Aggressive towards kids?

4HGoatGirl

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
23
Reaction score
10
Points
46
I currently have 4 goats. 1 mini Alpine doe, 1 Pygmy wether, and 2 Nubian/Boer does. One of our Nubian/Boers, Lucy, has been aggressive towards kids and sometimes adults. She is 1 1/2 and has never been "aggressive" in fact, she has always been that "I'm not leaving your side till you give me scratches" kind of goat. She started getting a little aggressive January. She puffs up, rounds her back, and head butts them. She has always done a gentle knock on the leg. Today we had some friends over, and they were playing with the goats, feeding them leaves, running to one side of the yard and letting the goats run with them, and giving them lots of attention. Lucy took it to the next level. She went on her hind legs and jumped out towards the kids (luckily they jumped back). After that she would head butt them like they were new goats. She is the Alpha out of our small herd. We all love Lucy and would hate to re home her. I don't want this aggression to get worse. Is there anything you can do for it? The kids looked a little nervous (I just told them she was trying to play) and took her to another pasture. Is she just going to be one of those goats that you have to lock up when people come over? Anything helps!
 

frustratedearthmother

Herd Master
Joined
May 7, 2013
Messages
7,972
Reaction score
14,369
Points
623
You are saying she's aggressive with children - not goat kids I think? It may be that she is a little spoiled from your statement that:
She has always done a gentle knock on the leg.
Any kind of knock on the leg, or any other body part, from any size goat is unacceptable. You should never allow anyone to push on their heads and you can't let them push on you. Unfortunately - some goats take advantage of any situation and do just what she's doing.

I would start by getting a spray bottle of water and spray her in the face every time she acts aggressive. Hopefully that will work because the next step would need to be a little stronger. I wouldn't encourage 'goat abuse' in any form, but she can't be allowed to hurt someone. Perhaps penning her away when children are around would be the best idea.
 

4HGoatGirl

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
23
Reaction score
10
Points
46
Yes for sure. We always addressed her "gentle knock on the leg" I put that out there to show that she took it too far this time. :\ I will have to try the spray bottle. I do hope we don't have to "take it to the next level" as you said. Thanks for the info though.
 

animalmom

Herd Master
Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
1,958
Reaction score
2,231
Points
343
Location
North Central Texas
I don't seem to have any aggression problems from my does, but sometimes a young buck will try to show his rank. When he rears up at me I grab his collar and bring him down fast... not hard, just fast. If he does it again then I will flank him. Stand at his side and go under him and grab the two legs closest to you and pull up. He goes down on his side. I hold him down (sometimes I have to sit on the boy) until he stops squirming. I rarely have to "flank" the guy again.

Although during rut the guys will get a little brave and rear up at me, but from a distance. I shake my fist at them and they know they have done wrong. A guy caught in the clutches of hormones gets a very tiny pass from me.

Any form of aggression toward you or another human is not good. I don't think flanking is goat abuse. It doesn't hurt them physically and reminds them that they are not the boss.
 

4HGoatGirl

Chillin' with the herd
Joined
Jun 22, 2017
Messages
23
Reaction score
10
Points
46
:)Thank you! I will start with the spray bottle and go from there if needed. :D
 

Latest posts

Top