[Smallfarmer]

Got my first goat today! A cute little 2 yr old Pygmy mix weather. He's absolutely adorable. Here's some observations from our first few hours together.

If it's loud and you give me food, I will keep head butting it.
If it's grass, I love it and will not move no matter where the human wants me to go even if it's out of the rain.
If it's another animal I will butt it.

The chickens think he's cool, the cats think he's a dog, and the dogs have no clue what he is.

 

[ksalvagno]

Congrats! Do you plan to get him a buddy?

 

[ThreeHavens]

Congrats.

 

[Smallfarmer]

thank you! I started searching for a buddy as soon as I got him settled. Poor guy was living by himself near a fence full of alpacas. I'm hoping to find another weather or doe.

 

[ThreeHavens]

Good luck with your search! They are wonderful! One bit of advice -- I wouldn't allow him to playfully butt you. It's very cute when they are little, but it can grow into a very dangerous and annoying habit. Any goat around here, even baby kids, who butt, I take them by the ear and give them a firm tug away from me. That's how momma goats scold their babies.

 

[Smallfarmer]

Good luck with your search! They are wonderful! One bit of advice -- I wouldn't allow him to playfully butt you. It's very cute when they are little, but it can grow into a very dangerous and annoying habit. Any goat around here, even baby kids, who butt, I take them by the ear and give them a firm tug away from me. That's how momma goats scold their babies.

Thank you! I did not know you could do that. That's a huge relief. I thought I might have to dehorn him but if I can train him that would be best.

 

[toth boer goats]

Congrats, you can't just have one, LOL, they are like potato chips.

 

[Scottyhorse]

Yep, we started with two pygmies. Then bought three Nigerian Dwarf does. Then bought a buck. Have had two sets of babies so far. Getting two more ND does at the end of the month, LOL. Not a hobby, it's an addiction!

 

[toth boer goats]

It sure is.

 

[Smallfarmer]

I thought my parents would keep my goat addiction in check if I tried to get a lot but they have fallen in love with billy too! They can't resist the addiction either!

 

[toth boer goats]

Lol

 

[ThreeHavens]

Thank you! I did not know you could do that. That's a huge relief. I thought I might have to dehorn him but if I can train him that would be best.

Here's what I did for one of my does:

If she head rubs me, I grab her ear and pull her away from my leg. Usually she walks away. If she gets mad and tries to but me, I grab her ear again for longer, and yell "No!" I may also then take her collar, and make her follow me around for awhile, set her up, make her behave. It fixed the problem very quickly.

You can also "tip" them if need be. You grab the front and back legs that are farthest from you, push with your shoulder, and plop them to the ground.

Watergun is another option.

If he is intact, I would have him neutered -- wethers make better pets and have less crazy hormones raging through their system, so they calm down.

 

[Smallfarmer]

Got a second goat now! Meet Odin!

 

[myori1]

Congrats on both of your new goats!

 

[Smallfarmer]

Thank you!

 

[goatiegirl]

Odin is sure a cutie!! Is he pygmy too or Nigerian??
How are the two of them getting along??

 

[Smallfarmer]

Odin is sure a cutie!! Is he pygmy too or Nigerian??
How are the two of them getting along??

His father is pure Pygmy I'm not sure about the mother.
As far as getting along, I'm not sure. Billy butts Odin around and Odin seems to care less about billy except to hide from him. But if I separate them where they can't see each other they both cry out. Billy also gets angry if Odin is crying for any reason.

 

[KW Farms]

Congrats! They are super cute!

 

[ThreeHavens]

How adorable!

 

[Smallfarmer]

I absolutely love the little guy. I wish he would live me back. How did you guys tame little ones who weren't bottle fed?