Goats (pictures, stories, tips, etc.)

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, I board with 4H. It's not really bad at all except for training them and conditioning...I have no control over what he is eating. Hence the pizza comment I said before. They feed him anything...which isn't good for his nutrition let alone him as a show animal! And as far as the attacking people, these goats are rarely handled or even interacted with. Their problem is that they see humans as a threat to their dominance. Usually they behave themselves. Sometimes they'll rear up and charge you in the pen but in that case I just back away and ignore them. I never face away from them, always keep them in my sight. I think the fact that I am one of tens of people that visit the farm so I don't know what others are doing. If they are play head butting them or smacking them when they do it...they are perpetuating the behavior.

Ahh okay, I was wondering if maybe you were in 4H. That seems really weird that they feed them anything and don't interact with their animals :/ I think if it was me I wouldn't back up which they might see as you giving in but then again they're probably heavy aha

 

[waddles99]

Ahh okay, I was wondering if maybe you were in 4H. That seems really weird that they feed them anything and don't interact with their animals :/ I think if it was me I wouldn't back up which they might see as you giving in but then again they're probably heavy aha

They are about 175-225 lbs and fully horned....I don't myself want to get hurt. They have about 50 lbs on me and are no doubt a lot stronger. Honestly, it's not worth it just to make a point to them. At the end of the day, I could be seriously hurt and the goat would still be aggressive. I heard spraying with water would help, but I just don't know if it would be worth it to train someone else's goat.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They are about 175-225 lbs and fully horned....I don't myself want to get hurt. They have about 50 lbs on me and are no doubt a lot stronger. Honestly, it's not worth it just to make a point to them. At the end of the day, I could be seriously hurt and the goat would still be aggressive. I heard spraying with water would help, but I just don't know if it would be worth it to train someone else's goat.

Ahhh, in that case definitely back away haha that's dangerous :/ and honestly it might help even just for your own protection than training

 

[waddles99]

Ahhh, in that case definitely back away haha that's dangerous

and honestly it might help even just for your own protection than training

If it was a smaller buckling under 100 lbs I would maybe try a method of dominance without violence, such as flipping them and holding them on their backs. But really once they get past 150 they really shouldn't be messed with if they have an attitude. I'm never a fan of fighting back since they are animals, and unpredictable, and you never know what they are capable of. And, believe me, 200 lbs looks a lot bigger when its rearing up at you than it does on a computer screen, lol. Im sure the people who raise cattle would laugh if they heard me say that, but still, its not something you want to mess around with. I dont know if anyone has ever had an aggressive goat. Its not too fun honestly. Especially when you are trying to get your goat out of the pen and that goat is charging your goat and he either hits you or your goat. Makes you feel kinda helpless.

 

[cassie]

They are about 175-225 lbs and fully horned....I don't myself want to get hurt. They have about 50 lbs on me and are no doubt a lot stronger. Honestly, it's not worth it just to make a point to them. At the end of the day, I could be seriously hurt and the goat would still be aggressive. I heard spraying with water would help, but I just don't know if it would be worth it to train someone else's goat.

You are right. It is far better to be safe than sorry and to keep a fence between you and them at all times. Even a small horned animal can injure you if it has a mind to. I cannot understand why this behavior was ever allowed to progress to this point or how or why it even got started in the first place. It boggles what is left of my mind. Unless they were very very valuable breeding stock, you don't want to know what would happen to these animals if they were mine. Even then, if an attitude adjustment was not possible, goatburgers it would be. Replacing even an expensive goat is cheaper than a stay in the hospital. But that is me.

 

[ShrekDawg]

If it was a smaller buckling under 100 lbs I would maybe try a method of dominance without violence, such as flipping them and holding them on their backs. But really once they get past 150 they really shouldn't be messed with if they have an attitude. I'm never a fan of fighting back since they are animals, and unpredictable, and you never know what they are capable of. And, believe me, 200 lbs looks a lot bigger when its rearing up at you than it does on a computer screen, lol. Im sure the people who raise cattle would laugh if they heard me say that, but still, its not something you want to mess around with. I dont know if anyone has ever had an aggressive goat. Its not too fun honestly. Especially when you are trying to get your goat out of the pen and that goat is charging your goat and he either hits you or your goat. Makes you feel kinda helpless. 

