Chat
05-16-2017, 11:36 AM
I took the goats for a walkabout on Mother's Day. The perfect way to spend "my" day! 
When we got back to the part of the farm we call the "bone yard" (which is where equipment and supplies are stored) I sat on one of our trailers relaxing while the goats munched on the locust tree starts and weeds. We haven't sprayed the bone yard yet this spring to control them so it was safe munching.
Jethro decided the best way to reach one of the locust tree starts was to stand on a small triangle of metal and runner on one of the trailers!
A little later he came over to be scratched. Jethro has always been a little standoffish about being loved on. He's content to stand near me chewing his cud. Recently he's discovered the joys of being scratched on his butt and neck. As you can see in the photo - he's really shedding and definitely needs some grooming to get rid of the dirt and dead skin from this winter!
Morgan went to live with his half brother a couple of weeks ago so I now am down to two packgoats. A more realistic number for me. Bourbon and Jethro. I also have my two mini Alpine does.
It's always amazing to me how the herd dynamics change when a goat is added or subtracted. Bourbon knows he's #1 and has been enforcing it more when any of the other goats come near me. Jethro is #2 and he's been picking on Sugar more who has always been low goat in the herd. Sugar will rear up or posture that she's unhappy about being pushed around but she doesn't press it any further. Joules has always been #3. She puts up with any guff she receives but also lets it be known she's one tough little cookie. Morgan was always the peacemaker & referee in the herd. He floated around without having a particular "status" other than all of the goats know Bourbon is #1.
Bourbon has become more demanding of my attention this spring. Yesterday I was scratching Joules and Sugar. Bourbon came over, stood by me, and put his nose between my hand that was scratching Sugar and his nose! I'd look at and talk to him, give him a few scratches on his cheek and go back to scratching Sugar. He'd take his nose and do it again! He did that numerous times. I need more hands for goat scratching!
When we got back to the part of the farm we call the "bone yard" (which is where equipment and supplies are stored) I sat on one of our trailers relaxing while the goats munched on the locust tree starts and weeds. We haven't sprayed the bone yard yet this spring to control them so it was safe munching.
Jethro decided the best way to reach one of the locust tree starts was to stand on a small triangle of metal and runner on one of the trailers!
A little later he came over to be scratched. Jethro has always been a little standoffish about being loved on. He's content to stand near me chewing his cud. Recently he's discovered the joys of being scratched on his butt and neck. As you can see in the photo - he's really shedding and definitely needs some grooming to get rid of the dirt and dead skin from this winter!
Morgan went to live with his half brother a couple of weeks ago so I now am down to two packgoats. A more realistic number for me. Bourbon and Jethro. I also have my two mini Alpine does.
It's always amazing to me how the herd dynamics change when a goat is added or subtracted. Bourbon knows he's #1 and has been enforcing it more when any of the other goats come near me. Jethro is #2 and he's been picking on Sugar more who has always been low goat in the herd. Sugar will rear up or posture that she's unhappy about being pushed around but she doesn't press it any further. Joules has always been #3. She puts up with any guff she receives but also lets it be known she's one tough little cookie. Morgan was always the peacemaker & referee in the herd. He floated around without having a particular "status" other than all of the goats know Bourbon is #1.
Bourbon has become more demanding of my attention this spring. Yesterday I was scratching Joules and Sugar. Bourbon came over, stood by me, and put his nose between my hand that was scratching Sugar and his nose! I'd look at and talk to him, give him a few scratches on his cheek and go back to scratching Sugar. He'd take his nose and do it again! He did that numerous times. I need more hands for goat scratching!
Goatberries Happen!