[greif]

We have a 5 month old whether that pulls the hair out of another goat. The goat is 13 and at the end of his life with arthritis and getting thin other problems. Don't expect him to last more than a month or 2 but is a super friendly guy and so gentle.
This little wiether is just terrible by pulling his hair and eating it. It does not do this to anyone else. He has a brother that does not do this. Get plenty of good pasture, I give corn to also and access to minerals.

Is it just mean?
Thanks

 

[Chelsey]

I think hair chewing is a sign that they need more protein in their diet? Other people will know more and me answering you will bump this thread back up to the top of the list.

 

[NigerianDwarfOwner707]

I've heard that hair chewing is a protein thing, but I've noticed that sometimes my wethers do it to each other and it looks like they are trying to groom and/or play with each other and it's quite adorable. I feel like it is just an endearing behavior, and my one does it out of dominance to the other and can be quite rough. He will try to go for his hair when he's, well, mounting him to show dominance! Unless the wether seems to be really really consuming a ton of hair, I would think it's just another one of those silly goat behaviors!!

 

[21goaties]

Yes, the hair pulling is probably just the young wether being playful/weird lol. Are they bonded? If not, can you put the old one with another goat who won't pull his hair?

Or it could be the protein thing, I've never heard of it but it seems others have..what exactly do they eat every day? When did you last have fecals run on them?

The goat is 13 and at the end of his life with arthritis and getting thin other problems.

For your old goatie, what other problems is he having? We may be able to help.

 

[Chelsey]

Or it could be the protein thing, I've never heard of it but it seems others have..

I know it's a thing with chickens. They eat feathers if they need more protein. I'm pretty sure I've heard it here somewhere and just didn't doubt it cause of the chicken thing.

 

[21goaties]

I searched the forum, found a super old post that said it could be a protein issue.
Others said it could be mineral deficiencies, specifically zinc.
It could be him just being mischievous though..
@greif how often does your wether eat hair?

 

[happybleats]

give corn to also and access to minerals.

On a side note..I would not feed corn to your wether. He needs a careful diet at 2:1 calcium/ phosphorus ratio to keep him stone free. Hay and alfalfa along with quality loose minerals is all he needs. If you want to keep with a grain style feeding. Use alfalfa pellets.

 

[toth boer goats]

:nod::up:

 

[Ashlynn]

I had a 4 month old doeling that I bought do this. I never found out what it was, but she stopped eventually.

 

[greif]

Just feed him a little corn because I originally thought it might be protein issues. They have a great pasture and eat on it all day.

The old one has arthritis really bad and vet things guys just not working right anymore. Vet has us giving him probiotic, vit b complex, something for diarrhea. His mind is really good yet but has lost a lot of weight and fading. Too bad he is most gentle and friendly goat ever.

 

[21goaties]

Vet has us giving him probiotic, vit b complex, something for diarrhea.

So the old goatie is having diarrhea? When did you last have a fecal run on him? Does he have problems chewing his food?

 

[21goaties]

So the old goatie is having diarrhea? When did you last have a fecal run on him? Does he have problems chewing his food?

Reason I ask is, our old goat was wasting away in the pasture, I thought it was due to his age, but turned out he needed proper nutrition (daily alfalfa mush) , parasite treatment, and mineral supplements. The people here gave me advice which helped him recover. He looks great now.

 

[SalteyLove]

I would start them on alfalfa pellets and see if the behavior stops.

 

[toth boer goats]

I agree.

 

[greif]

Vet ran Fecal 4 weeks and it was clean.

 

[Tanya]

Goats chew hair for 3 reasons. Hair contains keratin. Its a mineral naturally produced by the body. If their body is low they will eat hair.

Protien is another. But it doesnt last long.

Third reason is boredom and attention seeking. If it is a continued behaviour that doesnt stop the wether needs proper stimulation.