Question on biting and horns.

[RBauscher]

I have a 12 week old nubian doe who seems to have a problem with biting. She isn't aggressive about it, but if she puts her mouth near you, she starts with a lick and it ends up being a painful bite. You have to keep an eye on her and keep your fingers out of the way if handfeeding something. Do you discipline a goat over biting? I'm concerned she may nip one of our grandkids. It does not seem to be of mean intent or anti-social. How do I break her of this?

This doe also wasn't disbudded when I got her at 8 weeks, so at about what age should we band the horns to have them fall off? Many Thanks!

 

[HankTheTank]

For the biting, you could carry a spray bottle full of water and give her a little spritz when she bites, or what I do is give them a quick flick on the end of the nose. Neither one is painful, but it surprises them and they learn that if they bite they aren't going to like the results.

 

[elevan]

For the biting, you could carry a spray bottle full of water and give her a little spritz when she bites, or what I do is give them a quick flick on the end of the nose. Neither one is painful, but it surprises them and they learn that if they bite they aren't going to like the results.

I do the flick to the nose too for close up bad behavior too.

 

[Tmaxson]

I have a Nigerian Dwarf buck that would head butt me all the time. He wasn't being mean, just playing and he didn't know he was doing wrong but I tried the water spritz thing and it worked wonders. Now all I have to do if he starts to get a little too playful is show him the bottle and he stops.

 

[redtailgal]

I'll do the same, get the nose or thump the ear (my guys HATE to have their ear thumped)