Well, It looks like it is finally going to happen. A friend took me to look at some goats last night. This lady had some she had to get rid of because she and her husband were in a car wreck and can't take care of them like they want to anymore. Well she led me to believe they were a cross between a spanish and a nubian. These things were in with mostly pigmy goats. And looked a lot like them. And they all had horns. They were cute but I just couldn't do it. I don't know if I want to milk always but I want the opportunity. I mean I never have, but I think I want to.And the horns were a big issue. These are mostly for my daughter who is not yet nine. I know they are not mean but I want no accidents either. She said they would not hurt her but they sure butted each other good a feeding time. I saw that and said "NOWAY!" Well I have surely rambled on, haven't I? Anyway this friends husband raises goats too. ( the one who took me to look at the goats)A hobby thing. He gave me a weaned baby fainter; a girl.He says she is too small for what he wants. She is brown and soo cute. Also he has another that is due to have babies in March. She is nubian/alpine; half and half. She is bred to an alpine. They raised her from a baby. I think he said she is nine months old.Actually her mother raised her, so she is still a little skittish with folks. My question is; Do you think the soon to be momma would warm up to us after a while. She has never been milked before. Well duh; I guess that is obvious. OH! and how to introduce new goats to dog who has never seen goats before. This dog is really protective with chickens though. I guess I am more than a little nervous.I am not really sure why. Anyway he is chargeing me $75 dollars for the momma. Her momma won reserve or grand champion last year at fair? And she is supposed to have a really good utter attachment.As did her mother.He was not looking to sell her but if I want her she is mine. What do you think?Do I have a chance with this goat? The problem is I know nothing about raising or milking goats.And how do I convince her that I should milk her. When I tried to touch her utter she jumped like I had run a volt of electricity through her. Oh, by the way ,I am supposed to pick them up Friday. AHHHH! I don't know why I am so nervous! Thanks folks

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), January 30, 2001

Answers

Bonnie, you made the right choice not to buy the horned goats. About the pregnant yearling, you will be able to tame her time with a little time and patience. I would find out the CAE status of her herd before buying her though. All my goats, bottle raised or dam raised, both young and old milkers, jump like that when I touch their udders and they are pregnant. Having the udder handled makes their uterus contract, besides which it's a ticklish area for the goat. They behave very differently after they kid, then it is fine.

There are those who will tell you that this goat is a lost cause and will always be wild. I've tamed a lot of wild goats, both dam raised and those raised on a lambar bucket. I have written a lot about it on other threads,(look in the archives), but basically what you do is to put a good collar on her and keep her in a small pen for a while. Don't do anything that might upset her (like introducing the dog to her at this time. Wait till she settles down)and talk quietly to her when you bring her feed. Go into the pen with her twice a day and sit far away from her, with some grain in your hand. Don't look directly at her, but talk quietly and gently, holding out the grain in your hand. Eventually she will come very warily, eat the grain, and then bolt away from you again. If you repeat this twice a day, she will gradually gain confidence and come to eat from you rhand eagerly. Then try bringing a hand up slowly to touch her side. Don't grab her collar, just pet her. She may bolt again, but every time she eats, pet her, talking softly. Every time, handle her more. Eventually you will be able to handle her all over, including the udder. Never lose your temper with her, and try to have someone else do any unpleasant procedures to her until she warms up to you. If you are leading her somewhere or releasing her from being led, hang onto her. Never let her get the idea that you are something to be terrified of and to bolt away from. When you release her, crouch down and talk to her and pet her before you let her go, and slowly let go of her collar so that she hardly notices it. You don't want her to get the idea that she can yank really hard and get away from you if she wants to, or that she should. I have tamed a lot of goats this way, yours is still young and it should not take very long for her to warm up to you.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 30, 2001.

Hey Bonnie, my best milker now, Lily, was wild when I got her, real wild. But she is a doll now, jumps on the stand, in fact drags me to the stand. They usually catch on quick and love the grain they get when you milk them. She was tame in a week of milking.

You said the soon to be momma is 9 months and due in March. This means she was bred at 6 months old, seems a little young to me. I wait till the next year to breed them, but allot of goat people go by the weight of the goat, not the age. I like Alpines.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), January 30, 2001.

Bonnie: I think Rebeccah did an EXCELLENT job of discribing the taming of a wild goat. It has worked well for me as well. If you relax and just enjoy the process it will be a lot of fun. We had one rescue goat that I sat in the pen on a bucket and talked to her for hours. She started out trying to climb out of the pen every time we came near. She now runs around and follows us in the yard like a puppy. Just plan on some time. If you start now she will be quite tame by the time for milking and they also tend to really bond with you if you are present at kidding and give them little extra treats.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), January 31, 2001.