Letting Your Kids Cry It Out

I know this topic is something that mothers of human babies deal with all the time, but did you know goat maaaas must deal with this as well?

Inevitably there are times when goats, especially kids, cry for their humans. They may be hungry, they may be thirsty, or they may just want some company. Goats are *very* social creatures and hate being left alone, which is why they say you should never have just one goat. Indeed, it’s the reason we added Margherita last year around this time, so Pasqualina wouldn’t have to be alone.

Before we found Margherita, Pasqualina would WAIL when we left her. And I don’t just mean quaint little bleats. She actually sounded like she was in pain — and quite frankly, she probably was, emotionally. Poverina! She was just a wee lass at the time, so it’s not surprising that she wanted us around.

But then along came a buddy, and she was fine ever since.

Now, though, since we’ve taken out the others, it’s just her and her daughter Pinta in the pen . . . and she again cries when we leave. Not all the time, not as dramatically, and not for nearly as long as she used to, but ask any mother (of humans or otherwise), and she’ll tell you just how heartbreaking it is to hear their kids cry.

And although I don’t know that I could let human kids cry it out (taking after my mother in this respect), with goats, you just have to walk away — assuming you can’t play in the goat pen all day.

Magari!

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10 Responses to “Letting Your Kids Cry It Out”
  1. 05.19.2010

    I was never good at letting my kids cry it out. I am sure I wouldn’t be very good at letting goats do it either! I would have had to quit my job and say “Listen, I have to sit in the pen with the goat all day or she cries and then I feel bad. Sorry, I have to go.”

    Haha, would love to hear a boss respond to *that* one! Man I wish I could get wifi around the pen….

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  2. Shanster
    05.19.2010

    Such a great picture! What a pretty, pretty girl.

    My darling does … and even our buck… will cry when I’ve spent time in their pen filling mineral feeders or cleaning or when I “goat frolic” and play with them running around and getting them all excited so they are jumping all over everything and racing around like little gazelles… I don’t feel too bad cuz the crying doesn’t go on and on … more like it’s a affirmation that they like me… they really like me! grin.

    I have to admit there is a certain satisfaction to knowing that they *really* want us there whether it’s to feed them or to play…*love* getting them all fired up. I have a video of the kids (before we sent the other two off) running around like crazy goats that I haven’t gotten around to posting yet…*so* fun to watch!

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  3. George
    05.19.2010

    my horoscope is Capricorn, so I’m a certified goat.
    And I, too cry out for love………lol

    Haha love it George πŸ™‚

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  4. Pam
    05.19.2010

    I agree as hard as it is sometimes…no, you can’t stay and play all day…lol! She is so beautiful…love her coloring!

    Thanks Pam; she’s all grown up now, but still has that pretty reddish hue πŸ™‚

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  5. 05.20.2010

    I must say, I have a couple of goats that scream their heads off like someone is killing them, and it’s just their natural voice. I can’t tell you the number of times of come running to see what’s wrong just to have Dolly look at me like I’m strange.

    I know! They’re all “Um…what?” when you arrive breathless. I think they’re laughing inside, personally πŸ˜‰

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  6. 05.20.2010

    My littlest one cries too. Hollers is more like it. Hollers when her mother is out of sight. Hollers when the water doesn’t’ suit her liking. Hollers for “treats” when she sees me. Funny thing is, I’m starting to be able to tell the difference in what she wants.

    Aw…that’s love Leigh! I’m going to post soon about the different cries πŸ™‚

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  7. 05.23.2010

    Michelle-I really enjoy your blog, so I’ve decided to pass on the Versatile Blogger award to you. Stop by my blog, http://edenhillsgoat.blogspot.com to pick up your award.

    Aw, thanks! Will be there in a sec πŸ™‚

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  8. 05.23.2010

    Hi! I just found you from A Goat’s View of Eden Hills! You have a great blog,I am a goatie addict too! We have a few of those “Banshee” wailing goats too!

    Haha, lucky us…and anyone in ear shot! Thanks for coming by and for your kind words πŸ™‚

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  9. I didn’t know this about goats crying. And I love your picture!

    Thanks Margaret; I’ll get video of them one of these days, but they seem to stop whenever I start filming…clever things.

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  10. I finally got to your goat pages! (I get it now, it’s flickr heavy and my company hates flickr (but not webshots))
    I had one goat who cried too much. then i got a second who became her buddy, but then they both cried too much.. Glad it worked for you though. I Love goats even if they are noisy

    Yes Pasqualina is now still more vocal than she used to be; I keep hoping that calms down, but it’s been a while. Harumph. Glad you got here πŸ˜€

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