I am not another goat, stop butting me.

[heatherlynnky]

Ok seriously this has become painful. I managed before but I have a leg that is healing up from a dog bite and the goat keeps butting me. I could not get out of the pen because of it. So my husband says its time to break this bad habit even if it hurts her feelings.

How do I stop this. She is a very large bottle fed baby of 3 years, who does have horns and who thinks she can also sit in my lap. The problem if you ignore her or stop giving her all your attention she butts you wicked hard and she won't stop. I managed by holding her horns before but with a hurt leg I can't. So he is right, I need to learn how to break this habit. Any ideas?

 

[Southern by choice]

Most people will use a spray bottle.
Cattle prod also works. LOL

 

[heatherlynnky]

I don't think I could cattle prod her, my husband might but I couldn't. I will try the spray bottle. She had me in tears and I still could not have zapped her. I have a pit bull bite on the back of my leg and she rammed it a good three times before my husband could plow through all the geese to come help me. Not up to doing it again.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I think it's time for some tough love! First let me ask - is she an "only" goat? If so, a companion goat that she can butt instead of you might be in order.

Like Southern said - a lot of folks will try a spray bottle first. Spray her right in the face - she's not going to enjoy that but if she is that much of a spoiled brat it might not stop her. If that doesn't work - you might want to seriously consider the cattle prod. It will probably only take one or two times and she'll get the idea.

Consider this though....if your husband is the only one to prod her - then your husband is the only one she's going to respect. If the correction doesn't come from you it's not going to keep her from butting you.

Good luck and please don't risk your safety - especially with your injury!

 

[JAF Farm]

So sorry to hear that. Bless your heart hope you heel quickly. And since I'm new to the goat world I really don't have anything to ad, but I do agree with spraying her and if that doesn't work the prod could do it. Good luck.

 

[goatgurl]

I've used the spray bottle with good results, got to be kind of a joke around here. I've used it on bucks, does, the dog and chickens too. be sure it is on stream and not spray and some folks put a little vinegar in the water to make it more unpleasant. now the warning, if she is spoiled she may not stop no matter what unless you use something more aggressive like a cattle prod and frustratedearthmother is right, if you don't correct her yourself she won't respect you. you let her learn it was ok to butt you now you have to teach her its not ok. good luck

 

[Southern by choice]

I hope your leg heals quickly. That stinks to get bit there!
There are hand held "prods" too. No different than hot-wire really.
We actually have to carry the prod in with some of our turkeys. Doesn't work well with them because their feathers are insulators.
But they do respect us more.

 

[heatherlynnky]

She is not an only goat she has 2 buddies. She never did this until we had 2 other goats that we ended up getting rid of because of this bad habit. She picked up on it though. My son gets it too, she doesn't do it to my husband. I will have to be the mean mom I guess because its dang painful and she is a big girl.

 

[Southern by choice]

Remove her horns and you will solve your problem I bet!
We had to do this with one of our girls- she was fine with people but became ridiculously aggressive with the other goats and the dogs.
It was not a big deal at all. Took awhile to heal, changing bandages but I got my sweet baby back!

Here is Millie's story
http://www.backyardherds.com/threads/de-horned-2yr-old-doe-week-3-update.28257/

sadly life got in the way and I haven't updated... I need to.

 

[heatherlynnky]

She had been dehorned but they grew in anyway. Apparently it didn't take. The person who did it was new at it though. I should have just had something done as soon as I saw them growing but she was so sweet I thought it would be fine. WRONG