalities are often genetic.

Jillis · #8 08/24/06, 05:48 AM

I have to agree with you about letting a kid butt you because it is "cute"!

We have friends who KNOW animals, ARE farmers, and still made this mistake with their first goat.

They were at an auction in Georgia. They saw a little goat kid, 3/4 dead, practically newborn, in a BIRD CAGE! They bought her for a dollar, and brought her home. (yeah, they are into animal rescue)

Amazingly, she survived and thrived. They raised her in the kitchen. The kids, all teens, played with her and she jumped all over the furniture, the table, etc. Frankly, I couldn't live like that! But they all thought it was cute. They also did the jump up and head butt thing with her, especially the son.

Now she is a full grown Boer cross, as near as we can figure, with horns, and as fat and sassy as you can imagine. When my dh came with me to their barn, out charged Lily, ready to play. She ran directly at him, and he freaked! She ran past him, thankfully, and then turned around and made a jumping head but feint at him. He jumped back and she thought he was playing...you can imagine the rest. To this day, whenever Lily is brought up, he says, "That goat tried to KILL me!"

They still think it is cute. They want one of my bucks to breed her, but I won't allow a goat with horns into my herd. Especially not a spoiled brat like that one! (They have trouble boarding their "rescue" horse too. Another special case that only they can handle!)

mary,tx · #9 08/24/06, 08:27 AM

Of course, you don't have to play wrong with bucks for them to still be very aggressive adults. My opinion is you should get rid of an aggressive buck just like you should get rid of an aggressive rooster. They are dangerous to keep, and just not worth it.

Shazza · #10 08/24/06, 08:50 AM

I agree with everyone...anything agressive here goes in the freezer...which is mainly the cattle. Goats and other animals hand raised learn how to act by the humans feeding them....we had a colored ram I bought that had been raised by a school, school kids as part of grade 4 silabys (sp?)....he ended up in the freezer cos my kids couldnt walk out in the paddock or he would charge at them...not his fault but he had learned that.
So definately get rid of your buck...preferably in the freezer...an agressive animal sold on to someone else is not really a good thing to do.

xoxoGOATSxoxo · #11 08/24/06, 10:57 AM

EAT HIM. Any of you can be seriously injured, as bucks can get to more than 400 pounds.
I'm confused. Did you get bottle sheep, or goats? Lambs are sheep and kids are goats. Also, please don't use the term "billy". He's a buck, not a storybook goat that trip traps across a bridge...