This morning, dragged my sleepy head off the pillow, my eyes squinting against the first atoms of light to show in the sky I remembered I had a fence to put up. Soon. It was ‘Goat Day.’
We’ve known for about two weeks that we were getting goats from a friend today, but last weekend was taken up with the construction of the barn, the purchasing of the fence and getting stuck in a horribly long line of traffic. This weekend, I had a ‘family thing’ to go to, so I was away from the house for much of Friday and Saturday, which meant that it was either going to get done today, or we were going to have goats roaming around where they pleased.
I was done the fence by 11h00 or so, however, and we were able to get the goats in their new home by around 13h00.
So far, there isn’t much to relate about the goats. They eat grass and one of them doesn’t care for Gilligan all that much; she grunts at him. Rest assured, though, more posts will come, I’m sure.
What hasn’t my truck hauled? The goats were pretty comfortable in there, and even thought to bleat at the people outside when we stopped to get an ice cream cone.
This is probably the goat version of “You gonna let us out anytime soon, Sunshine?” Those horns make the look carry some weight.
I backed the truck into the goat pen and we let the goats decide when to come out. This is partly due to us not wanting to scare the goats, but mostly due to them being really heavy and awkward to lift.
The barn by name only. It only cost thirty dollars to build, though, so I can’t complain. It’s made from salvaged material off of an older shed and this slick system using plastic brackets and 2″x2″s. It took me four hours to build, and that includes cutting my own 2″x2″s and scraping the ant colonies off the salvaged plywood. Too bad ants don’t have any commerical value, ’cause I’d be one wealthy guy.
Hunter was pretty excited to get the goats. Almost as excited as Jenn to get them and immediately started trying to milk the white one which, incidentally, she named “Sparkle”. The brown one is called “Whitey.” Makes sense, no?
Yep. One excited kid. I wonder how long it’ll be before Hunter gets the notion to try and ride one?
Both of the goats are pretty calm. I think this one here is Hunter’s favourite.
Filed under: Writing | Tagged: goat n kid, Goats
Neat. What are you going to do with the goats? Are they Pets, milkers, to breed for meat, or? Maybe for Gilligan to herd? Lol! Since starting Rain and Storm doing some sheep herding I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a few sheep.
I think Jenn wants to try to make cheese, possibly soap, too, as well as raise some for meat. Gilligan is kinda scared of them, and the white one has already rammed the fence in his direction, so I doubt very much that he’ll herd or that she’ll be herded.
Years ago I knew somebody who made all kinds of stuff with goats milk, including soap and she sold it our local health food store. Goats milk products seem to be in demand and should be quite marketable.
When Rain first was introduced to sheep on day 1 of our herding she was a bit intimidated by them, growling and hugging my side or hiding behind me and staring up at me like “what are you trying to do to me?” As soon as she realized that the sheep would move away from her though it was a whole other ball game and she loved it. It was amazing to watch her instincts kick in, just like flipping a switch. My little velcro dog that never leaves my side was gone across the pen, moving the sheep all around it and never looking back again. At least until day 3 when a grouchy ewe kept challenging her and then she’d run the other way. The trainer got one of her own trained up dogs to settle that sheep though, and we taught Rain to get in there and “shift her”, and then she was all go again and didn’t want to quit when it was time to leave. They’re both really enjoying it and it gives them something else to do until the weather cools off enough to start running them again.
The goat’s milk seems to be pretty versatile, but I anticipate a big learning curve before we can think about marketing anything.
The difficulty with Gilligan and the goats is that they have come from a place that also had sleddogs and the goats have grown used to them, so they have no qualms about staring them down or butting them if need be. Gilligan, instincts or not, is more of a gentle soul and hasn’t the courage or inclination to ’shift’ the goats. Good to hear Rain is getting the hang of it, though.
…aaah, cooler weather for running dogs. I hope it comes sooner than later.
I won’t lie, goats freak me out! It’s something about their creeeeepy eyes.
Hunter seems to love them though!!
Yeah… that sideways pupil thing is kinda strange.