My husband says I shouldn't ask such a stupid question, but we have to give wormer to our new goats who are not used to us yet, and we managed to lasso all but the billy.(My husband is no Will Rogers!) Every time he sees the rope, the billy heads for the hills. They do come when we bring feed, but the billy won't let us get closer than about ten feet. A friend suggested that we put a rope at the top of a feed bucket and then pull when the billy puts his head in the bucket. We'll try it, but I'm looking for any other suggestions. We have two goat houses and fencing around about three acres, but no corral area.

-- Mary in East TN (barnwood@preferred.com), September 08, 2001

Answers

Hi Mary, Withhold the feed. It's amazing how "tame" an animal will get when they get hungry, especially when they know you are the answer to their hunger pangs. :) tang

-- tang (tang@mtaonline.net), September 08, 2001.

can you get it into a shed or bbarn? smaller area should be easier to rope.

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), September 08, 2001.

Well, do like I do. Have a Border Collie bring it within diving distance, lunge for and catch a back leg, then let the goat drag you through the mud and poop till it stops. Works for me!

Really, put a gate with a rope on it across the shed, feed them in there, and when they are munching down, pull the gate shut behind them. Make sure it's a tall gate. Good luck and hang on tight!

Or you could just get the wormer you put in the feed next time.

-- Cindy in KY (solidrockranch@msn.com), September 08, 2001.

Mary,

just feed him when you can corral him in the goat houses if you can close off all exits but one. But be ready to close that off too. I like the grain method! I carry a bucket of grain and start pouring the grain on the feed (in the contained area if you can) and in about a week, he will be knocking you over to get to the bucket! I use a coffee can and rattle it so they can hear it also. Corn is a great one to use. I throw whole corn on the ground after shaking the can, in a few days they know exactly what is coming, then throw the corn close to you. Don't try to grab him, let him learn to trust you.

So what if you don't get him wormed this week? Next week won't make any difference, or the week after. Start feeding in the goat houses throwing the grain all around and inside. Not alot just a few handfuls, depending on how many goats you have. Treat all the goats like this. Tame them all. Though be warned..every time they see you they will come knock you over looking for treats!

Remember you will need to tame this wild beast to trim his feet someday, all of them actually. Let him come to you in his way when he is ready. And you will have a friend forever, or as long as you have grain!

Sweet grain, Rolled or whole corn, Peanuts in the shell- salted, frosted mini chex, animal cookies, all great treats!

All of my bucks are sweet and friendly, last count 7 of them. I just got a nice 2 year old ram and am taming him right now. He has been here 1 month and yesterday he ate out of my hand for the first time. I did not try to touch him....yet. In time.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), September 08, 2001.

Use Ivermectin orally on his grain or fill up some Bugles Corn chips with safeguard paste and feed them to him. Actually feeding your bucks treats everyday is a great way to med them, then when the treat contains the wormer they are none the wiser. I make little balls of oatmeal and molassas rolled in flour, most are just those ingredients and the bucks love them, but when its time to worm or give them something orally, I make them with the med in them, they eat them just like the regular treat. The donkeys get their wormer in peanut butter sandwiches, which are their treat. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), September 08, 2001.

The only one escape deal works great. However, we have had to do this with a pony before in an open pasture--build a sort-of stall in the corner of a fenced area with cattle panels. Wire/tie them together--put the feed in this area and when the one you want is in there pull the panels together and hang on tight. Good luck!

-- (stephanie.wilkerson@experian.com), September 10, 2001.