Well-Behaved Goats

Success Guide For Raising Healthy Goats

Goats that aren't handled often tend to become shy. Consequently, you may have a hard time getting them to come for milking, hoof trimming, or weighing, and if you plan to show them, they will behave poorly in the show ring.

Handling goats to keep them friendly takes little time. Whenever you enter your goat house, greet each animal by name, starting with your herd queen. Scratch each goat's ears and face. Your goats will crowd around, happy to see you. If you always handle them in the same order, they will learn to come to you each in turn.

As soon as your goats are big enough, give each one a collar. A plastic chain makes a good collar. It is sturdy enough to lead a goat by but will break if the goat gets hung up somewhere and pulls away, preventing the goat from being choked by its own collar. Collars work for all goats except Angoras. Since a collar will tangle in the Angora's long hair, teach the goat to be led by its horns or chin hairs, or guide it with one hand under its chin and the other hand on its rump.

A well-behaved goat will learn to follow you when you talk gently, use its name, and put your hand on its collar or chin. A stubborn goat will plant all fours on the ground and refuse to budge. If the goat balks, grab one ear and pull firmly. A goat doesn't like to have its ears pulled and will usually come just to make you stop pulling.

A frightened goat may rear up on its hind legs. If a goat rears, let go and move out of the way to avoid being hurt. Talk gently until the goat calms down, then try again.

Success Guide For Raising Healthy Goats

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Photographic credits:

Copyright Felicity McCullough

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External links Goats:

American Dairy Goat Association
American Goat Society
British Goat Society
Dairy Goat Society of Australia
DEFRA UK
National Pygmy Goat Association
Pygmy Goat Club
Welfare of Goats During Transport