Thu, 17 May 2012 14:42:27 -0800WeeblySat, 05 May 2012 17:16:43 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/05/chain-collar.htmlThe Chain collar on a goat is NOT used as a choke chain.  You want to use a bit snap or similar clip to hook the end rings together and use the chain collar to "guide" the goat.  THe chain should set underneath the goat's jaw, not on his throat.  You will probably have to have a few different sizes of chain collars if you get the ones that are
meant for dogs.    Or you can buy the collars that were designed for goats.... the ones that are half chain, half leather.  The leather part being the part you hold with your hand.  These collars are adjustable and can grow
with your goat.  Not only do these NOT choke your goat when properly positioned under the jaw line, but they are
also easier on your hand during training.  These are the collars I recommend.
Once your goat is halter trained and will go where you go... moving onto the collar is easier...  notice I didn't
say easy.  Collar training your goat takes patience.  You need to keep showing him over and over and over
what you want him to do.  No rewards until he does it right.
Your collar is on him, properly positioned, and you're holding the collar upright.. don't pull it back towards his
rear.  Helping him hold his head up with your other hand is ok.  When you want to walk him, lean the collar
forward towards his nose keeping it taut under his jawline, but also don't put it off over his head.  There is
a happy medium.   You can also encourage him forward with a little tug on his tail...  little tug.. please,
DO NOT lift your goat off the ground with his tail.  You will break the soft bones in his tail.. this is painful.. 
Other encouragements to get him to walk is to have someone walk closely behind him and bump his pasterns.
Remember, gentle...  no kicking.   Loud clapping behind him gets him to move forward, also.. but don't wear
this out by continuing to clap.  Just a few loud and close claps can work.
Consistentcy and Patience are the key.  You want your goat to trust you and to want to walk with you.
Always be kind.
]]>Thu, 03 May 2012 13:55:10 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/05/halter-breaking-collar-training.htmlFirst of all, you have to have the right size halter and collars.  I've seen some people use Lamb halter's successfully, but I don't recommend them.  Lambs have longer muzzles and some of the lamb halters pinch the nose's of goats.  Goat halters come in several sizes from pygmy/kid size to large Buck size and everything in between.  It's a lot easier to start training a kid than an adult goat.  The smaller they are the easier it is to get control.  Once you get the halter on, snap on your 6 ft. lead/leash.   Your goat will buck, try to get away, and even
sit down and refuse to walk.  No amount of tugging will encourage him/her to get up and go.  PLEASE, DO NOT
drag your goat and think it will want to walk with you eventually.  You're going to have to hands on, lift up the
rear of your goat, the front end of your goat, whichever is laying on the ground and keep encouraging it
to come along with you.  Treats can be given.  Once they're on their feet you may have to do some hard
pulling to get him to walk.  Give a treat every few feet letting him know he's doing a good job.  If  he 
lays down you have to lift him up again.. then give another treat onces he's back on his feet.  Goats are not
stupid, they figure out what works to get them a treat and a kind pat.  Eventually, all your inner frustrations
will go away because..  he gets it and will joyfully trot and run along with you.   Moving onto the collar will be
just as much...  "fun."    In fact, I will talk about collar training next blog.]]>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:08:37 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/03/taming-and-earning-trust.htmlYou just brought your new kid home.  Don't expect it to warm up to you like a new puppy.  Hopefully you'll already have a large enough, fenced area with a shelter and shaded area prepared.   And have fresh alfalfa and water already in his enclosure for him/her.  Goats are extremelly social so if you have only one kid, it will get very lonely.  Lonely kids sometimes fail to thrive well.  You need to spend a lot of time with your new kid to earn it's trust and make it feel safe.  Start off by just going into it's enclosure and sitting.  Don't try to walk up to it,
don't try to pet it if it curiously edges up to  you.  Let the goat sniff you, nip at your clothing but don't raise a hand to pet it..... yet.   When the goat is sure you mean it no  harm and starts climbing on you (while you're sitting) then you can make slow attempts to pet it's back.  It still may dart off, but it'll come back.  At this point in time, you can also offer treats to reassure you can be trusted.  This takes time and patience.... you need to do this EVERY day until it is calm and relaxed around you.  How long will this take?  There is no knowing , but it should average out to a week.  Remember,  EVERY day. ]]>Sun, 11 Mar 2012 23:22:30 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/03/creep-feeding.htmlCreep feeding is necessary in today's competive market.  Creep fed kids will have a greater weight gain  per day of age than non-creep fed kids.    Creep feeding also reduces stress when weaning kids, especially those that will be prospective show projects.  Their transition to show feeds will be that much easier.
Our kids are always creep fed.  Some years for a shorter time than other years, depending on their early development.     We suggest  when you take your new kid home,  to feed a high quality alfalfa with a small
amount of your show feed.  Each day, add a little more show feed and less alfalfa.  In 2 weeks, you should
be feeding the recommended amount of feed per body weight with no more than a handful of alfalfa.  Sometimes this transition may take a little longer, but it shouldn't be shorter. ]]>Tue, 06 Mar 2012 17:24:08 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/03/health.htmlAll kids are final now with their CDT shots... They were also wormed this past weekend with
Safeguard Goat Dewormer.   Hope to get them wormed one more time prior to sale.  We are
no longer giving the added Selenium & vitamain E since they've been creeping on Associated
Feed's Dominator Starter Pellets.  They started bulking up once they got on this and are looking
good. ]]>Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:53:09 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/02/growing.htmlCan't believe how quickly these kids are growing.  With such great weather this winter we've been
able to spend a lot more time with them and the majority are fast becoming very people friendly.  I
know this makes it so much easier on 4-H'ers and FFA'ers when getting down to training their goats
for the show arenas.
]]>Sat, 28 Jan 2012 21:35:09 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2012/01/healthy-kids.htmlOur kids are strong and healthy.  Shortly after birth we give them Omega-3 Plus, a high energy nutrient in liquid form.  Every week they get a dose of Vitamins ADE & B12, along with a Selenium E-gel.  We want to make sure
they stay healthy.
All our kids have been disbudded and a few have their first CDT shot.  Tomorrow a few more will get their
first CDT shot.   Did I mention that they don't like shots?  ]]>Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:00:42 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2011/12/new-kids.htmlOUr fist kids of this season were born Thursday, Dec 22nd...   both healthy, both up and at 'em.   And so it begins on the coldest night of the year. ]]>Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:00:47 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2011/12/got-fox-problems-again-beautiful-red-fox-with-its-white-tipped-tail-taunting-the-dogs-day-and-night-watching-the-fox-yesterday-afternoon-behind-my-barnyard-running-uphill-prompted-me-to-check-barnyard-fencing-since-kidding-is-near-i-dont-want-thi.htmlVery bold large red fox still lurking around.. probably waiting for the does to start kidding.  Taunts the dogs and is not afraid of people... that's what is scary. ]]>Sun, 11 Dec 2011 00:00:18 -0800http://www.ljjboergoats.com/1/post/2011/12/1.htmlgetting Kidding stalls ready... first kids due December 23rd...  guess what we'll probably be doing Christmas morning... ]]>