Baby goats are referred to as “kids,” if you didn’t know. Out of all baby animals, they truly are some of the most “kid-like,” too: they need a lot of attention and care, they love to be held by their human friends, and they cry.
On Saturday, April 13th, one new mom showed off the strange habit her new house-goat was picking up from her newborn baby, and it’s kind of crazy. Most people had no idea goats could do this:
@magnoliabirthlbkThis gives a whole new meaning to “Dirty 30” 😂😂😂 #momlife #marriedlife #goat #newborn #postpartum #newmom
I wish I could have a goat like @magnoliabirthlbk, though I imagine it has to be a little bit frustrating when your baby is crying and then your goat starts crying, too!
Related: Baby Goats Bothering Grumpy Livestock Guardian Dog Are Too Sweet
Unfortunately, we don’t get to see any more of this baby’s relationship with the goat in the house, but there might not be much more to see. At the newborn stage, babies tend to cry and sleep for most of the day, so the goat has nothing better to do than pick up that habit.
When baby goats are little, many people prefer to keep them indoors, especially if they don’t have a farm. Depending on when you got them, they may still need to be bottle-fed, but if not, they still need companionship. Keeping a single baby goat outside is a no-go! Luckily, they’re actually smarter than they look: goats can be litter-trained, taught basic commands like “sit,” and they can even be taught to walk on a leash!
Goats ‘mimic’ humans all the time
This baby goat isn’t alone in his desire to sound just like his baby sibling: a lot of goats can “mimic” human noises. Some people say their goats have learned to mimic laughter and even certain word sounds, and it makes a lot of sense. Goats are smart, and they know how to get praise and treats from their humans.
With enough treats, you could feasibly train a goat to vocalize on command. You’d just have to make the noise first: for example, say “laugh,” and then laugh. Whenever the goat laughs after you, reward them with a treat. Eventually, they’ll get it!
By watching his baby sibling cry and get rewarded with love, attention, or food, he’s most likely picked up on it. Now, he cries when his sibling cries, and they most likely both get attention. Even after his sibling gets out of their “crying” phase, he’ll most likely continue to use the tactic for attention. Goats are much smarter than humans. Maybe I should cry more!
