We got our doe about four months ago, she was quite thin and we have been feeding her on a goat feed consisting of various grains and seeds etc. A few days ago we bought her some alfalfa pellets but she just wont eat them. At first I mixed them in with her other goat food but she just picked the other food out and left the pellets. We then decided to give her just the pellets but she wont eat them. She also has over a quarter acre to feed on too. This morning I went in to give her the pellets she took one look at them and started rearing up at me and butting me, she is obviously getting quite upset at the pellets. What should I do should I keep on with the pellets and hope she will eventually eat them. Also what should I do about the rearing up and butting me. She has not done this before and is usually very friendly and likes lots of fuss. I just put on a very stern voice and said no to her and held my hand out to push her away. Any help please.
Goat wont eat alfalfa pellets and is rearing up at me.
- Thread starter happydays
- Start date
Hillsvale
Loving the herd life
Goats are picky... I'd give up on the pellets personally. As for the reaqring a stern no and correcting her should work, she is obviously irritated at you! :/
Roll farms
Spot Master
Flip her on the nose, yank her ear, or spray her in the face w/ water. You gotta stop that before she gets bigger and hurts someone.
My goats don't like the pellets, either.
My goats don't like the pellets, either.
- Thread starter
- #4
Hi thanks for the replies. Just been out to give her some fresh water. She came running to me as she always does but once she saw I had not brought her any of her favourite food she started again. Started having a nible at me then rearing again I through some of her water at her she just stood and looked at me in shock then ran behind some fencing so I went and told her off. When I went back with the fresh water she wouldnt come anywhere near me. I want to stay friends with my goat but should I give up on the pellets or not. Should I give in to her to keep her happy. She is one and a half years old and we have had her four months and she has been fine before. She is acting a bit like a naughty toddler who wont eat his dinner but unfortunately she can do more damage than a toddler.
20kidsonhill
True BYH Addict
only some of my bigger older does would eat the pellets, none of my younger onse would touch them. If she did that to me, I would grab her ear and yank, or smack her ear. Goats hate their ears being touched. I would also use a very firm voice with her.
GoatCrazyLady
Ridin' The Range
Maybe try giving her the alfalfa hay. She might like that. I also give mine rabbit pellets which have alfalfa. They love them!
DonnaBelle
True BYH Addict
My goats do not like Alfalfa pellets either, or Alfalfa hay. They will eat the 16% goat grain pellets and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, and their treats are either apples or pears. They will eat hay in the winter time, but in summer it's brouse. Their favorite is pecan tree leaves and sprouts or elm.
We are getting ready to plant some Austrian winter peas and tall grain rye together in a 5 acre pasture for them to munch on this winter.
D*** spoiled goats!!
Sure do love them though...
DonnaBelle
We are getting ready to plant some Austrian winter peas and tall grain rye together in a 5 acre pasture for them to munch on this winter.
D*** spoiled goats!!
Sure do love them though...
DonnaBelle
ksalvagno
Alpaca Master
My goats won't eat alfalfa pellets either. I do feed them alfalfa mixed hay and they love that.
Go back to feeding her whatever you were feeding her before. If the bad behavior is around her feed, she may hold a grudge and not be so friendly anymore. I had a goat who was very friendly with me until I had to disbud her a second time. Never forgave for me for it and was never friendly towards me again.
Go back to feeding her whatever you were feeding her before. If the bad behavior is around her feed, she may hold a grudge and not be so friendly anymore. I had a goat who was very friendly with me until I had to disbud her a second time. Never forgave for me for it and was never friendly towards me again.
CrazyCatNChickenLady
Ridin' The Range
My goats LOVE alfalfa pellets. I took in a nigerian dwarf pair that were "city goats". Actually I bought them for waaay to much. They ate grain and chicken feed before I got them and "wouldn't touch their alfalfa pellets". 
I started feeding alfalfa hay, minimal grain in the morning, brush, and left alfalfa pellets out free choice. Within a week or two the Nigerians were scarfing at the pellets and LOVED them. I had tried mixing them in the grain but mouthfulls would go in, and out would pop the alfalfa pellets between chews.
As for the headbutting definately try and stop that in its tracks. My "little" saanen wether started to get testy recently. He's 7-8 months old. The second time his whole body hit the ground he learned I was NOT messing around. The squirt bottle also helps me keep them out of the chicken coops or out from where the bale of alfalfa is. They respond sooo well to that! I couldn't figure out why the ear tugging wasn't working though, then one day I saw the BF with the goats. He had them standing up on the fence(Rule #1 broken), and was tugging on thair ears and grabbing their faces and making funny noises. "OH! They LIKE when he tugs on their ears." That was news to me! So yesterday we're both at the pen and WHO do the goats go to? Their beloved 'mom' who feeds them? or Pa... who tugs on their ears... Yeah, they went to him.
I started feeding alfalfa hay, minimal grain in the morning, brush, and left alfalfa pellets out free choice. Within a week or two the Nigerians were scarfing at the pellets and LOVED them. I had tried mixing them in the grain but mouthfulls would go in, and out would pop the alfalfa pellets between chews. As for the headbutting definately try and stop that in its tracks. My "little" saanen wether started to get testy recently. He's 7-8 months old. The second time his whole body hit the ground he learned I was NOT messing around. The squirt bottle also helps me keep them out of the chicken coops or out from where the bale of alfalfa is. They respond sooo well to that! I couldn't figure out why the ear tugging wasn't working though, then one day I saw the BF with the goats. He had them standing up on the fence(Rule #1 broken), and was tugging on thair ears and grabbing their faces and making funny noises. "OH! They LIKE when he tugs on their ears." That was news to me! So yesterday we're both at the pen and WHO do the goats go to? Their beloved 'mom' who feeds them? or Pa... who tugs on their ears... Yeah, they went to him.
- Thread starter
- #10
Went to see her again after the water episode and she didnt rear or try to but me just stood there and let me stroke her. I gave in this evening and gave her her favourite food but will still keep leaving her some pellets just in case she changes her mind. I had read about goats being very picky and have definately seen it for myself these last couple of days.