I'm not sure flipping them would really be a good idea either but yeah, I can see why you wouldn't want to mess with the big goats. I think you should get the water bottle or a big stick or shovel or something to protect you and your goat haha seriously though, that sounds dangerous. :/ is it just one or more than one? And I know it's an hour away so you maybe don't know if you're not there a lot but does your goat get picked on or anything? :/ or maybe he holds his own when he's not hooked to a lead?

And believe me, I know it's big. I've never been around goats but my dog is half Black Lab and half Great Pyrenees and he weighs 137 pounds at the last vet check a month or two ago LOL (he really should be below 130 but vet didn't say anything and he's not fat). He's also protective and goes ballistic when people come over, especially delivery people. And he goes ESPECIALLY crazy over coyotes, fox, etc., a different kind of crazy. And he can be reactive to some dogs on walks (I think he wants to play and it's just leash frustration but one dog he truly hated and that dog hated him and he reacted truly aggressively). And when certain people and dogs walk by the car he freaks. And he's scary in all of those situations. And the situation above with the dog was a year or two ago and scary to hold a lunging, barking 130 pound beast so believe me, I know that over 100 pounds is a BIG animal especially on 2 paws (or hooves). Lol

That said, I make him sound terribly untrained and a monster but he's actually the sweetest most cuddly dog ever and sleeps all day. And he has gotten better with most or all other behavior problems (he used to be possessive of some things, bones especially as well as not listen a lot of the time), he doesn't do that now and listens well most of the time. And when we're actively training he has like near perfect obedience. The challengeis getting him to listen when he's in excitement mode or we're not in a training session but he's gotten better with that too. He's a GREAT dog but we just weren't prepared for his breed. But we've learned a lot and are still learning and working on the few issues he has left and making progress. But when he is in aggression he's terrifying so I know that even though 200 or less pounds doesn't SEEM big, it definitely is. And heck, baby yearling black bears are around his size LOL

So don't worry, I'm not one of those people that has a cow or horse or something and says 200 pounds isn't scary or has like a chihuahua (no offense to chihuahua owners lol) and has never been around a big animal and has no clue.

 

[ShrekDawg]

You are right. It is far better to be safe than sorry and to keep a fence between you and them at all times.  Even a small horned animal can injure you if it has a mind to. I cannot understand why this behavior was ever allowed to progress to this point or how or why it even got started in the first place. It boggles what is left of my mind. Unless they were very very valuable breeding stock, you don't want to know what would happen to these animals if they were mine. Even then, if an attitude adjustment was not possible, goatburgers it would be. Replacing even an expensive goat is cheaper than a stay in the hospital.  But that is me.

100% agree

 

[waddles99]

These goats are not breeding stock or anything special. The owner of the farm doesn't butcher or take animals to auction, no matter what. They take in people's cockerels, rescue from auctions, that type of thing. They would never get rid of a goat in such a way. I was visiting a large Boer farm a couple months ago a couple hours from my house. Their big bucks are pushing 300 lbs, and they looked pretty docile. I could only imagine what a goat of that caliber could do. Mind you, I'm not a large person. Probably 140 lbs...and even a goat that weight would probably be stronger just since they are really muscular and strong.

As far as flipping goats, you say it wouldn't be a good idea, but actually it has worked for others pretty well. It forces the goat to give in without perpetuating aggression. Smacking, shoving, etc only makes the goat worse. If you act like that, the goat will immediately think you are another herd member and subject you to the other abuse it gives its other goats. Goats are able to take that abuse, humans are not.

