Taming A Goat Kid

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Today I brought home my new goat Bella and her friend Linnea who is staying with us until December when Bella's dam Windy comes home after earning her milk star at her breeders....

Bella is 10 weeks old and was dam raised. The breeders teenage daughter is the one who handles the Saanen part of the operation and failed to handle Bella alot so she is very skittish. I absolutly NEED to get this goat loveable and tame because she is going to be a milker and will be shown. She won't come near us. Grain won't bring her in, treats won't bring her either. To move her tonight into her new pen (we had them somewhere else while we finished their house and run) we had to corral her into a corner and grab her by the collar. One you have her she is fairly calm and will let you touch her.
I walked her around for about 15 minutes on a lead line letting her graze so hopefully she will associate people with good things to eat and soothing pets. She will let me pick up her feet, rub under her belly, etc. She's just scared.
I am a first time goat owner, is my thought process right in just forcing my affection on her and letting her deal with it and get used to it, or is that wrong with goats?
I have a feeling she would never come to us on her own if we waited for her. Her buddy will sit in your lap getting lovin' while she hangs back 50ft and just watches.
I am worried. I have heard that once goats act wild you won't tame them and make them friendly. I plan to milk this goat by hand twice a day in the future so it is imperitive that I have a good hands on relationship with her.

 

[dixygirl]

Any new animal usually develops a relationship with you in stages.
First just spend a lot of time with her. Don't rush it. Just take your time and enjoy being around her. If you are outside all day frequently, that's even better

Then the food, treats, brushing, slowly playing with her. Take your time with that too. I look new animals in the eyes and feel their personality. Not the uncomfortable scared personality that they are showing then. Rather I take time and try to learn them deeper than that and past that. Bathing can also be a bonding experience. Some will lick you afterward to show their appreciation. That shows their acceptance of you and desire to return the favor by grooming you too LOL. It is probably asking too much for a new, dam raised doe to be personable as soon as she moves in. So probably not good to just turn her out in the field either and expect her to be good with humans when you do go out. If you spend a good amount of tranquil time with her daily, you should see results in a couple months. The good thing is that she is still young so you can still imprint on her and mold her. I don't know if you have other goats, but her having a goat companion is necessary so she feels safe when you are not around, because goats don't like being alone.

It will take more time and work with this one because she was raised by a goat and not handraised by a human. But with more time and effort she will come around. It is like any new relationship. Also animals can sense your emotions. If you seem to always be in a rush to get her to do something or to come, it won't help. They will sense that sense of urgency as an uncomfortable feeling to be around. They will also copy you. So your being in a hurry will make her even more skittish and nervous. So always be very calm, sedate even, move slowly, talk softly to them, and loving with them. I would put her on a leash and take her for a walk in a tranquil area. Also spend time with no agenda and not rushing to get her to do anything. Maybe beside the water. You can read a book and pet her from time to time while she browses and munches for an hour or so each day. Sociologists studied how Asian babies tend to not cry much at all and are very relaxed usually compared to babies of other cultures. They found that the Asian mothers spend a lot of time with their babies and even keep them on their back in harnesses while they work even. They don't tend to put them down much at all like for alone time like some other cultures do. They often sleep with their babies too. That feeling of constantly being attached to their mothers, safety and constant love apparently transfers into a very quiet, assured, and calm baby. Greet her with a hug and stroking maybe a treat. Doing all that slowly, with time, love and consistency I am sure you two will eventually become the best of friends.
Good luck

 

[Chatychick]

Time and patience will win her over but it wont be overnight ...it takes sometimes weeks to get there...she is in a new place and scared to death you are going to eat her...some are easy about people and some arent...just take you time and dont rush her she will come around ...when she knows she can trust you not to eat her as she is a prey animal and anything chasing her is a predator...just sit in the pen and talk to her and before you know it she will be eating out of your hand and in your lap...

 

[brandywine]

How is this going?

Your doe sounds very much like my two eight-week-olds, which I've had just over a week.

They are getting tamer every day, with just routine handling (leading from stall to goat tractor in the morning, reverse at night) and occasional visits.

I stroke them and handle their legs and feet while they eat their grain at night. They are coming along pretty fast.

 

[thebritt]

I think dixygirl is right on the money. Follow that advise, and I'd be quite suprised if you didn't turn her round!

 

[CaGoatLady]

She needs to see you sitting with the other one who is tame so she can see that you are trustable. I had this happen with a big Boer baby at 3 months old, so it can be done because now, at about 250 pounds, he still wants to sit in my lap and he is my most lovable goat and the only one that I didn't bottle feed.

 

[mekasmom]

Just wanted to mention that milk goats should always be bottle fed. I know that won't help you now, but in the future it is a good thing to know.

 

[hikerchick]

I have a milk goat that I rescued from NYC. She has been here several weeks. I have never gotten near enough to touch her, but when I sit in the pen and cuddle with all of my other goats she is fascinated. She keeps decreasing the distance between us..it was 8 feet and now she stands 3 or 4 feet away and just stares. I know she wants to join in but is afraid. I don't know what she went through in NYC but she is very afraid of everything. Still, she is coming around. I think I will pet her someday.

 

[helmstead]

Quote:

My Nigis are dam raised and I can't get them off me...nothing has to be bottle fed to be friendly. It's all in time spent.

 

[Epona142]

I agree completely with helmstead. I don't like bottle fed babies, they are always right in your face and sometimes barely realize that they're goats.

My kids are 100% dam raised except in health-related situations and they all come out people loving friendly lap kids. I am with them and handle them from the moment they are born, and they all love being picked up. When they see me, they run over to get petted, and will pull on my clothes if I stop.

Also, all of my goats (except my buck) came to my home wild as march hares. Now they are all spoiled rotten lovebugs.

OP - you've gotten some great advice here! Good luck!