Only the 1? How old is she? Ok. So you need to check what she had been fed. Try not change her diet. Take her temp rectally it should be between 101.5 and 103.5. To calm her and keep her healthy try some selenium past on your finger. Is she a bottle baby?
New to goats and absolutely clueless
My wife and I just bought a little girl at an auction. She's terrified. I think I know she needs time to adjust, but I'm trying to figure out how to make it easier on her. We're not in a farm, but we have a fairly large enclosure. We just want to set her up for success. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Welcome to The Goat Spot and being a goat keeper. Start with the basics; *she will need an adequate shelter *good quality hay with a way for it to be fed while keeping as much loose hay off the bare ground as possible *maybe goat pellets depending on age *a source of clean fresh water available at all times *a loose mineral provided free choice (24/7) *another goat of approximately the same age and size to keep her company *a fecal test in about a week to 2 weeks to check for worms and parasites *someone to spend time with her just sitting (lawn chair, on the ground) in the enclosure talking about what ever comes to mind or reading out loud so she will know your voice, learn she can trust you *patience while she works up enough nerve to approach you (don't chase her) and the help of members on this forum.
Hello there! Welcome to the world of goats! How old is your baby, do you know? If you only bought on goat, you are going to need to get her a buddy. Goats are herd animals so they are much more comfortable with another goat. Animals purchased from auctions can come home with diseases so checking her temp like Tanya said would be a good idea. Getting a fecal is something you should do. Meadow Mist Labs runs fecals for as low as $6. You can check her inner eyelid color (FAMACHA) in the mean time: https://web.uri.edu/sheepngoat/files/FAMACHA-Scoring_Final2.pdf
I'm sure she is very stress from all the changes going on so just take it slow and give her time to adjust. Sit in with her and quietly offer her company. I've found that raisins are a very good way to buy goats affections. A way to a goats heart is through their stomach. 😉 Don't give her too many, they are just a treat.
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask away! We would love to offer any advice we can give.
I'm sure she is very stress from all the changes going on so just take it slow and give her time to adjust. Sit in with her and quietly offer her company. I've found that raisins are a very good way to buy goats affections. A way to a goats heart is through their stomach. 😉 Don't give her too many, they are just a treat.
If you have any specific questions feel free to ask away! We would love to offer any advice we can give.
Welcome to TGS. Congrats on your first goat. I only got goats (3 of them) about a month ago and I was absolutely clueless too. Soon, you’ll be like me and only mostly clueless. Lol. Luckily, the goat savvy people here are very patient, kind, and helpful.
I’d start with keeping her in a fairly small space and just sit with her and talk. Let her come to you and give nice scratches and rubs when she’ll let you. If you can find a treat she likes (like the raisins suggested) that’d be the quickest way to win her over. Then it makes checking all the things others have mentioned much easier. No worries if you have to forcibly catch her to get a health check though. Goats are forgiving. Especially if you end the interaction with some loves and treats.
I’d start with keeping her in a fairly small space and just sit with her and talk. Let her come to you and give nice scratches and rubs when she’ll let you. If you can find a treat she likes (like the raisins suggested) that’d be the quickest way to win her over. Then it makes checking all the things others have mentioned much easier. No worries if you have to forcibly catch her to get a health check though. Goats are forgiving. Especially if you end the interaction with some loves and treats.
How old is she? Can you post some photos? Do you have a vet that you could take her to for a check up?
Is she eating and drinking?
Is she eating and drinking?
First you need to figure out if she needs milk and how old she is. If she is not old enough to eat hay/grain, she will need to be bottled ASAP. Give whole cows milk, not replacers, very warm. Her temp (rectally) needs to be between 101.5 and 103.5, DO NOT give bottle if she is sub temp. Try to get a weight on her so we can recommend how much to feed and how often. Reach out to experienced goat folks near you..... young kids can be quite fragile. Best wishes.
We have no idea even what kind she is. We got her at an auction and they just told us she was a goat. We're going to the vet tomorrow.Only the 1? How old is she? Ok. So you need to check what she had been fed. Try not change her diet. Take her temp rectally it should be between 101.5 and 103.5. To calm her and keep her healthy try some selenium past on your finger. Is she a bottle baby?
We got her a crate/ kennel with a tarp over it and pinw shavings. She's been grazing. We have been spending time with her. I know she just needs some time.Welcome to The Goat Spot and being a goat keeper. Start with the basics; *she will need an adequate shelter *good quality hay with a way for it to be fed while keeping as much loose hay off the bare ground as possible *maybe goat pellets depending on age *a source of clean fresh water available at all times *a loose mineral provided free choice (24/7) *another goat of approximately the same age and size to keep her company *a fecal test in about a week to 2 weeks to check for worms and parasites *someone to spend time with her just sitting (lawn chair, on the ground) in the enclosure talking about what ever comes to mind or reading out loud so she will know your voice, learn she can trust you *patience while she works up enough nerve to approach you (don't chase her) and the help of members on this forum.
Thank you all for your input. She's in about a quarter acre. Is that too small for 2 goats? We can increase the closure size. I think we're earning her trust. I just want her to do well. We're taking her to the vet tomorrow morning to get her checked out and hopefully figure out how old she is and go from there.
She appears to be mostly Nigerian Dwarf and roughly 8-10 weeks old. That's great you'll be taking her to the vet tomorrow for a check up. Having a vet in place now eases the stress if there is ever an emergency need and trying to locate one then. She is a pretty little girl.
Aww she's adorable. Glad you are taking her to see a vet.
She’s so cute! Let us know what the vet says.
I have had goats for 14 years and i am still clueless.
welcome to the club
welcome to the club
I agree with Nigerian newbie. 8 to 10 weeks. She is a cutie. So glad she has you and is seeing a vet
That size acreage should be enough for two 😊Thank you all for your input. She's in about a quarter acre. Is that too small for 2 goats? We can increase the closure size. I think we're earning her trust. I just want her to do well. We're taking her to the vet tomorrow morning to get her checked out and hopefully figure out how old she is and go from there.
Very cute little doeling! Welcome to the Goat Spot and welcome to goat ownership!!
I agree about 8-10 weeks sounds right. This is good as kids can be weaned at 8 weeks and it is likely that they probably sold her at the auction when she was weaned. Hopefully the vet can give you some great advice. 😁
I agree about 8-10 weeks sounds right. This is good as kids can be weaned at 8 weeks and it is likely that they probably sold her at the auction when she was weaned. Hopefully the vet can give you some great advice. 😁
Let us know what the vet says
We had some stuff come up before I had to leave for work so it will be tomorrow morning for the vet. She is eating, drinking, pooping, peeing. She didn't run last night when I went out with her. I picked her up and held her and gave her some love (and some treats). We're making progress.
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