Ideas needed to tame a (dairy) goatgreenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread |
My sister just brought over a goat for me and this doe is due in 2 1/2 months and is NOT tame. I would like to milk her so, what is the best way to tame her? Is the situation hopeless? Has anyone been successful doing this? Any ideas would be appreciated. Marie
-- Marie (Mamafila@aol.com), February 12, 2002
When I got my goat she was really wild, very skittish too. After she had a kid she calmed right down. We've had her several years now and she's still sweet and calm. Hopefully, you'll have the same experience.
-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), February 12, 2002.
HI Marie, I also had two wild goats last August, you need to let them learn to trust humans. We would sit in their barn stall and talk to them very quietly, and offer food. They did not take the food at first, but goats are a naturally curious animal and they will evuatually approach you, talk calm and soft. When you think they are trusting you a little, reach out and scratch their necks. they love it. They might jump away at first, but they will come back. It only took us two weeks to get our does tamed down to take food from our hands. Good luck, you can do it.
-- Barbara (vozarbi@sensible-net.com), February 12, 2002.
I must point out that I am just starting with goats so don't take anything I say without a little salt. I got one doe this last fall that didn't like people or other goats. I penned her by herself and fed her grain out of a cup held in my hand. As she wanted the grain she had to eat out of it. When she was used to it I then begin to pet her. She still doesn't really care for other goats but seems to miss it if I don't pet her while she is eating. I consider it to be a success storey. gail
-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), February 12, 2002.
my last surviving doe was real wild when I got her..just a lot of patience and treat food and back scratches...*sigh* I knew she would be with me untill she dies the day I was sitting in her stall and she came over to me and laid down next to me and put her head on my leg...
-- Bee White (bee@hereintown.net), February 13, 2002.
opps fergot..a lil tip..when a goat lies down the front end goes first,, to milk my goat I had to keep her standing...she is quite large(165 lbs) and I found that placing a five gallon pail upside down under her chest kept her on her feet.
-- Bee White (bee@hereintown.net), February 13, 2002.
Even after you succeed in taming her, I suggest that you try your best to be present when she kids. Since you want to milk her and she hasn't been milked before, this might help. It seems that some of the motherly instinct awakened in a doe at kidding time is shared between the kids and the goat owner, if the owner is present in the pen. Of course, there is no proof that this works, but it has seemed to me to be helpful.
-- Dianne Wood - Woodland, WA (woodgoat@pacifier.com), February 13, 2002.
Hi Marie, I have found tortilla chips hath powers to sooth the savage beast. My mom used popato chips, but I worry about fat. She would confine them to a smallish pen, and feed and water as usual for a few days [talking casually to them all the while] then when they had quit bouncing off the walls, she would come in with the secret weapon. They can't seem to get enough of the salty junk food. Though if you like to snack in the barn, this could present future problems with manners.
-- Kacy (kcjp@earthlink.net), February 13, 2002.
I''ll admit, I did'nt come up with this one myself! But it sure worked for my goats. Singing to the goat while attepting to milk them worled the best. Also if the goat tends to kick up one of it's legs i hold on to that leg while milking with the other hand, when my hand gets tired I just switch hands. Or I have one of my brothers or sisters hold the leg while I sing and milk. I know it probably sounds crazy, but whatever works works right? So far i've only had to do both the singing and the leg-holding on one goat, the others don't kick. I have become accustomed to singing while milking and it has made the chore into a relaxing time. (just make sure whatever you sing is somewhat relaxing)! Hope this helps! kippany
-- kippany garriga (civilwargirl18@yahoo.com), February 15, 2002.
hope you've tamed her by now-if you handle the babies from day one, you won't (most likely) have this problem again. this doe may have been raised on mama and never handled. sometimes they tame down-my mom has had two that never did while she had them.
-- laura (okgoatgal@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.
try talking to her in a calm voice and visit her as ofter as possible. try to get her to eat from a bowl u r holding in your hands. u can also find some kind of special treat that she likes. when she tries to take the treat from u very gently reach and try to pet her.
-- shelley redding (onestarinsky@yahoo. com), April 02, 2002.