| The Relaxed Goat Herd |
| Goats are the comics of the smallholding, the animals who delight us with their naughtiness, their cleverness and their demands for attention. Our first two goats were RSPCA rescues and our current three are two adorable Anglo Nubians named Vanilla and Oats, and Clover, a Golden Gurnsey (all three are pictured in the first photo). In between times we have kept a variety of Anglo Nubians, Boers and various crosses and enjoyed kidding, milking and making our own cheese. We even ate one once - not an experience we altogether coped with! Goats are fairly demanding on the husbandry front, requiring 24/7 access to shelter (they do rather hate rain), once or twice a day feeding, regular feet trimming and a careful eye being kept on their worm counts. They enjoy browsing more than grazing and need hay all year round. Out of all our smallholding animals though, goats are the most emotionally connected with us, their human owners! This is fine by us: we love their cheekiness, their desire to be cuddled and touched, their trust in us! They are always interested in us and what we are doing. They wear their hearts on the sleeve and if they are suffering in any way, they tell you, loud and clear! Goats demand a lot and give a lot: all smallholdings should have some!! |
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