drdoolittle
True BYH Addict
I have 6 does right now. One is 2 years old and bred, Adia (I've had her since she was 2 weeks old and bottle-raised her). One is around a year (Trixie)and I have had her since she was 4 months old. I did have 2 older does who could not be bred, and sold them earlier in the year to a girl who just wanted pets. When these 4 were together, it was pretty peaceful with little head-butting except between the older 2 who had been together a long time---just play.
Well, about a month and a half ago, I got a 9 month-old doe (Pearl) and a 3 year? old doe, Flory Joe, (supposed to be bred to a beautiful blue/gray pygmy buck) at an auction. The 9 month-old is great friends with my 1 year-old already. The 3 year or so old doe HATES everyone----even cats and chickens!
I got 2 more 3 year-old does(Ida and Maggie)---both bred----about 2 weeks ago and they are sometimes pushy when food is involved, but otherwise o.k.
All the does are really afraid of Flory Joe-----they run away when they see her coming and Adia will even eat keeping one eye out for Flory. I understand there has to be a herd queen, but do they always seem to be such tyrants? I'm really worried that Flory may hurt or kill one of the other does babies when they are born. Should I just sell her now, or give her some more time to settle down? I have plenty of room in my enclosure for all the does, but I don't want them to live in fear or be depressed. At the same time, I fel bad for Flory---she's already had to adjust to being here and I don't want her to go through being in a strange place so soon. (Plus I REALLY want to see that baby!)
Any thoughts?
Well, about a month and a half ago, I got a 9 month-old doe (Pearl) and a 3 year? old doe, Flory Joe, (supposed to be bred to a beautiful blue/gray pygmy buck) at an auction. The 9 month-old is great friends with my 1 year-old already. The 3 year or so old doe HATES everyone----even cats and chickens!
I got 2 more 3 year-old does(Ida and Maggie)---both bred----about 2 weeks ago and they are sometimes pushy when food is involved, but otherwise o.k.
All the does are really afraid of Flory Joe-----they run away when they see her coming and Adia will even eat keeping one eye out for Flory. I understand there has to be a herd queen, but do they always seem to be such tyrants? I'm really worried that Flory may hurt or kill one of the other does babies when they are born. Should I just sell her now, or give her some more time to settle down? I have plenty of room in my enclosure for all the does, but I don't want them to live in fear or be depressed. At the same time, I fel bad for Flory---she's already had to adjust to being here and I don't want her to go through being in a strange place so soon. (Plus I REALLY want to see that baby!)
Any thoughts?
