Considering Replacing 1 goat....

[chicken pickin]

Quoted from above
One of the replies asked the OP why she got 2 wethers to begin with? They got theirs for milk What difference does that make? Probably because she wanted pet goats. A person wanting pets is a legitimate reason to buy two wethers. Would it be a legitimate reason to buy two wethers for the sole purpose to fatten up for slaughter?


I wasn't questioning why she got wethers to begin with as if wethers are anything less than a milking doe. I was honestly curious as to why they decided on goats specifically so maybe we as readers could understand more as to her goal with the goats(even if they are pets) and help her with useful advise not just all the judgmental stuff that she was getting. Im sorry if I came across as rude.

 

[WannaBeFarmR]

I read this post and while I don't agree with the use of shock collars (in dogs or goats) I was thinking that as a community we are not portraying ourselves as particularly friendly or helpful...wasn't the point of this website to share and offer advice to those asking? If the poster wanted to be chastised there are probably lots of other places they could go online to get that and I hope backyardherds never becomes one of those places.

That being said I do agree that goats are loud sometimes and that is a fact regardless of sex, age, or breed. I'm not sure how long you have had these goats but goats at new homes sometimes scream nonstop for weeks. They may be frightened by their surrounding, or missing a herd buddy, mother, or sibling that is at the former home, or he may have become attached to you and when you are gone he's afraid you're lost and is simply trying to help you find your way back to the herd.

You could try to split them up but then the other goat could start yelling over his missing friend.

Since I'm assuming you got these guys as pets its not out of the question to consider re-homing if the behavioral issues can't be fixed though. Also some people just don't click with certain breeds I think ND are fun but they are little characters, pygmies sometimes are a little calmer and I've heard fainting goats are rather quiet but I'm not 100% sure on either of those facts. Sometimes a doe and a fixed male make really great buddies too.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Quoted from above
One of the replies asked the OP why she got 2 wethers to begin with? They got theirs for milk What difference does that make? Probably because she wanted pet goats. A person wanting pets is a legitimate reason to buy two wethers. Would it be a legitimate reason to buy two wethers for the sole purpose to fatten up for slaughter?


I wasn't questioning why she got wethers to begin with as if wethers are anything less than a milking doe. I was honestly curious as to why they decided on goats specifically so maybe we as readers could understand more as to her goal with the goats(even if they are pets) and help her with useful advise not just all the judgmental stuff that she was getting. Im sorry if I came across as rude.

No you did not come across as rude.

I did not mean it that way.

I did think the entire thread was being very judgemental and not informative/helpful to the OP.

I do not think the shock collar is a good idea because I don't think it would be effective. I just think the overall response was over the top. A shock collar did not injure that goat.

I think that should have been the theme of the responses, i.e. "hey don't do that it isn't going to work". Not questioning if the OP should even own goats.

My point was merely that getting two wethers to fatten for slaughter is an OK reason to get goats. ( But, I could never eat one of my goats"

 

[OneFineAcre]

I read this post and while I don't agree with the use of shock collars (in dogs or goats) I was thinking that as a community we are not portraying ourselves as particularly friendly or helpful...wasn't the point of this website to share and offer advice to those asking? If the poster wanted to be chastised there are probably lots of other places they could go online to get that and I hope backyardherds never becomes one of those places.

That being said I do agree that goats are loud sometimes and that is a fact regardless of sex, age, or breed. I'm not sure how long you have had these goats but goats at new homes sometimes scream nonstop for weeks. They may be frightened by their surrounding, or missing a herd buddy, mother, or sibling that is at the former home, or he may have become attached to you and when you are gone he's afraid you're lost and is simply trying to help you find your way back to the herd.

You could try to split them up but then the other goat could start yelling over his missing friend.

