A few days ago I obtained a two year pygmy billie to breed my two pygmies,sight unseen.It turns out he was raised with a couple of teen age boys who probably played with him roughly.The result being he likes to but and my shins are skinned.Is there any strategy other than neutering him to correct this behavior? Keith

-- Keith Etheridge (grandpa@chipsnet.com), January 16, 2002

Answers

Hi Keith... try a squirt gun (with water) in the face...usually the get the message after a few squirts and a stern "NO!!" :) patty Prairie Oak Miniatures http://www.minifarm.com/prairie_oak http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Littlegoats

-- Patty Putnam (littlegoats@wi.rr.com), January 16, 2002.

Patty's answer is very good. A rule is - never, ever, hit a buck. They just regard it as a challenge. Water in the face often works. If it doesn't, add a little ammonia - just enough to sting. It is really too bad that people can't automaticaly know how dangerous it can be to play 'butt' with a baby buck. A full sized buck can kill you and think he's only playing.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), January 16, 2002.

My billy was much the same way when I got him and I just let him know who was boss. Grabbed his horns flopped him on his back, when he got up I put my foot between his horns and held his head in the ground until he'd had enough. He doesn't bother me anymore. Sometimes the girls get a dose of him but he never ever bothers me anymore.

-- Joel Combs (jwcinpk@yahoo.com), January 16, 2002.

Keith dehorn him. There is simply no better way to give an attitude adjustment to any goat! They simply will bully no more. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.

I tend to agree with Vicky, that dehorning may be the best solution. However, if that is not an option, learn how sheep shearers flip the sheep they are going to shear (yes, there is a method to their madness) and flip him any time he decides to act up. I have done this with a testy 4-horned jacob ram and a rambuctious alpine buck and it worked well for both of them. If done properly it is not terribly difficult to do (I'm only 5'2"), won't harm the animal, and definately gets your point across!

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), January 16, 2002.

get your girls bred and get rid of him.

-- westbrook (westbrook_farms@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.