adding new goats

[JJohnson]

I just have a few questions and I hope ya'll can help me out. When you bring home new goats, how long do you keep them separated for?

Also how do you introduce them into your herd? Once you've quarantined them do you just put them right in with the others and see how they get along? Or is taking it slow in smaller steps better?

If taking it slower is better, what are some of the ways you feel works best for having a herd that accepts the newcomer.


Thanks

Joe

[dozedotz]

I do not pretend to be an expert, but this is what we did: The new goats were added in "two's" so that they had a partner...purchased from the same breeder. They were separated from the herd for a period of no less than 30 days...sometimes longer just because they were young and didn't need the bumping. We constructed a pen from cattle panels (no gates, we just pulled and pushed an area). The panels were attached to trees (this was no permanent pen). The little guys used medium sized dog igloo...bigger goats used an old handmade dog house (originally for a Dane/Mastiff mix) to get out of the weather. The temporary pens were constructed within sight of the herd, but not real close. After the 30 days the girls were allowed into the larger area that separated them from the herd so that everybody could meet at the fence and chew the fat and get acquainted. They still had to sort things out when they finally joined forces. Hope this gives you some ideas/help.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Excellent description of the process!

[Backfourty,MI.]

Also when you do put them all together remember the more space they have the better so the new goats can get away from the one's that have been there.

I agree though that getting to know each other with cattle panels between them worked well for us this last summer when we bought a couple new goats.

[JJohnson]

Thanks for the reply's. Im trying to learn as much as I can right now before I begin this goat adventure come spring.


Joe