{"id":6143,"date":"2022-08-04T14:31:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T14:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=6143"},"modified":"2022-08-04T16:23:13","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T16:23:13","slug":"how-to-stop-a-goat-from-head-butting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-stop-a-goat-from-head-butting\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Stop A Goat From Head Butting?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Goats<\/a> are notorious for head butting, but why do they do it? The simple answer is that head butting is a natural behavior in goats. You’ll see kids butting heads and play, does butting heads in competition for food and other desirable items in situations and bucks butting heads as a show of dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this article, we share tips to help you prevent the start of head butting in goats. We also share some tips to help you put a quick end to this bad habit if\/when it begins. If you have any specific question to ask, please leave a comment at the end of this article. Read on to learn more about how to stop a goat from head butting<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Head Butting Dangerous?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"is<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Head butting can be harmless, or it can be quite harmful and damaging. While kids at play will seldom hurt each other, pregnant does competing in earnest can hurt one another and even cause miscarriages. Mature bucks fighting can do a great deal of harm to one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, sometimes mature bucks will simply butt inanimate objects (such as wooden walls) for the sheer joy of destroying them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The real trouble begins when your goat decides to butt you. This is entirely inappropriate no matter why it happens. It is not all right for your goat to play with you in this manner, and it is certainly not all right for your goat to try to hurt you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Prevent Head Butting From Starting?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Have All Kids Dehorned When They Are Young<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While this will not stop the behavior of head butting, it will greatly reduce the potential damage. There is absolutely no reason to have a goat with horns. They are dangerous and destructive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Be Confident And In Charge<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are afraid or tentative around goats, you have no business having them. Learn how to handle goats and always present yourself with calm confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Introduce New Goats Carefully<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s a good idea to let goats get to know each other through the fence for a week or so before allowing them to come into direct contact with one another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also wise to always introduce two or more new goats at a time to a herd rather than introducing a single new goat. A goat alone is bound to be picked on, perhaps by the entire herd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Understand Goat Herd Pecking Order<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anytime new goats are introduced to a herd, a tussle is bound to ensue. Goats need to establish their hierarchy or pecking order. A little bit of head butting (especially by dehorned goats) is fairly harmless. Nonetheless, keep a close eye on newly introduced goats and separate them as needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Use A Trough For Feeding Rather Than A Single Round Pan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you put all the goat feed into a single round pan and expect the goats to gather around it and eat peacefully, you’re dreaming. This is just setting up a situation that will cause them to head butt in competition over the feed. The end result will be lots of chaos and feed trampled into the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, use a long trough that is elevated off the ground so that goats must approach it and eat with their heads raised to shoulder level. There should be plenty of room for all of your goats to find a place at the trough without having to push anyone out of the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Don’t Use Feeders That Require Your Goat To Put Its Head Inside To Eat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This obscures the goat\u2019s line of vision and makes it vulnerable to being butted by jealous rivals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Use Good Behavior Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Always reward the behavior that you desire by giving your goats a pat and speaking with kind words in a pleasant tone of voice. Respond quickly to unwanted behavior with a sharp, stern “NO!” Begin this when your goats are very young, and they will learn which behaviors are acceptable and desired and which are forbidden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t rely on rigged solutions as shown in this video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How To Keep Your Goat From Butting You<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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https:\/\/youtu.be\/jvone9gxbqY<\/a>