Doe trying to bite

[Backfourty,MI.]

another doe's kid. The doe that is trying to bite the other doe's kid has twins of her own 3 weeks old, all the babies play very well together & the 2 doe's are generally best buddies but every time this 1 week old kid gets close to the twins mom she tries to bite her. I split them back up tonight because I don't want the little gal to get hurt & her mom is the bottom of the pecking order & very sweet, passive goat but she is very attentive to her kid. I can't keep them all split up forever, Any suggestions on what I should do? I was thinking of trying the squirt bottle of water on the biting doe but I'd have to catch her in the act. I actually was holding the little gal when she tried to bite her tonight right in my arms. Very frustrating for me even though I know they have a pecking order. I don't remember any ever trying to bite each other before.

[Alice In TX/MO]

The little one will learn to stay out of her way.

[goatsareus]

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

I actually was holding the little gal when she tried to bite her tonight right in my arms. Very frustrating for me even though I know they have a pecking order. I don't remember any ever trying to bite each other before.

This precisely is why the doe bit the kid, you were paying attention to the kid and not to the doe. This is normal goat behavior. Do not discipline the doe for acting like a doe. When this happens, I handle the kids out of sight of the doe who bites.

[chris30523]

My herd queen is a tail biter. She will bite the tail of any kid that gets in her way.They learn quickly to stay out of her way..I would get rid of her but she makes the nicest kids of any of my does.

[TennesseeMama23]

I have one doe that picked up one of my kids by her ear, no harm done. I don't worry about it much and would never separate over it. They learn fast who they can mess with and who to stay away from. It looks like they might get hurt, but it is really just normal goat behavior.