Here are the lovely ANs as we call them (Anglo Nubians): Sorrel, Coriander and Tarragon - they really are a very lovely family and Sorrel has developed a delightful confidence that, more and more, holds her in good stead when it comes to her relationship with the Boers. They still don't mix that much at all, BUT when they do come together, for feeding or inside the barn at night or when it's raining, all, on the whole, is calm!! Garlic is still not happy to share her feed with the ANs (fair enough) BUT there have been a few times when Sorrel has begun eating from the first trugg and Garlic has not pushed her off. Sorrel also has developed the strategy of lying down where she wants in order to claim her 'space'. This works perfectly as, unless there is a serious bullying issue, goats don't tend to push and shove each other when settled. The very fact that Sorrel uses this strategy shows that she is more confident - if she was scared or worried about Garlic she would not lie down anywhere near her. Coriander and Tarragon of course follow their mother - they are still bottom of the pecking order but the less pushing and shoving their mother is subjected to then hopefully the easier it will be for them to be more accepted as they get older.
The Boers are all good too, aside from Onion sporting a bad limp - due we think, to a sprain of some sort. We are hoping that time and a shot or two of anti-inflammatory medication will sort it out. Ryka has assumed the role of 'noise-machine' since Kanard left us - she really can belt out the bleats, but then so can her mother!!!
We have been a little drier the last couple of days so the goats have been out a bit more thankfully - good for them and good for reducing the mucking out too. Next job is to persuade the sheep that they really DON'T need to sleep in the field shelter at night anymore - dry nights mean the grass is fine. Now that WOULD reduce the mucking out load!!!