Alibo
Loving the herd life
First some background...
I have a Spanish doe who was my first goat. She is three and I have had her for two years. Before me she was a brush goat that was never handled, and probably rarely saw humans. We purchased her with her first kid and ended up selling the kid because she was so feral it took a team of people to catch her.
Backsy(the Spanish doe) has warmed up to us a little now, we can approach at arms length and I can pet her occasionally. She did let me pet her through labor and after, which felt like a huge breakthrough but sadly she is keeping her distance again.
She kidded a week ago and is getting up on the milk stand to let me milk her but I have resigned myself to her always being a little standoffish and never a pet. I have spent countless patient hours to get her this close. She has never been aggressive per-sey but has challenged my small children a few times.
All this being said, her two doelings, which I love already, are getting fast! They are extremely healthy but they are taking a page from Backsy and running from me. I have to corner them now just to catch them. I hate to corner or even chase any of my animals because I feel that breeds fear.
Should I pull them from their mother and bottle feed?
I cannot have two more girls that are difficult to handle. Trimming feet and worming are things that have turned into a family affair for Backsy. Would the kids warm up with time? And then logistically how hard is it going to be to keep mom from breaking down my door to get to her girls?
I have a Spanish doe who was my first goat. She is three and I have had her for two years. Before me she was a brush goat that was never handled, and probably rarely saw humans. We purchased her with her first kid and ended up selling the kid because she was so feral it took a team of people to catch her.
Backsy(the Spanish doe) has warmed up to us a little now, we can approach at arms length and I can pet her occasionally. She did let me pet her through labor and after, which felt like a huge breakthrough but sadly she is keeping her distance again.
She kidded a week ago and is getting up on the milk stand to let me milk her but I have resigned myself to her always being a little standoffish and never a pet. I have spent countless patient hours to get her this close. She has never been aggressive per-sey but has challenged my small children a few times.
All this being said, her two doelings, which I love already, are getting fast! They are extremely healthy but they are taking a page from Backsy and running from me. I have to corner them now just to catch them. I hate to corner or even chase any of my animals because I feel that breeds fear.
Should I pull them from their mother and bottle feed?
I cannot have two more girls that are difficult to handle. Trimming feet and worming are things that have turned into a family affair for Backsy. Would the kids warm up with time? And then logistically how hard is it going to be to keep mom from breaking down my door to get to her girls?