Yep, the billy goat I had stunk something awful, but it was all the time.
Yep, the billy goat I had stunk something awful, but it was all the time.
Reek is an understatement. It would be best if you had a pair of coveralls to wear when they are, what I call "in the rut". Put them on in the barn and take them off in the barn. Don't wear them into the house or your wife will probably tell you it is time you to consider raising Chihauhas rather than goats.
I give up trying to send those pages. Really can't reduce them anymore than I already have.
By the way, Bird, my bucks only smell bad while in the rut. Your guy must have been using Viagra or something. [img]/forums/images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
AbO 2012
Yep, he stayed in the rut. Did you ever see a dog that wanted to hump your leg? Well, that danged little billy goat was the same way, and when you wouldn't let him, he'd get mad and want to fight. So one day I had just a 1 x 2 about 3' long in my hand and I swatted him on the side of the head and all that did was make him really mad, so I hit him again, but that time I came straight down on his head right between his horns and he dropped like he'd been shot and laid there on his side quivering. I guess it spread his horns enough to knock him out. I thought I'd killed him and was trying to decide whether to cut his throat to bleed him out and salvage some meat or whether I wanted to just dispose of the carcass. But while I was trying to make up my mind, he started kicking, then he got up, ran sideways, and fell a couple of times, but finally recovered enough to stagger off. And from then on I had no problem with him just as long as I made sure I had some kind of stick in my hand when I went in the pen. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
My red buck is a little to aggressive too. The large white one is like a kitten. Anyway, after the red one got too "playful" one day, I picked up a "Hot Shot" http://www.tractorsupply.com/webapp/...ue&cFlag=1 at TSC. Used it on him three times. Now all I have to do is show it to him and he calms down real quick.
AbO 2012
Had the same situation with a Jacobs ram (had 4 of the 6 horns) was working with. Finally got the wooden end of the hay fork between the horns. His eyes crossed but i was the only one that was not butted by him.
Little billy did not look good this morning before work. He has been having a big belly and a bag of bones and the lower inner eyelid is not very pink. Did not have time to check everyone, but this is what makes the most sense to me. Hope to get some wormer on the way home and dose everybody, if he is still dosable by that time. Darn work is getting in the way again. He was eating leaves when i tossed some in. If he was not ating the favorite food of all time then i know he would be gone by this evening.
Neighbor is going to check on billy. She knows way more than i do. Could be bloat from the leaves they are getting (?)
No fun, change the rules!!!
Worming is definitely in order. If it is not too late you can also try some baking soda for gas. If he is bloated that may be part of his problem. Use the same mix shown on the box of baking soda. Then give him a good dose of it, 30 to 40 ml. But worm him for sure. If the wormer has a recommended dosage for sheep on the package, double it for your goat.
AbO 2012
The neighbor (aka crazy goat lady) hit little billy with a full broadside of goodies. Was pretty good for a couple days and then was down again. Got him up and was pretty weak. So watched them for a bit while workiing in the barn. Turns out the bigger billy was running him over. Now little billy has his own pen with his own food and own water. He looked much better this morning, up and about. He was slowly starving to death with the competition for food, even though there was more than enough room at any of the feeders. Little billy did not like the grain and molasses mix, but does like the grain and he is getting small doses at a time to keep his gut happy. He 'loosened' up with all the treatments he got but is pack to normal pellets. Did not want to lose one so early in the game due to 'operator error'.
Big billy was less than impressed with his smaller pen, but his upper lip was curled up so i think one of the does is in heat. Trouble is one is his mother, and they are slated to bo next door for dates with their big $ boer billy.
By the way, all of these guys are very nice and respectful to me and humans in general. The only naughties have been trying to escape the fence which i would consider normal for any goat.
No fun, change the rules!!!
Well i think we had a hard lesson. Goats do need mineral, including copper. Little billy had been turned out on pasture that may have been worm infested. So when he got the scours and then the constipation it eventually meant a trip in the tractor bucket. [img]/forums/images/icons/frown.gif[/img] The others who came directly to me are doing GREAT and are even fun to be with. Ever see a goat eat a donut? Looks like a cop shop picture!! I hope to get a shot and put it on line. Kodak precious.
No fun, change the rules!!!
Goats are the sweetest most cantankerous and unpredictable animals alive. I loved every one of ours, they all had their own distinct personalities. We used to give ours something called Goat Drench. I think we got it at a family owned feed store, ie: not Tractor Supply.
The first time I wormed my goats, it was an injection medication I got from the vet. The goats acted like they thought I was killing them when I stuck that needle it them. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img] So then I learned about the drench; not quite the same as the one you pictured, but again I got it from the vet and we used a big syringe, but without the needle attached. I'd stand astraddle a goat's neck so I could use both hands to open his/her mouth and a friend would insert that syringe almost down the goat's throat and push the plunger. In that way the drench was put far enough back there was no chance of a goat spitting any of it out. [img]/forums/images/icons/laugh.gif[/img]
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