New goat

Sherrynboo · #1 06/15/08, 07:59 PM

Today I brought home a 3 month old doe a friend of mine had to keep my older doe company. Now, the older doe does not like the young one and it keeps on squalling. I know these things take time and I am willing to give it a few days but I don't know how long I can tolerate that incessant bawling! Any opinions on how long this may last?

Thanks!

Sherry in GA

Alice In TX/MO · #2 06/15/08, 08:20 PM

It will be better after 24 hours. MUCH better after 48.

Go sit with them and feed them corn chips and raisins.

Corky · #3 06/15/08, 08:26 PM

Do you have other goats?
Goats are herd animals and they need a companion.

Sherrynboo · #4 06/15/08, 08:28 PM

Thanks for the optimistic outlook Rose! Right now if anyone goes outside, if she happens to be taking a break from the bawling, she cranks right back up. I try not to go out there unless she is being quiet so that I don't inadvertenly reinforce bad behavior. She is very skittish and has not been handled so I am hoping to have her coming to me for scratching and stuff by the weekend so that we can get ahold of her to trim hooves and worm her. I guess if she is still standoffish, I can corner her in the barn and do what needs to be done.

Thanks,

Sherry in Ga

Sherrynboo · #5 06/15/08, 08:31 PM

Corky, I got her to be a companion to my older doe. I am hoping these two will develop some type of relationship besides the butter and buttee that is going on now! No wonder the baby is crying.....she feels alone....but I can't sit out there all the time.

Sherry in Ga

Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians · #6 06/15/08, 10:35 PM

So in your 50's you would want a 3 year old to be your pal? I would beat up the kid, perhaps my owner will take the screaming brat away. You will be lucky if the older doe does not hurt the kid. No doe wants another does brat around her. She will never have one moments peace, never a warm place to sleep, she will be outside the barn when it rains and never get anything to eat with the older doe in the pen. You had better be worming that kid tommorrow and starting it on cocci meds with the stress of all this. Now bringing in two young does who can buddy up against the older doe, would be much better. Better is to keep them apart by a fence, or taking the kid back and leaving the older doe alone until she kids and letting her keep one of her own kids for a penmate...or buying another goat her same size for a friend.

Any breeder who let you take their 3 month old home to live with an older doe is only looking at the money certainly not the poor kid! Shame on them! Vicki

Sherrynboo · #7 06/16/08, 06:10 AM

Thanks for the input Vicki! Things seem to be a lot better this morning. No bawling and Cinnamon, the older doe, does let the baby eat and sleep in the goat shed with her. She mainly goes after her when I am offering something to the baby and not her. I promise I will get her wormed today and start on the cocci preventative too!

Sherry in GA