How long for new babies to settle in?

[katlovesaandw]

1st time goat owners. Picked up our 2 babies, 8+ wk old Nig. D's.
How long until they settle in?
They have each other and am glad they want OUR attention but they are NOISY!
We live in city, we are allowed to have mini goats in city limits but I do not want to peeve neighbors.
We take great care with our chickens and ducks that they are quieter, etc.

If these 2 goats continue this level of noise....our neighbors will end up filing a complaint.....

Do we quit going out any time they yell? Does that just give into their behavior?

 

[animalmom]

New "parents" often get sucked into the "I scream therefore you come, now, NOW!" syndrome. I think it you are pretty sure the babies have not managed to hurt themselves, get attacked by godzilla, are not overrun with snakes, not being pestered by flying monkeys, then it is alright for them to find out that screaming does not get them what they want.

You will hear enough different vocalizations to be able to tell what is a real problem scream and what is "I'm bored and want to be scratched" scream.

Maybe you could go to the closest neighbors and ask them if they are being bothered by the babies (and stress that they are babies... people seem to cut some slack to babies) and that the babies will quiet down once they have settled in, and maybe bribe any bothered neighbors with a dozen eggs, or a plate of home baked cookies.

Yes the babies will quiet down sometime between now and the point you go deaf.

Welcome to the wonderful world of goats. I have Nigerian Dwarfs too and they are a hoot, and occasional scream.

 

[katlovesaandw]

Great idea on the eggs and cookies! Will do it to the 2 main neighbors. The other one.....well, let's say...if he brings up anything...he is lucky we havent filed a complaint over his yard and the overgrowth that keeps coming into OUR yard. GRRRRR

And exactly about the constant response to their screams......

THANK YOU!!!

Off to work on their pen and combine it with chicken pen.......

 

[CordleFarm]

Every time we bring a new baby home, it takes them a few days to get acclimated and not scream their heads off when we walk away. The longest we've experienced was about a week and the shortest time being a few hours. One of our doelings screamed until she lost her voice and could only make this little croaking noise, which was kind of a relief and kind of pitiful at the same time. That being said, my entire herd will still SCREAM whenever they see me getting close to the pasture because they know that I'm the deliverer of yummy and fun things. Invite the neighbors to see the babies and hope that they are so stricken with their cuteness that they forgive the noise

 

[meme]

Our LOUD Nubian had three LOUD kids this year. Luckily, we don't have any close neighbors, but getting woken up in the morning isn't much fun. We mostly just have to hide in the house from 4-6 PM, which are the loudest times. We just sold Cookie, the hard-core screamer of the group, and I have to wonder how their new owners are feeling about it. Hopefully she has befriended their Nigies and is happier now. Some will quiet down, and some never will. I still love 'em all though.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Great idea on the eggs and cookies! Will do it to the 2 main neighbors. The other one.....well, let's say...if he brings up anything...he is lucky we havent filed a complaint over his yard and the overgrowth that keeps coming into OUR yard. GRRRRR

And exactly about the constant response to their screams......

THANK YOU!!!

Off to work on their pen and combine it with chicken pen.......

Congratulations! Hope they are settling down for you. When you combine the chickens and goats, how will you keep your goats out of the chicken feed? My goats will do Anything for chicken feed. I recently read of a person who spikes their chicken feed with hot pepper flakes, this won't hurt the chickens and she says it deterred her goats. Do you have a plan I haven't thought of?

 

[katlovesaandw]

We hung the chicken food in the corner and have put a metal grate in front of it for now. The chickens can get thru spaces but goats cant....they tried, A LOT yesterday!LOL
Our only issue now is if the ducks can get thru it. We never saw them try it yesterday afternoon.
Sat and Sun we had goats out in yard and chickens locked in pen for a few hours to eat. Then we hung bucket up and all were out free-ranging.
If that pepper flake theory would work, I would LOVE to do that.

We will see if the wire fence/grate works. We just installed yesterday. Bought a cheap foundation remesh for $7 to see. It is 42" x 8' It had spacing enough to allow even our fattest chicken to get through to bucket. But like I said, the ducks......2 are younger and could squeeze thru but not sure if the 2 older fatter ones can. Though I have watched them squeeze into smaller areas to hide and lay eggs.....so we will see.

 

[katlovesaandw]

Well, the nosy neighbors behind us.....guess the grown son or nephew that lives with them but in a tent trailer in the backyard(yep, read that right....) decided to TALK to me instead of just being a peeping tom. His Dad does that too.....
Said the goats don't bother them, asked about the chickens a bit and the ducks.

We will see.... not that I care, after years of putting up with their blatant staring or listening in on us....they can deal!LOL