Two New Goats..One is mean! Help!

Kperki

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Hi,
We just bought a new place and the previous owner asked if we could take his two goats. They are Nigerian Pygmies and are both females about 3 years old with horns. I had goats when I was a kid and ours were nice. So I am not sure how to handle this. Luci Is ramming her sister Petunia. IfPetunia sees it coming she meets her head on and they butt heads. A lot of times she is hooking her belly and lifting her. Also when I put them in the pen at night Luci really rams her. I was told to take two fingers and smack her eat but it doesn't phase her. Petunia is nervous in there and tries to hide behind me. Luci has also chased our dogs. They avoid her but Petunia can not. I have a very large metal dog crate that I was wondering if I should put that in the pen and put the little devil in that at night. We want to eventually get miniature horses and other animals so I want to try and get this behavior fixed so she can't bully them. The previous owner said the other people he gave them to had Alpacas and they were worried she would hurt a new baby so they didn't want her...of course I learned this after we got them! They are both great with us..any help would be greatly appreciated! We are just starting our little farm and want everyone happy! Thanks
Luci is the mostly black one. Sorry it turned the photos sideways!
 

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Kperki

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Lol! I just had to look up what is freezer camp!
 

Southern by choice

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It may sound a bit harsh but the reality is this goat is eventually going to gore something. Although it may be nice to you, you could end up in the way. You could have the surgery done to remove the horns completely. Not worth the trouble though IMO.
We have horned, polled, and disbudded goats. Every once in a while you will get an ornery goat that may use their horns as "weapons"... they aren't worth risking the rest of the herd or a Livestock Guardian or any human.
Doe meat is delicious.
 

peachick

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She is the alpha queen. There are a few things you can do to change they dynamics of the herd... before killing her. Id try getting one or two more goats... Separate her off by herself for a while. Let the others rearrange the hierarchy... then add miss grumpy back into the herd and let her fend for herself under a different dictatorship.

I watched my alpha queen get de-throned last year.... they were fighting constantly. Now, the older girl who lost her position is very submissive to the new alpha bitch :) ....
 

jodief100

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Freezer camp is a good option but you will need to either send both, rehome or get a new companion for the one left. Goats don't do well solo.

Peachick has a good idea, it may work but it may not.
 

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