Who does not love a baby goat? My first kidding season gifted me with 11 healthy kids, 3 bucklings and 8 doelings. I have a large goat pen where I lock my goats up at night and a smaller “nursery” pen. I have 7 does that are all typically kept in my large goat pen at night. I have a small barn and a 2nd shelter with two compartments where two goats can each sleep in a compartment if they want to or one could take the space on their own. If you raise goats you most likely have experienced that there are always a few who don’t want to share space no matter how much room is available. That is another story.
My small nursery pen will accommodate two mothers and their respective kids, at the moment that is 2 does and 5 kids. The larger pen is accommodating 3 mothers and their 5 kids and 2 other does who do not have kids.
Last night everyone was rounded up and placed in their respective pens except for one baby who was impossible to catch. I had been trying for about an hour to catch the one remaining kid to place in the pen with her mother… I had to give up at dusk to take care of my “house goat” who was rejected by her mother and to get the dogs fed…
After my house goat had her bottle I headed back to the pasture to see if I could catch my “stupid” goat who actually is quite smart considering she evaded me at every turn. My alpacas were spooked by me chasing a small goat using a flashlight and a fishing net. Once my alpacas figured out what my problem was they did try to help head the baby goat off but she was still too quick for me. I was about to give up in defeat, but then I thought I am going to let the mother out to see if she could help me corral the kid. Both the mother and my sweet Brown Betty came out of the pen. The mother was great, got the kid to settle down and actually helped me catch the baby by moving her to a corner. To my surprise Brown Betty also helped by positioning herself to help block the baby from slipping by me again and I was FINALLY able to catch the baby.
Mom went to then gate where I let her in and placed the baby with her and again to my surprise Brown Betty also came to the gate to get back in the pen. Everyone made it to the pen where they belonged and I was finally able go back to the hose and cook dinner around 8:00pm.
Goats and Alpacas are very intelligent and loving animals.