Having trouble adding 8 month old doeling to small herd

[PattySh]

We only had one kid last year. Maple is now a bit over 8 months (1/4 oberhasli/3/4 alpine). She was bottle raised and has been in a pen outside the goat stall. I have 6 dairy does and one very calm nigerian buck in a 12 x 12 stall for the winter. One wall has 3 hay feeders and the opposite front corner a muck bucket size heated water tank. Everyone seems to have enough room and there is no fighting. On nice days the stall opens to a very big chain link paddock 50x40. The minute I try to introduce the doeling all the does headbutt her very hard. The buck stays out of it. I have tried twice since she turned 8 months to introduce her to "her family". I did take her out in the summer for play dates with them with little issue. Whats up? I swear they would have killed her last nite. I was in the pen for 1/2 hr with them protecting her then watched from outside for about 15 min. They just wouldn't quit mauling her. Any advice.

 

[daisyjack]

is there anyway you could just put one or two other goats with her at a time?
maybe you can building a stall with cow panels next to the others for they can get us to her and then give her visitors from the herd on her tuff.

 

[Fluffygal]

They are establishing pecking order. She is being told in goat language her place. There usually is head butting and chasing as the herd shows the new comer that they are not giving up their spots. If though it gets too rough to where the new goat is in danger then pull her back out. If this is the case you could try pulling out the lowest ranking doe from the herd to use as a buddy for the young goat. Let them bond for a bit and when you feel they are ready, re-introduce as a pair. This would give her a better chance of being accepted.

 

[lilhill]

When I have a new doe come in, I put her in a pen adjacent to the doe pasture. Then I pull out the doe that is second to the herd queen in the herd and put her with the new girl. They stay together for at least a couple of weeks to bond. After that, they go together to the doe pasture. The new girl has a buddy that is higher up in the pecking order and life is good.

 

[PattySh]

Good ideas. I was going to try the buddy idea last nite. I did pull the youngest doe to buddyup in the adjoining stall. I changed my mind when I noticed Maple limping a bit. I' ll try again tomorrow when I can be in the barn longer.

 

[20kidsonhill]

When I have a new doe come in, I put her in a pen adjacent to the doe pasture. Then I pull out the doe that is second to the herd queen in the herd and put her with the new girl. They stay together for at least a couple of weeks to bond. After that, they go together to the doe pasture. The new girl has a buddy that is higher up in the pecking order and life is good.

this is also what we do, and it works well.

 

[CocoNUT]

I've been doing this for the past two weeks and it DOES seem to help a LOT! Also with letting our LGD know that this newcomer belongs in HER flock!