[TheForge] OT: Goats and Uisge

[Jerry Frost]

Good question actually. Yes, it'll stop him in his tracks other than to do a 
little running in circles trying to get it out of his eyes, nose and mouth. 
Try it on yourself at about 25% in a spray bottle. Use a squirt bottle on 
Ed, a water bottle is a bit much but they're common. I rinced out an old "No 
More Tears" shampoo squirt bottle and it works just right though our boys 
haven't needed a chemical response in a long time.

.38SPL is plenty unless you try shooting him head on in the head. Their 
skull is no kidding several inches thick extra dense bone under at least an 
inch of horn base. Use a taser if it comes to that. A few months ago an 
Anchorage cop (APD Officer) was confronted on his front porch by a marauding 
black bear and had to taser him to get clear. To (sorta quote as I recall 
from the news interview) "The bear immediately inverted onto it's back 
making uncoordinated running motions and mewling. Another couple points in 
favor of the taser, It won't kill him and two they don't ricochet. (SP?)

Your best course is to first learn how to handle goats, as Phlip says 
they're herd animals, live by the pecking order at their deepest instinctive 
level and you've been pushing the wrong buttons. Dangerously so. Don't sweat 
it, this is like any other skill; knowledge and practice. Once you "know" 
how to act and react you need to DO it long enough it's automatic. It's 
better to be proactive than reactive, just like driving a car or working 
metal or . . . Whatever. If you can see what's coming it's much easier to 
avoid and better yet, train them to not go THERE.

It's similar to pack behavior but with differences that actually make it 
harder to get a handle on. The big trick is never but NEVER enter in the 
pecking order competition. It's a little hard to express but you have to 
KNOW you're the boss and know it below gut level. If you watch "The Dog 
Whisperer" you'll see this applied to pack think. Watch Cesar walk into a 
situation where a dog is out of control and big enough to be a serious 
danger. Just his presence is usually enough to defuse the dog, Cesar 
radiates ALPHA but more importantly in a calm way. Getting angry is a BAD 
thing, acting out of anger is really BAD. Anger is the result of fear and 
makes you weak and if you're a threat too almost any animal will try to take 
you.

So, head up, back straight, NO eye contact, soft voice but don't speak to 
him unless you're giving him a command like, "hold still"  Use his name 
first, then the command. Don't bark it definately don't shout it but don't 
make it a question either. Goats are smart and pretty easily trained but 
NEVER keep treats in a shirt pocket. Especially now while Ed thinks he's 
boss he'd just knock you down and take them from you.

The ONLY time you give him a treat including breakfast or dinner is when 
he's calm submissive. (Dog Whisperer term) for example all the girls are 
getting their evening grain Ration but ONLY because they stood calmly while 
you clipped the lead their collars. Ed gets his grain AFTER he's stood 
calmly while you tie him. Expect some excitemed moving around but no 
rearing, jumping butting or hooking allowed. If he does ANY, simply take his 
bowl and leave the pen. One and I mean ONE serious mistake and it's "No Soup 
For You!"

Separate Ed and the does but get him a wether castrated boy as a companion, 
he's a herd animal and will become dangerously neurotic if alone. No, he's 
NOT neurotic now, he's being an intact male goat competing with another 
alpha (you) for breeding rights.

Okay, I'll break off before I go into severe ramble mode. Deb's the family 
expert and can give you a list of good reading material and or put you in 
contact with the right people. Don't worry about asking her, you're a city 
guy moving into an alien life style, there's lots to know and the learning 
curve can be dangerous. She's helped lots of folks get a working handle on 
keeping goats.

Jer
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <osan at netlabs.net>
To: "Blacksmithing List Sponsored by ABANA" <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2010 11:38 PM
Subject: Re: [TheForge] OT: Goats and Uisge


> Oh, stoopid question: is there any chance squirting him with vinegar will 
> just piss him off and make him attack?  If so, do you think a .357 loaded 
> with .38 SPL +P to the head will dispatch him in case I cannot make over 
> the fence in time?  I don't want to hurt him, but don't want to end up 
> dead or ICU'd even more.
>        -A. Vida
>