Crying Goats

[waddles99]

If any of you know me here, I have had problems with my goats noise level before. The goats pen is fairly close to neighbors(200 ft), and goes right up against our house, so they can be heard. It annoys me so much. We are always saying how they behave like princesses, lol. In fact, right now I can hear them. From 9-10:00 when they go out to 4-4:30ish they are quiet, then they start crying around that time. I can't imagine its because they want to go inside, because it is far too early for them. They have food, water, minerals, I can imagine what they could possibly want. I am tired of this being an issue and I am getting ready to board them at another farm until we can move to a bigger farm that has more space between us and the goats.

 

[Stacykins]

Easy: do not reward them when they are noisy. Ignore them when they are noisy. Only pay attention to them when they are quiet. You've made it clear from other posts that yes, they have trained you to react when they are noisy. Going out and shushing them/giving them attention only teaches an animal that they behavior they were doing (noise making) meant they were rewarded with attention. Goat's don't understand that it is time to be quiet. The understand that if they cry, you go out to them.

 

[waddles99]

Easy: do not reward them when they are noisy. Ignore them when they are noisy. Only pay attention to them when they are quiet. You've made it clear from other posts that yes, they have trained you to react when they are noisy. Going out and shushing them/giving them attention only teaches an animal that they behavior they were doing (noise making) meant they were rewarded with attention. Goat's don't understand that it is time to be quiet. The understand that if they cry, you go out to them.

The hard part of that is ignoring them. It is extremely annoying to us and hard to do, lol. We will try. Its just sad to watch them out there if they are suffering.

 

[Stacykins]

The hard part of that is ignoring them. It is extremely annoying to us and hard to do, lol. We will try. Its just sad to watch them out there if they are suffering.

If their needs are met they are not suffering, they just make you think they are. And definitely lavish them with attention when they are being nice and quiet!

 

[waddles99]

Yes, we try and only bring them in when they have quieted down, and then they get their grain which they go crazy for.