My current goat is 118 lbs and knows better than to do anything to me. He may be a bit stubborn but he knows who is in charge and respects it. The largest, most aggressive goat did indeed bully him, but I had him moved by himself with a steer in the far pen. The steers probably pushing 300 lbs and he doesn't mess with him. Now my goat is in the other pen with 5 other goats. He is the 2nd largest. The largest one in the pen does try and challenge me and has pushed me in the past. He's not that big...maybe 175 lbs. He follows me around and tries to block my path sometimes. When he does that I ignore him and move around him. I just dont want trouble....especially since his horns are stomach level for me and he could injure me there.

I used to work with horses. Some of them very ill tempered. Rearing in the crossties, striking the ground, etc. To be honest, I would rather work with them. These goats are trying to hurt ME. The horses are just either spooked or not well trained. They dont have any direct aggression towards me.

 

[ShrekDawg]

They won't even give them away or anything? You'd think they'd at least try to train and rehab them if they took them in.. that's terrible :/

And sorry, I should have clarified. I didn't mean that it wouldn't work, I'm sure it does for some, but just that I personally wouldn't do that and believe in more positive methods. Plus it seems dangerous. Those are more what I meant. Though I'm sure for some it does work and maybe if a goat was coming at me I'd think different but I wouldn't use it as my main method.

That's good you got your goat and the other goat moved, seems like a better fit although it stinks the other still challenges you. Though he seems less dangerous than the other goat? Do the smaller ones try anything? I can see why that would be a problem.

And yeah, I feel like a lot of horses are just more honest I guess. Easier to read. Of course not all horses are and an honest horse is good but in general they're all pretty easy. Like you said, they're usually either spooked or not trained. And the warning signs and body language are very obvious, evem before the pawing and rearing, the eyes, tail, and ears especially say a ton about how they're feeling and what they might do next and you can prepare yourself. Of course there's still the unpredictable horse or the horse that WILL try to hurt you on purpose but that's pretty rare I think and they calm down pretty easy too I think. It's a moment then it's over and they've maybe forgotten next time. Unlike a goat repeatedly attacking you

 

[waddles99]

They won't even give them away or anything? You'd think they'd at least try to train and rehab them if they took them in.. that's terrible :/

And sorry, I should have clarified. I didn't mean that it wouldn't work, I'm sure it does for some, but just that I personally wouldn't do that and believe in more positive methods. Plus it seems dangerous. Those are more what I meant. Though I'm sure for some it does work and maybe if a goat was coming at me I'd think different but I wouldn't use it as my main method.

That's good you got your goat and the other goat moved, seems like a better fit although it stinks the other still challenges you. Though he seems less dangerous than the other goat? Do the smaller ones try anything? I can see why that would be a problem.

And yeah, I feel like a lot of horses are just more honest I guess. Easier to read. Of course not all horses are and an honest horse is good but in general they're all pretty easy. Like you said, they're usually either spooked or not trained. And the warning signs and body language are very obvious, evem before the pawing and rearing, the eyes, tail, and ears especially say a ton about how they're feeling and what they might do next and you can prepare yourself. Of course there's still the unpredictable horse or the horse that WILL try to hurt you on purpose but that's pretty rare I think and they calm down pretty easy too I think. It's a moment then it's over and they've maybe forgotten next time. Unlike a goat repeatedly attacking you

The goats were babies when they got them...I think the behavior problems stem from the fact that so many people are perpetuating the behavior and no one is training them or working with them properly. Their idea of rehab is just getting them nice and fattened up...which is important too, but behavior should be a close second. It's hard because we both have different priorities. They never even go in with the goats so they don't know how it is. And I merely suggested the flipping as something SOME people do. If I tried to do it with one of these goats, I would either get injured myself of fail miserably, as these goats are heavier than me. The goat he is in with now has only ever done something once. He has challenged me many times though. Made contact only once luckily. Funny thing is, he's best friends with my goat. Calls for him all the time when I take him out even though he has 4 other goats in there. Speaking of them, they're Nigerians and pygmies. They don't do anything. To me or the other goats. They're the bottom of the pecking order.

At least I can somewhat read the goats behavior. I never really know what a goat is thinking, so it's hard to know. With horses, you know when they're mad....but with goats it's hard.