Kid handling

[Sweetened]

When Estelle had Walter, I let her handle everything. I didn't take him away, I didn't steal milk (she just wasn't a huge producer the first time around, maybe she would have been on her second year). I handled him the say he was born, touched all of his parts from his noes to his toes (like you would a horse) and then handled him when he'd approach from that point on. He's not overly tame, only likes his face rubbed, but he's easy enough to handle and not mean.

I'd like to do it a little differently this year. I'd like to be able to handle them more, and bring them in if there's severe cold during the nights again (I want to split them from Moms at night anyway for milking purposes after the first couple weeks). I'm afraid of breaking the bond with them, or creating a mean doe or a kid who rejects its mother. I want them to be more handlable, train them to be lead broke and so on, so I dont spend an hour dragging them somewhere when I need to.

Let me tell you, Agnes is not only a large meat goat, she's a stubborn and heavy one as well. There was a point that, while leading (okay pulling) her towards the kidding pen by her horns, that I had to sit down in the cold and hang on to catch my breath, the entire time she was screaming bloody murder. Gretel, who is polled (and a friendly reminder why I prefer horns) was even more difficult to move. She wears a collar, and dragging her by it made me uneasy, I was afraid of breaking her neck with the amount she pulled! I feel like if I work with the babies a bit more when they are young, I'll be able to lead them better and be a bit more affectionate with them (I so adore this lovey Agnes).

Thoughts?

 

[Southern by choice]

We handle our kids pretty much as much as possible. Boys/girls... no difference. We have heard many say you don't want to do that with a buck...I can see that with a ram but all our bucks have been handled a great deal. Some bucks that came to us young but from farms that did the no hands on deal took longer but are great.

At 3-4 weeks I would recommend a harness. They are small enugh that a harness works well and gets them use to "walking" with you. I do not really like walking them with neck collars as it is a lot of pressure on the trachea. Switching to a neck collar is easier when a harness is used on them young. My youngest DD has a knack for training just about any animal. She manages to teach young goats on a neck collar without any drama. I still like the harness best.

We also do go and grab the babies out for "human" time even when they protest, we do this so they understand early on "we" are the ones to determine what, where, when.

Handling them often will not break that bond, I think it helps in the long run of helping the offspring to not be so overly dependent on "mom".

We have had one kid that we did mess up... COMPLETELY my fault. Momma had trips... all was fine, she was caring for all 3... let me backtrack...it started when she kidded... the 3rd one was breach and I grabbed the legs and pulled him out, she delivered all 3 very quickly and was still working on #2 so I suctioned, cleaned, and kissed that little baby boy before his momma ever touched him. She finished cleaning him off but that little buckling thought I was momma first... Then when they were 2-3 days old we had a horrible cold snap (remember we are in NC) it suddenely went down to the teens... brought the kids in and they went in a playpen overnight as it was close to 0 degrees. They would go back with momma in the morning... all was fine- BUT I loved that little one so much I kept going out and getting him and so after 3 days of that momma goat pretty much said Ok you want him he's yours. He wouldn't take a bottle so she had to go in a stanchion and she was "forced to let him nurse". He grew up fine went to an absolutely wonderful home where he is spoiled rotten but he isn't an "all over you" goat either. Friendly and nice easily handled without being obnoxious.

So I think it is great to handle them as much as possible as long as you don't do what I did. But as you know.. goats are goats and some just are not as "human" interested as others are. I do wonder if some of that is genetic... we had a big Kiko doe that was very standoffish (not raised here) her bucklings were handled a great deal but were just like her... very standoffish... by 6 months though they were much better and now the one that is still here is very pleasant and will walk up for a scratch if he knows you.

I, like you , want to be able to walk and handle the goats easily with out all the drama. Can't say all ours are great about it. Some just will walk with you but don't dare think they will walk on a lead.

Our polled goats are by far the easiest and sweetest to manage.
THANKFULLY!

 

[taylorm17]

I haven't ever had kids born with me yet, but when we got our 3 kids, they were all kind of skiddish, but still very sweet. We would just go into the pasture and pet them, hand feed them sometimes, also we would love to just sit and hold them in our laps and take a nap. I don't know what the best way would be to keep the mother and the kid social with each other, but also very much so with humans. Sorry I couldn't help much

 

[autumnprairie]

Brownie my boer had trips last Feb 14 she kept two and refused the last the only thing I can think of is that he pooped in his sack so she wouldn't clean him. I rescued him and cleaned him and went to bring him back she wasn't having it to the point she tried to kill him. The dam raised wasn't spoiled until he decided he liked treats and scratches Treats like raisins I would get them to follow me if they thought I had something in my pocket. ( can't let them know you have it until you are in and ready) call them and give them a few then walk they will follow. Good luck

 

[Riverside Fainters]

If you can catch your does.. What about using a halter instead of a collar? Doesn't put pressure on the neck? I love my halter..