Since I'm assuming you got these guys as pets its not out of the question to consider re-homing if the behavioral issues can't be fixed though. Also some people just don't click with certain breeds I think ND are fun but they are little characters, pygmies sometimes are a little calmer and I've heard fainting goats are rather quiet but I'm not 100% sure on either of those facts. Sometimes a doe and a fixed male make really great buddies too.

x10
I think that's what the OP needed.
I just hope they come back.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Just my 2 cents:

Bought the wethers at 8 weeks: I'm not sure how long the OP has had the little guys, but 8 week old kids are still babies. Babies cry when they are uncomfortable, lonely, hungry, stressed or just being goats. Goats do make noise - comes with the territory.

Barking collar: Let me assure you - the goat does NOT LIKE getting zapped. The fact that it's not working simply means that the goat is not making the connection with being vocal and getting shocked. Sooooo, why continue? They can 'get' walking into a wire and getting bitten... but being vocal is not the same thing as walking into a wire. See above - Goats, babies or not, are vocal for many, many reasons and getting zapped for being lonely is not the same as being zapped for walking in to a physical barrier.

The OP stated that owning goats in the city is a different story. It simply may be that expecting a country animal to conform to city rules is simply an unreasonable expectation.

I understand when your 'critter' seems to have a different agenda than you do. My goats annoy me on a daily basis, lol. But, I DO live in the country, I do understand that goats make noise, I even understand that if they get into the yard they will eat my landscape.

Bottom line: You can take a goat out of the country - but you can't take being a goat away from the goat.

 

[animalmom]

OneFine;
Darn good post!

Katlovesaandw;
Your mouthy guy may very well just be complaining about the new rules. I have Nigerian Dwarfs, and as a rule they are not screamers. I do have one doe that lets you know it is time to be fed, and that noise will provoke a wether in a different pen to start in, but once food arrives they are all quiet.

Give your guy some time. I know you are worried about the neighbors, and if you are on good terms with them already maybe you could pay a short visit and say how terribly sorry you are for the noise, but you are sure the goat will calm down shortly and how much you really appreciate their patience during this time, especially since the boy is just a baby anyway.... something like that.

I do hope you continue to read, and post here. I'd miss you.

 

[OneFineAcre]

OneFine;
Darn good post!

Katlovesaandw;
Your mouthy guy may very well just be complaining about the new rules. I have Nigerian Dwarfs, and as a rule they are not screamers. I do have one doe that lets you know it is time to be fed, and that noise will provoke a wether in a different pen to start in, but once food arrives they are all quiet.

Give your guy some time. I know you are worried about the neighbors, and if you are on good terms with them already maybe you could pay a short visit and say how terribly sorry you are for the noise, but you are sure the goat will calm down shortly and how much you really appreciate their patience during this time, especially since the boy is just a baby anyway.... something like that.

I do hope you continue to read, and post here. I'd miss you.

I think that would be a very good approach. I have Nigerian's also and agree they are not screamers.

 

[Southern by choice]

I think you are being very respectful of your neighbors and hopefully the goats will quiet down ( or the one anyway).
I agree with you.. there is always a bit of trial and error for everyone with goats.
My Nigies are not screamers, a few do scream in heat though.
I had one doe that use to be quiet and then after her first freshening she started getting a little mouthy... she had her second freshening and OH MY!!!!!!!!!!! Problem is she is setting off the others. We don't have "neighbors" so to speak and I LOVE my goats but it is annoying!

It has only been with the does though. Never had a buck get loud...ever. I don't have any wethers so I don't know how that works.

You are right.. research can only go so far.

We recently visited with some people that were scheduled for 2 of our goats- they would be first to time goat owners! GREAT PEOPLE! They had researched etc for quite sometime too but as you are saying there are just somethings that may not get asked and a breeder may not think to share!

I am glad we visit "new" owners farms! The area the goats were going in was filled with poisonous plants, no way of keeping the goats from the chicken feed, too many "escape" places etc. Not only as a breeder was the trip worth it but for the customers also! Long story but everything worked out wonderfully. They were all prepared too. feed , mineral, emergency kit... everything! They were able to find a more suitable barn, put up additional fencing etc.

Hopefully some of the goatie issues will be resolved and you will finally be able to enjoy these comical (yet sometimes bratty) animals!