I Have Goats

Jul
26

They’re home!

Clover, Nutmeg, and Honey arrived yesterday evening, in this crate, in the back of this pickup truck.





It was late by the time we got them situated for the night. Clover was worried. The babies were confused. Coco was excited. Dookie got a smackdown (from Clover!). I was scared the goat lady and her husband were going to leave me alone with the goats and then THEY DID. Then everybody chewed on some weeds and went to bed.

I have pictures and stories to share, so for those of you who come early, come back if you can. I will add updates to this post during the day today with more pictures of Coco meeting the goats, Clover and the babies settling in, and how we’re doing today. It’s an exciting day on the farm!

I HAVE GOATS!


*********************************


Morning Update

They’re here! And I woke up this morning and they were still here! I’m doing good so far.

This was Coco’s last free moment before her life changed forever. She was innocently planning an evening of carrying shoes off the porch and cavorting in mud puddles.





Then this truck drove up.





And people starting carting work off it.





Clover was in no hurry to get out of the crate. It took some encouragement and some cookies and some downright dragging.





Coco, still unaware that her life had just changed, was thrilled! GOATS!





She could hardly contain herself.





Well, actually, she didn’t contain herself. She bounced and circled and frolicked and asked Clover if she liked carrying shoes around, too.





Though she couldn’t stop frolicking long enough to hear Clover’s answer, which was something like, “No, I do not carry shoes. I eat shoes.”





Then the little farm shih tsu got involved.





He thought maybe these were some giant cats imported to our farm for his little-man-syndrome torture.





Immediately after this picture was taken, Clover head-butted him across the farm. Okay, not across the farm, but about a foot, and Dookie decided he was not interested in goats. He was not, of course, scared of Clover or anything. He decided, all by himself, that it was just not his thing.

He’s gotta have his pride, ya know.





Coco stopped bouncing and got all respectful and kept her distance for a bit while Clover met the chickens. The chicken welcoming committee lined up for the formal greeting ceremony.





There was some whispering amongst the committee members. “Another disappointing development. A giant puppy, now goats. What next? Ducks?”

Well……!!!! I do have a tractor to dig that duck pond now.





Coco followed her new little family around their little field and Clover tolerated her pretty well. Nutmeg and Honey just followed Clover around.

“We go wherever Mama’s udder goes.”





Speaking of Clover’s wondrous udder…..





Clover: “Could I have some privacy, please?”

Or alternately: “Leave me alone, you crazy woman!”

I’m not sure yet if Clover likes me. I haven’t tried to touch her udder yet. The babies are about three weeks old and still nursing. I’m probably going to give it a few more weeks and let the babies get close to weaning before I start milking her. In the meantime, we’ll get to know each other and I’ll talk Clover into being my friend. I have treats.

I’ll post another update with photos from today this afternoon if you’d like to come back and see more!


*********************************


Update: First Afternoon on the Goat Farm

Clover spent a lot of time “talking” this morning. I think she was looking for her goat friends and wondering where they went. She settled down after a while and I gave her some cookies and talked her into letting me take off the collar that they’d put on to help get her into the crate yesterday.





I gave her a lot of cookies. We were, like, totally best friends.

Then I said, “How about letting me touch your beautiful udder?” Just, you know, so she gets used to it. She hasn’t been milked before.





Clover was having none of that.





But there’s always tomorrow. And the next day. And the day after that. I have a lot of cookies.

And today, this is the view from my front porch.





I have goats!





Comments

  1. Kim A. says:

    Yay! Goats at last!

    I’ll just bet it was an exciting day. :thumbsup:

    -Kim A.

  2. Michelle Willingham says:

    Aren’t they just beautiful? So sweet! :butterfly:

  3. connie says:

    They are so pretty..looking forward to goat stories and more pictures..

  4. peggy says:

    congratulations! Your life will never be the same again. It will be filled with the love of goats. You will be surprised how fast they wrap you around their little hooves. LOL

  5. Gail says:

    If you’re gonna have a farm, you gotta have goats! Congratulations! Let the milking begin!!! How old are the little kids? I’ll be back later to see more pictures!

  6. jane says:

    Poor Dookie – Harry (my dog like yours) and I love you. My Harry is Black with white on his paws and stomach. In fact it is time to walk him now.

    Cant wait to see the goats in their new home and with their new companion – Cocoa

    Maybe you should try to do a family animal shot!!!

  7. missyakamelissa says:

    And they are in very good hands in beautiful surroundings!

  8. Kathryn says:

    What a wonderful day! That picture is priceless!

