We're scratching our heads on this query & hope someone can help with their range of experience on goat behaviour.
We have 2 rescue goats : Bonnie (Angora x Pygmy) now about 10 yo. Bertie (her son) x Anglo Nubian now aged about 7. They have been with us for about 2 years now. Bertie is a wether.
Over the past 2-3 weeks, Bertie has become "aggressive" to Bonnie (both are horned). For example, this morning when I let them in the field, he immediately butted her & then horned her under the back leg - fortunately no wound this time (although he has gored her once before when play got too rough). She is trying to get away from him (she is much smaller than he is - he is a big Nubian size, she is more pygmy sized) & hiding behind bushes where he can't get to her. She also won't go into the field shelter if he goes in so have to bring them both in if it starts raining. Neither, however, really wants to be separated from the other....he bleats incessantly & Bonnie just stands there looking for him.
Very worried about this & no idea what has caused this change in behaviour or how to put things right. No lice, fleas or damage to Bertie which could be making him irritable (he does challenge us but we know how to handle him & he can be very loving at times). Soon, though, Bonnie is going to starve as she won't get to eat much while hiding behind those bushes! Bonnie has always been "top" goat...does he sense she is getting older (she does have a bit of arthritis in one leg) & is challenging her?
Any ideas or help, pointers etc would be very welcome. We have tried putting them in different stables next to each other but Bertie either jumps in or batters down the gate to end up in the same stable as Bonnie.
Thanks for reading this.