I really need goat advise..adding new does

[RockyToggRanch]

I had no idea this would even be an issue. My toggenburg doe has been here almost a year. She lived with the 2 horses. She seemed lonely and I had been looking for a 2nd doe to keep her company. Recently a neighbor offered me 2 togg does (2 yr olds). I built a special goat stall so they could be away from the horses. The 2 new girls seem happy there. I brought my girl Roxie in on a lead rope to meet them. They all rubbed faces at first ....then holy cow...the head butting started! Mind you my girl has horns and the other 2 don't, so I was concerned. I took her out and we visited over the gate for a bit. I tried to bring Roxie out of the barn and back with her horses, but she refused to leave. She's been tied on a long lead rope, out side the goats stall, for a week now. Everytime I try to take her out, she refuses. Tonight I let the 2 new girls out of their stall into the barn aisle. Roxie was awful to them. Chasing and butting them hard. I kept her on the lead rope the whole time. I don't know what to do. I thought they'd work it out, but I'm afraid they'll get seriously hurt.

What can I do?

 

[dragonchick]

I leave them together and let them work it out. I don't interfere unless someones about to get seriously hurt. They are establishing their pecking order and is completely normal. This will usually last for a little while but doesn't usually cause any damage or injury.

 

[bheila]

I know it's awful to see but I just went through this a couple of weeks ago. I bought a new Pygmy and she's twice the size of my others. Well lets just say that she's the new queen of the herd. She wouldn't let my goats in the shed or even by the door. If my other goats did manage to get in the shed I could hear them getting slammed into the walls if they didn't run out fast enough. It's been 2 weeks and now everyone is fine. I wouldn't say they are the best of friends but they all know what the new rules are now.

 

[agnes_day]

my 3 were like that at first..my biggest girl would butt the boy constantly but now they are all friends.

 

[Chatychick]

Yep its pecking order...every time I bring a new goat home I just let them fight it out usually a few days and its over. I would think really hard about banding her horns especialy if you plan to milk them as intimidation affects milking and loss of milk too and horns are just dangerous. SHe is queen of her palace and she dont want to give up easily either. Just put tennis balls on the ends of the horns or duct tape so no one gets poked...better safe than sorry.

 

[helmstead]

When my herd was smaller I had this problem, too. Now, they're so used to new animals coming in, etc...they just raise their hackles and bow up...then go back to their hay.

You're going to have to let them work it out...and as Kathy said, if your alpha doe is that rude, do consider banding her horns...seach Elastrator Band Dehorning here and you will find my LONG post about my first experience with the method.

 

[RockyToggRanch]

She has never so much as threatened to use her horns before. She would butt the dog with the top of her head, but not the horns. She's good with my husband and me and the horses, too. She uses her horns to scratch her back. I hate to take them off. She's older (I think) and sure to miss a piece of herself.

I think I'll wrap a towel around her horns and duck tape it in place until they settle this.

 

[abluechipstock]

put them together but make sure the others have plenty of room to get away from her, horns almost always win, i have a herd queen and a second in command, 5 that are pretty equally matched and a low man, the low man gets knocked around if she doesn't watch the others, the herd queen slamms everyone around, she even bites other goats, but on the other side she's the sweetest goat with people, she runs right up to strangers and lets them pet her, she's just a pain to the others, but it's harder on us than it is on them, they will eventually coinhabit with not so much trouble

 

[RockyToggRanch]

Thank you all so much for your advice. I need to get my nerve up and wrap her horns and lt them go at it.