Newbie goat help needed! Please!

[smcjoj3]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome! ~ I think my husband did use fencing staples. I went out there this a.m., after I saw her trot across our front porch, and tied/laced up all the fence with extra clothing line i had right quick to the posts . I figure it will hold until DH gets home and is able to fix the problem/s.

 

[redtailgal]

c

 

[Emmetts Dairy]

Good for you guys for taking her in!! Everyone has given great advice. I would advise you to try to spend sometime with her if you can. That way you can get to know her. I would'nt walk up to her and expect her to be your best friend right away. Take a lawn chair in and read a book or just hang out. I would have some raisins in your pocket so when she decides to come up and investigate you..you can give her a snack. It will help build trust. Let it be on her terms first. She will come around. And yes..Nigerian breeds can be loud. But since shes a mix..I tend to think more that its stress from moving. But all goats can be loud when upset..so its hard to say. Time will tell.

Also...goats really dont like to be touched on the top of thier heads like dogs...until they trust you...so when you connect with her scratch under her chin and neck...they like that.

I personally..would give her a while to settle to introduce anyone new to her. Let her get secure in her enviroment before you through another change at her. Goats are very habitual..dont like change at all its very stressful.

In addition to behavoirs here are somethings you are gonna wanna get for her to get her into good health. If your okay with giving shots..I would get some Vitamin B into her...help with the stress from move and it will help gettng her eating some good hay. I would let her eat all the hay she wants. Slow on the grain as 20 kids said. Then I would get her some pro-biotics..her rumen bacteria is probally not very healthy right now and she will probally get the scours from the feed change. Then I would give her a CDT shot asap. The reason its important is because it includes a Tetnus shot in there for her and if she is slamming herself against a metal fence..she can definatley cut herself. Tetnus is horrid for them..and they can get it very easily living outside the way they do. So please read up on the importance of getting the CDT..its cheap and extremly important for them to get. Tetnus is a horrid painful death if they contract it. Offer her loose minerals in a separate bucket. Im assuming if she lived on hot dogs and dog food...she is lacking alot of minerals she desperatly needs. Last but not least...have a big box of baking soda on hand...When changing over her feed she could bloat very easily...read read read up on bloat in ruminants. Very important you get familar with this. It can kill them quickly. Make sure she is passing gas and burping...if a ruminant is not doing this..its a problem. Thats what they do best. Also your gonna wanna worm her. I recomend getting a fecal done. If you cannot get a fecal done I personally would give her Ivermectin and Safegaurd. In combination it will cover everything. If she has tapeworm invermectin wont kill it..only Safeguard. Something else to consider. A really great book for goat care is "Storey's Guide to Goats" Its an easy read for the novice and very good. They sell them in feed stores and Tractor supplies...I see them everywhere. Well worth picking up!!

So there are some important points to start reading about..and getting familar with. Good luck with her...I love my goaties and you will soon fall in love!! I guarentee that!!!