Why do my goats hate me????!! :(

[MamaPoult]

Hey peeps!

So I bought these two does 1 year ago now. They are 75% ND and 25% Nubian bottle fed sisters. They're approaching the 3 year old mark. I was always told that bottle babies are way sweeter that doe raised kids and that they experience stronger human connections that doe raised kids. However these girls hate me! They have a top notch enclosure with a fully insulated hut to sleep in, a nice run area to stretch their legs and I do everything I can to make their lives great! I've tried giving them treats, spending quality time with them and taking them for long walks around the property but I feel like they still despise me ! They pull my hair when I'm milking them, if they're not feeling up to it they'll scrunch up their legs just to make milking even more difficult, they know when my jar's full and often try to put their hoof in it. They pull all the food out of their feeder stomp on it and then just scream at me as if they're entitled or something! They even purposely poop on me if they get the chance. I know I probably sound crazy by now but I'm at my wits end! I would be a lot more understanding if I abused or neglected my animals but I take the very best care I can of them day in and day out and they still hate me. In the past I've had several other goats who I did have a personal connection with but I'm just not sure the disconnect with me and these girls. If anyone has any advice on what I can do to make this better I'd really appreciate it!

@Addicted To Chickens
@The Chick Addict
@my spoiled chickens
I know you guys have goats, any advice?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

It could just be as simple as you not being their person. They were already full grown when you bought them, you aren't the one that fed them as babies. Our bottle lambs and kids liked us, but generally wete nervous around people that hadn't raised them

 

[MamaPoult]

It could just be as simple as you not being their person. They were already full grown when you bought them, you aren't the one that fed them as babies. Our bottle lambs and kids liked us, but generally wete nervous around people that hadn't raised them

That's a good point! It just sucks that since I wasn't their person I'm stuck with these hateful goats !

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Hey peeps!

So I bought these two does 1 year ago now. They are 75% ND and 25% Nubian bottle fed sisters. They're approaching the 3 year old mark. I was always told that bottle babies are way sweeter that doe raised kids and that they experience stronger human connections that doe raised kids. However these girls hate me! They have a top notch enclosure with a fully insulated hut to sleep in, a nice run area to stretch their legs and I do everything I can to make their lives great! I've tried giving them treats, spending quality time with them and taking them for long walks around the property but I feel like they still despise me ! They pull my hair when I'm milking them, if they're not feeling up to it they'll scrunch up their legs just to make milking even more difficult, they know when my jar's full and often try to put their hoof in it. They pull all the food out of their feeder stomp on it and then just scream at me as if they're entitled or something! They even purposely poop on me if they get the chance. I know I probably sound crazy by now but I'm at my wits end! I would be a lot more understanding if I abused or neglected my animals but I take the very best care I can of them day in and day out and they still hate me. In the past I've had several other goats who I did have a personal connection with but I'm just not sure the disconnect with me and these girls. If anyone has any advice on what I can do to make this better I'd really appreciate it!

@Addicted To Chickens
@The Chick Addict
@my spoiled chickens
I know you guys have goats, any advice?

We got our two sisters through our vet knowing a woman who was getting dementia and when we got these goats they were living like kings(Queens?) but we got them for free under the conditions that we wouldnt eat them and we wouldnt sell them to the highest bidder

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Try finding a treat that they really like and stand outside the fence with the treat sticking through/over the fence thats how we got our sheep to be a little more friendly. Bribery is probably the easiest way to go

 

[my spoiled chickens]

Also spend a little bit of time just inside in their pen sitting down listening to music or doing something and eventually they are gonna get curious and come over

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

Honestly I don't think your goats hate you. Basically everything you mentioned seems like "normal" goat behaviour to me. There's so much variety in goat personalities.
I did not personally bottle raise either of mine, I honestly cannot remember if either even were bottle raised. Hazel is quite bonded to me regardless and Clay was too before he matured and changed his interest to the girls only. I was his third home too. Anytime I go out to hang out with Hazel I have multiple of my sibling's goats come for pets. Diamond came to us as an adult and absolutely ADORES attention from anyone and everyone. That's just her personality, she actually starts "headbutting" if you stop petting her
I've had countless goats munch on my hair, even my clothes. Goats LOVE to eat random things. Some goats have the best milking manners, some just don't! No animal understands the concept of food wastage, they're just being picky and probably just wanting to eat the best parts.

 

[FrostRanger]

I agree, I don't think they hate you, they're just mischievous. Don't take it personally when they do that

 

[MamaPoult]

We got our two sisters through our vet knowing a woman who was getting dementia and when we got these goats they were living like kings(Queens?) but we got them for free under the conditions that we wouldnt eat them and we wouldnt sell them to the highest bidder

Try finding a treat that they really like and stand outside the fence with the treat sticking through/over the fence thats how we got our sheep to be a little more friendly. Bribery is probably the easiest way to go

Also spend a little bit of time just inside in their pen sitting down listening to music or doing something and eventually they are gonna get curious and come over

Thanks for all the tips! I'll be sure to do what you mentioned!

 

[MamaPoult]

Honestly I don't think your goats hate you. Basically everything you mentioned seems like "normal" goat behaviour to me. There's so much variety in goat personalities.
I did not personally bottle raise either of mine, I honestly cannot remember if either even were bottle raised. Hazel is quite bonded to me regardless and Clay was too before he matured and changed his interest to the girls only. I was his third home too. Anytime I go out to hang out with Hazel I have multiple of my sibling's goats come for pets. Diamond came to us as an adult and absolutely ADORES attention from anyone and everyone. That's just her personality, she actually starts "headbutting" if you stop petting her
I've had countless goats munch on my hair, even my clothes. Goats LOVE to eat random things. Some goats have the best milking manners, some just don't! No animal understands the concept of food wastage, they're just being picky and probably just wanting to eat the best parts.

Thanks for the response Clouds! I understand everything you're saying and I do tend to take things too personal. I really appreciate the info. While we're on the topic, I just remembered that I wanted to ask this. If I'm gone for a day my Mom takes care of them and they act like angels! They never pull food out of the fedder, are dead still when being milked and hardly ever yell! So, I'm just curious why they like her but not me?!