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Clover’s in heat! She started “flagging” her tail, so I whipped out the buck rag (the cloth from the goat farm, rubbed in buck scent) and stuck it in her face. She just sorta stared at it then contemplated eating it. She’s so cooperative. I think she was just thinking about that pee on Cowboy’s head and not sure she really wanted to go on a date with him. (See Cowboy.)
But I want some blue-eyed babies from the blue-eyed Cowboy, so we packed her up in a crate against her wishes.
She wasn’t real happy about the situation, but I gave her a cookie.
Even less happy were the babies.
Especially this one.
She bawled and bawled and hasn’t stopped bawling.
We drove the few miles over to the goat farm and I gave Clover another cookie for being such a good girl on the trip.
Admiral, the Great Pyr at the goat farm, was quite excited about the arrival of company.
Clover was carried from the truck to the goat yard where a dozen does and Admiral gathered to greet her.
Clover, with her babies, left the goat farm and her old friends six months ago to come live on our farm. Here, she has reigned supreme. The top goat! No competition. The queen!
Back on the goat farm, a dozen other queens circled to welcome her back–and let her know she was not going to be queen there.
There was head-butting.
And more head-butting.
And even more head-butting.
(Left, Clover. Right, Clover’s twin sister.)
All the does are in heat and Cowboy was to be brought up to the yard to spend some quality time with his entire harem.
Clover was very very ready.
This is what “flagging” looks like. A female goat raises her tail to show she is receptive to male companionship.
Only Cowboy wasn’t there yet and the companionship she was getting wasn’t quite what she was after.
I really think that right about then…..
….she was actually missing Coco.
(Don’t worry, Admiral. Next time, we’ll bring Coco for a date with you!)
Clover tried to escape.
But it didn’t do her much good.
And then it was time to leave her. I heard Clover crying as I walked away.
I looked back.
Clover: “Don’t leave me here! THEY ONLY HAVE STORE-BOUGHT COOKIES!!!”
But I had to go. And Clover resorted to Plan B, laying out her demands to the goat farmers.
Clover: “I require homemade cookies. Daily. I would also like a tiara.”
Don’t you know, she got her cookie wish. Photo below courtesy Destiny Groves Farm, on Day 2 of Clover’s Big Adventure. Pictured, Clover’s sister (Cookie Doe), Clover, and their mother (Valentina).
And next, they’ll all be wearing tiaras, too.
“I’m living on this farm now,” she told the others, “where the animals are in charge. Let me tell you how it works….”
They are in big trouble at the goat farm.
We plan to leave her there for a week or two, giving her plenty of “Cowboy time”–and she has already been spotted in flagrante delicto with her blue-eyed buck. Now that she has fresh-baked cookies and a boyfriend, she may never want to come back. (Though by the time she has all their does in tiaras, they may be ready to kick her out!)
Back at Stringtown Rising Farm, nobody is happy without Clover and even a cookie won’t help.
Nutmeg is inconsolable. She calls for Clover all day long.
I know how she feels. I miss Clover, too.
Posted by Suzanne McMinn | Permalink