    Last night at the fair, I fell in total absolute love with a fawn-colored mule. Big, B I G old thing, and just the cutest ears I have ever seen on a mule. I craved him. Of course, we live in town now, but still……..

  9. wkf says:

    Poor Dookie! :flying:

  10. margie says:

    :fryingpan: bbaaaddd doookie

  11. Bonny says:

    YEAH! Goats. I always thought it would be wonderful to have my own goats. Unfortunately, I do not have the room or time for them right now. Maybe sometime in my future…
    They are so darling. I bet they’ll eat you out of house and home! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  12. Suzette says:

    Oh goodie! This is what I was hoping I’d find this morning. Now…how long before you have to milk Clover? Or do the babies do that for you now? I’m so farm-dumb. Looking forward to updates!

  13. Shari C says:

    Congratulations on your new family; I am sure they will be very happy in their new home and you will become a real expert in the care and handling of goats…right.

  14. Maureen says:

    They look so sweet. Good luck with your new goat family.

  15. DeeBee says:

    So glad you finally have your goats! They really are cute.

  16. Kathy R says:

    They are just beautiful! I don’t think you have to worry about milking yet if the little ones aren’t weaned.

    I notice you mentioned that they munches some grass before settling down. I was interested in the picture from several days ago of ‘someone’ mowing the goat enclosure. That’s what goats eat when they have the chance. Anything green, and lots of things that aren’t…including small trees, blackberry bushes (including thorns)…that’s why many people here in WV keep goats — it’s easier than mowing those hills. It will cut down on the goat chow bill.

  17. Dru says:

    The goats are gorgeous and I love the interactions between Coco and Dookie.

    Thanks for the photo montage. I can’t wait to see more.

  18. Stephanie says:

    OMG…. How wonderful. I am so happy that I found your blog. I am loving the story of the goats. And the big puppy is the best.

  19. angiecmt says:

    So very sweet!

  20. Claudia W says:

    Welcome home Clover, Nutmeg and Honey!
    I’m so excited for you Suzanne and Coco! What fun you are going to have. I can’t wait for the new adventure stories to begin.

  21. Annette says:

    The Goats are so cute! And it looks like for now Coco does not mind missing QVC! Good Luck!

  22. Donna says:

    Ohhh, those are THE CUTEST babies/momma goat and Coco and Dukie…such cute stories too!!! How exciting! The goats are here! I hope I get to pop back on later to check for more stories..if not, I’ll catch up! I am so happy for you! They are allll so adorable!!! Home sweet home!

    And…what does 52 think about all this excitement? Is he jumping right in there to help..or just watching the excitement? He seems to have a tender heart! AND I did see him hold the one baby goat when you went to the goat farm! LOL :mrgreen:

  23. Kacey says:

    Finally. I was beginning to think you made them up! (oh, heck, you don’t have a wink smilie…pretend there’s one here.)

    Anyway, the goats are so adorable!

  24. TeresaH says:

    Hooray! You sure can see the excitement Coco felt on meeting the goats, they didn’t seem quite as excited. LOL

  25. Melissa's Cozy Teacup says:

    My mom has three shitzus. The momma dog DOES eat worms! Gross! She goes ‘grubbin’ and digs in the dirt with her nose, so much so that she was worn off the color on the tip.
    When you said these were pygmy goats, I had no idea just how small they were! How cute!

  26. Bertie says:

    Those are the cutest darn goats I’ve ever seen! And such great pic’s of Coco getting acquainted with the newest members of your farm clan. Let the fun begin!! :bananadance:

  27. Tori Lennox says:

    Goats, goats, goats!!! :woof:

  28. J says:

    :snoopy: ahhh I want baby goats, too :hissyfit:
    Coco really took to her job.

  29. tillie says:

    yay!!! so happy they are transitioning to their new home so well! after all, you have treats…

  30. sunnid755 says:

    Either CoCo’s really getting big or those goats are really tiny, either way, so much cuteness and even CoCo cavorted. Thanks for the wonderful pics and for sharing your life and adventures. :bananadance:

  31. Ann in TN says:

    AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :heart:

  32. Lisa L says:

    Oh they all look so happy together. Coco is doing a wonderful job. And goats….yes you do indeed have goats now. Enjoy!

  33. peggy says:

    looks like they enjoyed the night in their new home. They are going to be very happy spoiled goats.

  34. ML says:

    How very exciting! And my goodness Coco took to them right away, those Pyr instincts are amazing! I bet nothing will get done around the house today. Your chicken committee cracked me up! What a great day at the farm.

  35. Amelia says:

    :biggrin: They are so cute…the whole shootin’ match! -goats, chickens and dogs. What is next to add to the farm!

