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     Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 1291 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.230.109  Rating: N/A |
See how it goes. The separate stall inside the communal barn has been what works best for me. The goats are together most of the time except during the evening feeding and during the night. Any change of the normal procedure or housing can take several days for the goats to settle down. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Ellie Mason New member Username: ellie_mason Post Number: 8 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 143.212.16.69 Rating: N/A |
I would just let them loose but they end up spending most of the time up on the porch of the house making a mess,my husband isn't as tolerant as I am  Plus last winter they were very hesitant to walk in the deep snow- the outside portion of their winter pen is covered so the ground is snow free. maybe this year becuase they are bigger they will be braver. Also when i separated them last year they could still see each other but still complained loudly. maybe i just needed to give them more time to get used to the arrangement. I will put some more thought into their winter quarters and see what I can come up with. They are funny creatures sometimes they will both go into the dog's house and snuggle up together and other times Chiva is just a jerk. I would like to install an camera so I can see what goes on in there when I am not supervising Chiva definately needs a reminder once in a while that she is not the boss I have been giving her a smack now and again but wasn't sure that was the best approach. I will keep on her. As Always-thanks for the info! Ellie | ||
| Maggie Leman Moderator Username: maggieleman Post Number: 1290 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 71.111.230.109 Rating: N/A |
The spray bottle is one of the most effective dicipline tools, a smack on the nose may be another but you have to be fast to do it. A larger enclosure where the picked on goat can get out of the sight of the bossy goat would help. You can dicipline the bossy goat for picking on the other goat, but they are smart and will just stop doing it so much WHILE YOU ARE WATCHING. Butting YOU is absolutley unacceptable, yell, spray, pop the snot out of her, but don't let her get away with challenging you. You MUST be the top goat at all times. Try to put the spare hay feeder as far away from the main one as possible, out of direct sight if possible. I am willing to bet that being picked on was 100 percent of the little one's problem last year. Stress can make a goat very sick. Have you thought about not locking them up? I know you are in Alaska, but goats aren't stupid and will come in out of the cold when they need to. Hang a piece of carpet in the doorway to keep out drafts. Ever thought about making a stall inside the barn where the picked on goat can spend the night, with its own hay rack and feed but still within sight of her "buddy". Or make 2 stalls so that each goat has their own? Your barn is plenty big enough! Hog or cattle panels would work, see thru but effective protection from Miss Bossy. I have one goat I do this for, so he can be with the herd when he wants but eat at his leisure and sleep undisturbed. During truly awful weather he just stays in his own space for the day too. Maggie Leman Goat 911 Capri Medic | ||
| Ellie Mason New member Username: ellie_mason Post Number: 7 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 143.212.16.69 Rating: N/A |
I have two same aged mixed breed dairy goats and the bigger of the two is always bossing around the smaller one (both are females). Anytime the small one finds something to eat the big one comes and rams her out of the way. In the summer they pretty much just free range around our property so I don't worry about it too much but in the winter I have them in the barn, a 10'x12' space inside and the same space outside. I have a hay trough that holds one square bale- plenty room for both of them to feed - if the big one would allow it. Last winter the little one was very sick and I am sure that the stress of the big one running her around and blocking access to the food didn't help. For this winter I built another smaller hay feeder and put it inside so the little one would have somewhere else to feed but I am still worried about the stress and keeping th samll one healthy. She will also ocassionally get harrassed just for laying where the other wants to be.... Anything I can do to help the situation? Last winter I tried keeping them seperated but they cried and cried. Both girls are normally very friendly with people and well socialized but for the first time the big one rammed me pretty good when I was backing out of the garden and she was wanting in- what is a good way to discipline for this behavior? also should I discipline her for beating up the other goat? I use a water spray bottle to let her know not to eat the flowers, jump on the car, etc. and that works well but can't always have the bottle with me. As you probably guess these goats are pets and are treated pretty much the same as our dogs. Sorry for the long posting- Thanks! Ellie Mason |