The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: cambee on March 15, 2017, 06:43:44 pm
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Hi. Having discussed the possibility of getting some goats to help eat some of my gorse in the winter horse field (and because I love goats) I decided that the new goats would be pets only (ie.not for milk or meat) and so have just acquired a female pygmy cross Nanny with 2 crossbreed wether kids from a local farmer that we fell for. They are currently in a spare stable and I intend keeping them in until they are tame. They seem very nervous and shy which doesn't surprise me with the Nanny as coming from a large farm she probably wasn't handled much, but I thought the kids would be less so? We are taking the time to just sit in the stable quietly talking to them and the Nanny is now taking cream crackers out of our hand but the kids keep well away. Has anyone any hints or tips other than carrying on doing what we are doing? I would like them a bit tamer so that I can get them vet checked
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Just keep doing what you are doing and they will come round. you could also try bananas or dried fruit as they are favourites with our goats.
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Raisins are what brought my two pet pygmys round. They were really nervous at first, so I just sat in their shed with them reading and taking no notice of them for a couple of evenings. It wasn't long before their curiosity got the better of them. They adore bananas, raisins, pineapple, and peanut butter on a cream cracker. (definitely not part of their daily diet!).
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Are you feeding them goat mix? I'd give 2 small meals a couple of times a day and sit closer and closer to the bucket, then try and hand feed. As others have said, fruit and branches, anything tasty. I'd keep them in for however long it takes to get the nanny tame as pigmy goats are buggers for escaping and if their not tame I'm not sure how you'd be able to catch them?