    Are you going to drive the tractor…or is that strictly for the bogs and 52?

    enjoy the weekend.

  36. Nancy says:

    :bananadance: I’m so envious! I’ve always wanted a goat. Loved the little ones at the zoo north of Frederick, MD where I volunteered for a couple of years. Have a lot of fun with your new babies.

  37. Kim A. says:

    Back for your updates…Where else could I go to get a close-up view of a goat’s udder? My weekend is complete. 😆

    -Kim A.

    P.S. Stupid dog question: I know Coco is a working dog…pup…bred for this. But uh, is it just instinctive, to protect and herd the goats? I mean, who teaches her? Does she need to be taught? Or is imprinted on her genes?

  38. G-Mama says:

    Once I dreamed of having a farm like yours with chickens and goats and a big garden. My goal was to be as self-sufficient as possible. As the years have gone by, it doesn’t look like that dream will come true, but I still enjoy watching the goat competitions at the state fair. You are so blessed.

  39. Joanne says:

    YOU’VE GOT GOATS!!! OMG, they are just beautiful…your little farm family is sure growing. L.o.v.e. the pics 😉

  40. Wendy says:

    Aren’t goats great? I do need to get me one of those caramel colored ones. I like the last picture of Coco with her goats. We have a llama for herd protection.

  41. Sooz in nv says:

    :woof: That puppy KNOWS! Isn’t it cool; she’s already getting ‘goatified’. I will watch this with great interest.
    My German Shepherd thinks he’s a cat ent. They are dogs on a mission. It’s funny how little they are when they discover it.
    Suz in NV

  42. Suzette says:

    Will you just LOOK at that dog with her goats?! That is amazing. She’s even cuter with her instincts showing.

  43. Suzanne McMinn says:

    Kim, it’s instinctive to the breed. She’s still a puppy, though, so she’ll start bonding with them and get more protective of them as she grows. Right now, she just likes to hang out with them, LOL. Though if something tried to get in the enclosure and harm the goats, I believe she’d react. She just doesn’t know that yet.

  44. Teri says:

    I am so happy for you!! You and your beautiful kids. Coco will do you proud. Do you get to keep Clover as well or just until Nutmeg and Honey are weaned? Happy “kidding” around!

  45. Shimmy Mom says:

    Congratulations!!!!! Yeah. They look like a perfect fit to your farm.

  46. Suzanne McMinn says:

    Teri, we’re keeping Clover! She’s ours now. I love her!

  47. sam says:

    Sure looks like Coco is doing her breed proud!!

  48. TeresaH says:

    Clover is definitely going to be spoiled too! Coco looks like she’s loving her new friends.

  49. Cama says:

    The Goats are here!!!! :bananadance: They are so darn cute!!!

  50. SuzieQ says:

    I would get absolutely NOTHING done for days except porch sitting and goats and Coco watching…would brew me up a big old pitcher of iced tea, grab me some snacks and plop my butt down in a rocking chair and rock and watch, watch and rock all day and probably into the night till all went to sleep..THANK YOU FOR SHARING!!! YOU GO, COCO!!!

  51. Pam says:

    It’s like Christmas on the farm. So happy for you.

  52. Brandy says:

    Awww, they’re so cute! LOL at how Dookie decided he didn’t like goats, all on his own. *G*

  53. Remudamom says:

    Milking a goat is much easier than milking a cow. When you start milking Clover you can teach her to jump up on a little platform and then you won’t have to break your back!

  54. Donna says:

    Is Coco not the MOST PRECIOUS PUP frolicking and sitting by them and eyeing them!!!! She is adorable and I can tell she loves her new buds already!!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  55. MsJamie says:

    They are so gorgeous!! You’ll be a goat milking expert in no time.

  56. Crystal B. says:

    I am glad you have your goats. They are so cute.

  57. Eulalia (Lali) Benejam Cobb says:

    Beautiful goats, and Clover has what looks like a perfect udder!

    When I saw Clover’s collar, I had to write. It looks exactly like the collar I had on my two does two years ago…and one of them got caught on a piece of wire and strangled herself. It was so terribly sad I had to get out of goat-keeping altogether. So I felt obliged to let you know… There are cheap nylon collars with snap plastic buckles that will come apart if the animal struggles. Lots of people use those on their sheep and goats.

    Good luck with your lovely little herd!

  58. Heather says:

    We just got 9 Nubian goats yesterday and today I find myself alternately excited and terrified.

    We did the math and figured out that we are expecting between 22 and 27 babies in the Spring. 😮

    I love your blog. It’s such a fun read!

    Heather

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