social hierarchy

[emilypaonia]

i have 4 does right now. the two older does are sisters and both are sort of the queens, april and shedaisy. shedaisy stands out a little more as the head gal. they are both very agressive towards other goats. the other two does i have are daughters of april, but one was bottle fed so april doesn't think it is her daughter, her name is delilah. delilah has always been the bottom of the herd, and when she was little i definitely treated her as the little princess. now the older does are always ramming her, butting her, chasing her. she is also smaller than the others, she was a runt and that's why i had to bottle feed, so she really gets tossed around. i thought with time it would stop, but it hasn't. she is pregnant and i am concerned that all the ramming to her side will kill her baby - and then what happens when she does have kids? will they chase them around and ram them all the time too? delilah is always on edge, always waiting for the next hit, it seems like she can't really relax. april and shedaisy are relentless. i don't really want to pen her separate because then she'll be alone and won't have access to the pasture and scrubland that is attached to my goat barn.

i am frustrated and don't really know what to do. any suggestions would be helpful. thanks!

 

[peachick]

hierarchy changes when you remove the dominant one. I am still new to goats, but have a strong background in dog behavior.

When there is trouble with dogs... instead of removing the dog that is getting the beating... we remove the alpha dog ... and suddenly they all change pecking order.

(this also works with poultry... and fish tanks )

My alpha doe just had kids a few weeks ago. Now that she and her babies are seperated from the rest of the herd, the younger, smaller, more submissive girls are happier and more confidant (and eat better).

 

[elevan]

I agree with Peachick...if you separate out the alpha doe for a week (or 2) the herd dynamic will change when she is returned.

 

[Mea]

We have always tried to provide a "get away space" where the lower ranking animals could hide out and catch their breath. ... Lots of room can help. as more ramming seems to occur when quarters are tight.

The idea of removing the Alpha animal is a good one too !

 

[elevan]

A getaway space is still advisable even if she can change the herd dynamic.

eta: because when you shake up the herd that way someone else is gonna end up at the bottom