I just got two six month old pygmy does about four days ago. They are wild, and pretty scared of people.( a little boy on the farm would chase them down and choke them for fun) They have made a lot of noise the last couple of days, and today they sound hoarse. Could this be caused by the crying they are doing. They eat well, don't have the runs and generally seem fine in every other way. Oh, I am new to goats, these are my first. Also, today they started licking the dirt on the ground. I feed them good hay, a good grain mix with molasses, free choice of loose mineral, and baking soda.

-- Barbara Vozar (vozarbi@sensible-net.com), August 16, 2001

Answers

Hi Barbara..I have only had goats for a little over a year. This spring I brought home a Nubian to keep my Saanen company. She was used to alot of goats and cried until she went hoarse! But her voice came back after a few days. I sure do hope you enjoy your goats. I LOVE mine and I cannot even tell you why..I just do! Best wishes....Sher

-- Sher in southeast Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), August 16, 2001.

Barbara, you seem to know how to care for goats and I am sure when they calm down,they will know that too. My experience is that,most often, loss of voice comes from an injury, such as a rope or even wire tied around their neck and when frightened,they lunge against it. Could that happened at the previous owner? If the horseness is not due to injury, it will clear up quickly with good care, and medication should not be needed. If you would feel better treating it, mix a tablespoon of honey a tablespoon of water, place in a syringe with a needle. Place that in the corner of the mouth, with its head elevated and push the plunger.

As for being wild, they have reason to be so. The fastest way to a goat's affection is the same as mankind ... through the stomach. Mine are notorious pets, but they expect me to bring them something when I approach them, crackers, nuts,stale bread, biscuits,potato chips, carrots, beets or other veggies (no tomato).

The idea is to get them to eat from your hand (there is more to be done after that). Take something to them and stretch your hand toward them, but don't crowd them. It helps if you can get another goat or two to stand beside you...this spells safety to the wild ones, But offer them the food, open the hand so they can see it, they won't take it, but keep offering it for a couple of days. When they'll refuse to come get it, place it on the ground where they can see it and leave.You may have to do this several times, but each new time,take a step or two closer to them before you put the food down. but never crowd them and be as quiet as you can and make no motions with the arms or body. Take it slowly, quietly and easily. Get closer to them each time before you deposit the food, finally; when you are close enough to touch them, resist doing so. Now offeer them the food again in your hand but do not touch them ... there is still a way to go in building their confidence. Sometimes it takes only a day or two,sometimes longer when the trauma has been worse, You can speed up the process by feeding in this manner several times a day. Feed them finally from a pan or trough and while they eat lay a hand against their face, then their favorite place for touching (srubbinbg their throat lightly for at least a minute or more.

You will surely be blessed for rescueing the most naturally affectionate of God's creatures. Not to mention the cleanest and most useful to mankind. Three-fourths of the world's population drink goat's milk, the milk of the Bible, since there were no domesticated cows at the time. (I have a 45-minute speech on that, but you don;t want to hear it!) ] I told this method to some wag at the country store and he said,"It will surely work. That is the way my first wife got me!"

-- Gordon Crump (hermit@duo-county.com), August 17, 2001.