Goat Sounds: What They Are and Why Goats Scream

Let’s face it – in many cases, understanding goat sounds can seem a little tricky, and it’s not always clear why your goat is reacting in the way it is. With this thought in mind, our team is on hand to help you find out more about questions such as “what does a goat sound like” and “why do goats scream?” Hopefully, this will help you find the most effective solutions for your needs. After all, while a crying goat can sound like an absolutely awful sound, in reality, the meaning behind your goat screaming is probably much more complex than it would seem.

What Does a Goat Sound Like?

What does a goat sound like? This question is a little hard to answer since every goat will have a unique type of bleat. However, most goat bleats will sound something similar to a long and drawn-out “Muuh” noise. However, the wide range of goat bleats often means that the sound a goat makes can vary wildly; for example, some goats will make a noise that’s more like a calf, while others can have a bleat similar to a sheep’s.

Why do Goats Scream? 

There are many different reasons why a goat might scream. Some of the most common reasons why goats scream include: 

• Hunger: Goats are, by their nature, greedy animals! As such, if they’re left waiting for food, you might find that your goat begins to start bleating very loudly. It’s important to consider here also that goats, as ruminants, should always have access to some form of forage so that their rumens are continually working.
• Boredom: Goats are very inquisitive and playful animals. As such, if they get bored, it’s not uncommon for them to begin yelling in frustration. As such, ensuring that your goat has plenty of fresh bedding to sleep in and other goats to socialize with is very important.
• Breeding: If you’ve never heard a buck or billy trying to “court” the ladies, you’re in for quite a shock. I like to call the buck’s behavior while wooing his ladyfriends “singing”, but in reality, it’s more of an obnoxious shout! Still, if you notice that your male goat is “blubbering” over a female, it may be that he’s trying to impress her. Notably, a female goat who is in season may also cry out and act distressed if there’s no buck around to “tend to her needs,” as it were.
• Change of routine: As with many herd animals, goats are creatures of routine – and anything that disrupts their routine may cause them to get fidgeting and noisy. As such, if you’re late to feed your goats or let them out, you might find that they begin shouting at you.
• Stress: While most reasons for a goat to bleat are not a cause for concern, a stressed goat’s cry is a big deal. Usually, a stressed cry will be very loud and drawn out, and the goat will likely continue to scream rather than just crying out once or twice. As such, if you hear a drawn-out cry from your goat, it’s worth checking that they’re not in trouble. A low, drawn-out bellow is often a common sign of a goat that’s in pain (as is teeth grinding).

Do All Goats Scream and Make Strange Noises? 

Not every goat will necessarily be noisy; some are much quieter than others. For example, Anglo Nubian goats have a reputation for being drama queens and very demanding; other breeds could be more laid back. 

In my personal experience, Bottle babies also tend to be noisier, often calling out for attention much more than a goat who wasn’t raised by its dam. You may also notice that friendly goats will cry out in greeting when they see you, which may often be coupled with a very excitable run over to you (even if you don’t have anything for the goat on this occasion!)

How to Stop a Goat From Yelling 

Stopping a goat from yelling can be a little tricky since goats can’t really be trained as other animals can. With this thought in mind, prevention is generally better than a fix for stopping your goats from yelling. 

Try to feed your goats consistently every day, and if you notice that your goats keep shouting for attention when they see you, it may be worth avoiding their pen or closing the doors (if they’re inside) so that they don’t see you walking around. This reduces the chances of your goats crying out, which can make life with goats a whole lot quieter. 

Along a similar line of thought, some goats may learn that if they shout, they’ll get what they want – be it extra food or attention. As such, if you can, try to ignore their demands. This may prevent them from getting into a habit of demanding food or attention, accordingly.

Final Thoughts

A crying goat can be an awful sound – but it doesn’t always necessarily mean that your goat is hurt or upset. In fact, in many cases, understanding questions like “why do goats scream” is vital as part of this decision since it’s not always the case that a goat’s scream is as bad as it sounds. In fact, often, goats can just be drama queens, and their screams may be the result of many different factors such as hunger, boredom, frustration, or even attention-seeking. However, in some cases, a crying goat may genuinely be in pain or distress, which is why it’s so important to understand the different types of cries a goat makes and what they mean.