After months of research and consultation with many experts, we decided on a breed of goat that fits our needs. The Kiko goat. Kiko goats are classified as meat goats (as opposed to a dairy goat) and have exceptional qualities on several fronts. So we figured this would be a good breed for us to become proficient with.
Of course having goats creates some interesting dynamics. Cookie captures it well in her description to a friend of our first 'incident' with Lucy & Ethel.
We got two goats which we're calling Lucy and Ethel. They are white and hard to tell apart. Jeff lifted them from the truck last night - they were scared to death from the drive and he had to drag them to the end of the truck and carry them to the pen. After he took the second one he said, this one is Lucy. I said how can you tell? He said Ethel is much heavier! They are soft and lovable and love candy. That is how the owner kept them tame. You'll like them, honest.
Here's what happened today as I rose from my slumber....
You see, we bought 2 little goats last night - 3 month old Kiko goats - twin does. Jeff rigged an electric fence around an old small shed that is here on the farm and we put them in the building late last night - about 9 pm when we got it all done. This morning he let them out of the building to graze and run within the fenced-in pen but within a half an hour, they were out. He yelled up at me as I was getting out of bed at 7 am - "The goats are out!" So we both quickly put on our long jeans and shirt and work boots, and each jumped into a different vehicle (truck and the older car we have) and tried to find them as we drove on the roads around our farm. Jeff had seen them running along the creek into the woods. UGGGH! After about 30 minutes of both of us driving around and not seeing a thing, I drove back to the farm to look for them again - thinking they might have come back to eat my garden and low and behold, they were on the driveway, headed back towards the goat pen. I immediately called Jeff on his mobile and he came quickly. They went right for the edge of the fence and we carefully walked up to them with sweets in a bag (like their previous owner had done). They never came to us, but just went back into the pen. We figure they had been looking for the other hundred or so goats they were used to being with. They miss their herd. Jeff corralled them back into the goat shed and locked the door.
Phew! We went back into the house, changed out of our dirty clothes from the woods and fields, put on house clothes and are now checking our email and our morning routine. What an adventure. And it is only beginning with the goats. We are aware of that, plus everyone keeps reminding us. :-)
5 comments:
So Who loves Lucy and Who loves Ethel?
As the title of the TV show suggests, "I love Lucy" Ethel gets in on the act too!
And today out west we had the Great Escape. Once the big milk goat gets out it is a hilarious game of ring around the rosy as she outsmarts my every move from the other side of the jungle gym. I had to get my decorative lasso, chased her for five minutes, caught her on the third throw. It was an urgent matter since I'd just put deadly 2,4 D (Agent Orange) on the lawn they seemed to love the new flavor. Only a few nibbles, and the milk tastes just fine.
I absolutely love the little goat about the size of yours. She is like dog. Follows me around for one more pat on the horns.
Hey, I just saw Grandpa Tom. Is there a story here? He so much resembles my friend Tom from Morocco.
Yep. That's your 'ol pal from Morocco Duke. He and Lisa have visited the farm several times already and they are scheduled to return later this week. We love having them here. Tom wanted us to get some dairy goats but I just didn't want to make that kind of time investment so Lucy and Ethel are meat goats. Yum Yum!
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