Help!!! I have a male and female goat which are about 6 mos old. The male has been banded. They've been kind of spoiled since we got them as babies, and are definately pets. My brother had a billy goat killed by dogs 10 days ago and this week-end he brought us the doe who was raised with the poor dead billy. She was very lonely and we thought she'd be better off here. Well, my goats are terrible to her. They are constantly butting her and do everything they can to keep her from the food. I'm worried about her safety as mine are really being nasty to the poor thing. Any ideas? The new nanny is just a sweetheart and we hate to give her up, but I'm afraid mine aren't going to adjust unless I do something soon. Help!!!!!!!

-- Mary Petersen (mpete05@aol.com), November 27, 2001

Answers

Are the goats of a similar size? Usually, as long as you make sure the new one has enough hay to eat, even if it is after the other ones eat, they will work it out before too long.

-- Leslie in Western WA (sundaycreek@gnrac.net), November 28, 2001.

I agree with Leslie. Unless yours are much older or yours have horns and the new doe doesn't, just give it sometime, bring the doe out to eat twice a day, but other than that they will bond. If they are all similar in size, the does will eventually buddy up. They should have gotten to know each other over the fence during her quaranteen? :) Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), November 28, 2001.

Hi mary,

Sounds like the goaties are vying for who is boss. This typically happens when new goats are introduced with the herd. Mine will really butt each other even after quarintine and noce kissing. Hmmmm...... sound slike they are related to some of my crotchty ole Alpines, mine are so bad the God Forbid you bring in a new breed! That was the reason I had to drive 22 hrs straight back from WV becuase the dag Alpines were fighting with a poor Nubi/Munchie doe in the trailer and the kids in the truck cap with 2 non related Alpines to that herd.

Give them some time, it'll get better.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), November 28, 2001.

As long as your goats don't have horns, they should all get over it and gradually adjust to each other. You should put the hay in at least three and preferably four places until that time, or the new doe will not get enough to eat. Once I brought in a very gentle Saanen doe, and was worried that my old Alpine queen might beat up on her. So I tied that doe up for a few hours when I introduced the Saanen. I checked ion on them to see the Saanen beating on my queen!! I untied the Alpine queen, affter that, the Saanen was the new queen, and a very gentle one. She dominated the feeder and would not allow the old queen or any of her daughters eat from that feeder!

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), November 28, 2001.

Thank-you everyone for your help. We're still watching the goats very closely and trying to feed the new female separately for a while. I'm sure they'll adjust eventually. It's just kind of sad to see her go through all this. Thanks again for all your help, Mary

-- Mary Petersen (mpete05@aol.com), November 28, 2001.

Another possibility is to divide and conquer, if you have the facilities. Separate you pair and put the new doe in with one of them. This way she and yours can establish dominance one on one instead of yours ganging up on her. Or, she and yours may decide to be best buddies and gang up on the other one when you put them all back together!!! You just never know what's going to happen! Usually, unless one of my girls isn't getting proper shelter or enough to eat, I just let them settle their own fights. (Actually, I have kind of the same approach with children....)

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), November 28, 2001.