Help! I am not sure what to do about male goat!

[natyvidal]

I bought my two Nigerian dwarf goats as babies as a pair. Hansel and Gretel. Later I got another female, Glenda same breed. He is becoming ornery and tries to ram me with his horns when he doesn’t get his way. I keep the three in the same area. And he seems to molest a lot Glenda, the second doe I acquired, favoring Greta. Now the two does had their babies and I am worried about him attacking the babies since he was trying to mount Glenda when pregnant. Can I keep him in the same area as the does and kids? Is he a danger to the babies? Or shouldn’t he be happy that he is a father? . Stressing in Dade City!
Also, should I remove his beautiful horns? Will that settle him a little?
Thank you ahead of time.

 

[cassie]

Your buck neither knows nor cares that he is the father of the kids. There is no paternal bond. If he is mounting pregnant does he needs to be moved to his own enclosure. I raised dairy goats for over forty years. None of my bucks, with one exception, ever tried to butt me or challenge me in any way. The exception was one not too bright youngster and he never did it again. Starting at a young age, I taught my bucks basic manners.

Removing his horns won't "settle" him, but it will make him safer to handle. It sounds like you have got yourself a spoiled brat.

 

[chickens really]

@MillersFarm
@Rachel Taylor

 

[MillersFarm]

I agree 100% with Cassie, I'd separate him asap from the mothers and the kids.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I would definitely separate him and I think that alone will help calm him down some. If it doesn't there are some tricks that people have used to show a male goat who is really in charge without obviously injuring them in anyway. I had to train mine even though he's a Weather from when he was young. He is 150 pounds and pretty darn strong but I'm lucky enough to be strong enough to be prepared for him if need be.
Removing his horns will not change his behavior. And with his behavior the way it is at the moment probably be pretty difficult. He may need some basic goat training
But for safety of the babies and mothers I would separate him for now

 

[sunrise.superman]

Pool noodles over the horns can help a bit in a pinch. It doesn't solve his attitude but makes him less ouchy. Separate him...randy billy goats are morons and only care about one thing. They will overbreed does and even the doelings given the chance. Truly idiots for the most part. A riding crop with a leather tab at the end may help dealing with him. You can correct him without being right next to him and they mostly just make noise with a bit of whap. Some never do seem to learn manners so you may need to make a decision down the road about keeping him.

 

[alwaystj9]

Separate him and sell him unless you have the facilities to keep him separate. If any of your babies are female, he will be on them before they are physically ready to have kids themselves. Your does also need a break between kidding, nursing and rebreeding.

 

[natyvidal]

Thank you for your advice. I had already separated him by removing and tying him very far away from the fenced area where the mother and babies are. But, that’s a temporary solution. He is very strong and has done damage with those horns to their shed! But he is a magnificent male of the breed and I do wish to continue breeding the females and sale the babies. Therefore, I need to find a type of enclosure that will be sturdy enough and contain him. I found these tarter panels? Showing picture. I can set it up close to the source of water and feed and near the rest of the animals so he is not alone. My does will be able to raise their kids at ease and when I want to breed them, I’ll wait until the babies are weaned and mothers take a break before breeding them again. That way I’ll be in control. I also have an electrified fence that will keep the does and kids within their enclosure and predators away. Will an area 10 x 10 be enough for him while regularly letting him out to roam the pastures when the females are not there?

 

[natyvidal]

Separate him and sell him unless you have the facilities to keep him separate. If any of your babies are female, he will be on them before they are physically ready to have kids themselves. Your does also need a break between kidding, nursing and rebreeding.

How long should be the break between rebreeding. I want my girls to be healthy.

 

[natyvidal]

Pool noodles over the horns can help a bit in a pinch. It doesn't solve his attitude but makes him less ouchy.

What do you mean by this? Noodles? Thank you.