Meet Our Pygmy Goats~~Loving And Sweet, Yet Naughty As Can Be!!
77Our Goats, Named After Candy Bars...Sweet As Can Be!!
From time to time I mention our little pygmy goats, and it's about time I finally introduce you to each one. Our farm life would not be the same without our playful, mischievous, rambunctious little ones! Kids are cute as can be and the moment we set our eyes upon the first two girls, our hearts melted and we were hooked!!
We met them at four weeks of age, kicking up their little feet, prancing across the barnyard, not a care in the world! Sisters, petite agouti babies, with little bumpy heads, where their horns would eventually emerge. You could already see their sassy dispositions, as they were not still a moment, like popcorn exploding in an air popper!
Our plan was to purchase one kid, but that plan went by the wayside immediately; we could not separate these sweet little sisters...that would just be wrong!!! So we made the purchase and plans to pick them up in another four weeks, after their weaning from mama.
It was hard to leave them, even though we had just met a mere hour before! We kissed them goodbye and stroked their hard little heads, took pictures (of course, you know me) and anxiously awaited their homecoming!
We had four weeks to prepare for girls and first stop was the electric company to snag a few wood spools. The spools are free for the taking and come in several sizes, from small to 'omg, we'll never get that in the truck' size!! We drove home with three spools and I eagerly began painting, as I wanted our girls to have a colorful little nursery to come home to.
We visited the Amish Store and bought enough posts to build a suitable pen for endless kicking, climbing and exploration. Digging and pouring cement, connecting wire weld and even topping the posts with decorative little bird houses, we had a few more days now, til the joyous day!
They were finally weaned and ready to join us on the farm! The pen, spread with fresh straw and tasty mounds of alfalfa grass, was the perfect new playground for our gregarious goats who happily jumped from spool to spool, joyously playing together for hours!
Needless to say, our hearts grew more and more in love with Licorice and Tootsie, daily! During the four weeks of our preparation, I even ordered "dog tags" for them, with their names and home identification/information. I happened upon a website that makes tye dye tags, and promptly placed my order. For the first six weeks the girls kept their new tags and collars on, seemingly proud that they were the only goats in town with such beautiful "jewelry"!!!
Then one morning, I noticed Licorice tugging at Tootsie's collar and noticed too, that Licorice no longer had her collar around her neck!! It took several days for it to reappear in a bottom of a big pile of straw! We placed them back around their necks and to our dismay, after a few more days, they were gone AGAIN!!! The cute little tags now sit in a cabinet in the pen.....
Licorice is definitely the matriarch of our little goat family....bossy as can be and always an eye on everything going on inside and outside the pen! Tootsie, her little sis, is the curious one, always in to something, so we have learned to never, even for a moment, leave anything laying about within her reach. Tootsie, is also in love with Ranger, our lunkhead lab....but, that's another hub!!!
Several months later we lovingly welcomed Snickers, our first little boy, a wether (neutered male). With his long beard, he is a sweetheart, who touches everyone he comes into contact with. On the other hand, he is frisky and a tag-a-log to the girls!
And then there's, Kit Kat and Baby Ruth caramel colored brother and sister. Kit Kat is a lover, giving constant nudges, asking for hugs and kisses, always under foot! Baby Ruth our youngest is quiet, reserved and dainty... soon to be a mama herself!!
Licorice and Baby Ruth, enjoyed and were responsive to Curl, a feisty little buck we brought on to our property for several weeks... Both are now "with child" and be kidding late July or early August. We are eager and anxious, just as most "grandparents" would be!! This weekend, we are building them a "baby barn" in preparation of the big day!!
So this is our little goat family, soon to expand~~I will keep you posted on our new little ones when they arrive and will certainly take lots of photos....you know me!!!
Our Adorable Goats~~
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
They are so adorable!
Feline, You're such a doll!!! You are so supportive and kind!! No wonder I enjoy putting together these fun little hubs, with encouragement from friends like you, it is such pure joy!!
Thanks Kim, nice to know you're heading over to HubPages from time to time...now, you need to start writing and sharing your wonderful photography skills!!!
I would have fallen so in love too! What cuties. If only they didn't grow up. But then, the growing is the fun part, isn't it? I think you were rather brave putting the collars on in the first place. At least they didn't eat them, lol. Oh exciting. I suppose we'll be hearing about the births? I'm so excited. Congratulations are definitely in order.
OMG, I think you live in heaven!
Hi there ...What a wonderful way to start my morning with such a pleasant vision. I love the way you describe, i feel like I am there taking part in this great way of life. The candy bar names rock! Have you ever been to Northeast PA, that is so funny that y our "man" is from this neck of the woods.. I always wanted visit your part of the country...maybe someday we can exchange houses...lol..visit soon
And you blame Licorice for all the mis-deeds, for shame k!!! He couldn't possibly be ANY trouble!! I think you dropped your camera in the pool!! Tsk!
Hi licorice! I'll be your mom if you ever need to run away from home!
So enjoyed this story and the pics, MFG - you are a lucky one to be living the lifestyle you are!
I wonder what your goats do for exercise? Do you let them out of the pen and let them romp around all over, with the dog taking care that they don't go off too far and get lost? Or are they generally confined to the pen?
Thanks everyone for supporting me and following our ongoing sagas on the little farm!!!! Don't say that too loud, Licorice just might take you up on that...I did see her stuffing some things in her little pack last night.........hmmmmmmmmmmm Frieda, will definitely keep everyone posted... Baby Ruth's belly looks ready to pop this morning!!!!! Erin, the trade is on... :-) And, yes I do let the critters run about our entire 2 acres daily... sometimes they cry out when they see me and as I approach the pen and ask if they want to come out, the cries become more shrill...the kicking begins the moment I swing that gate open!!!! :-) It does take some encouragement to get Babe to come out, as he loves to snooze...........go figure!!!!
Lawd aren't they sweet.
Thanks ethel, they are adorable!!! Any day now, new kids from Licorice and Baby Ruth :-).... we're hurrying to finish up their new little "baby barn".....:-)
I had two Pygmy goats when I still had the big farm...(my children named them) Tina was the mom and Turner her kid. They were funny little goats and as you said always in some mischief or other. Mind you the Alpines and Nubian's were in cahoots with them as far as mayhem was concerned. My 'first-born' Yentl (Nubian) learned how to open the barn gates and on many occasions the whole lot came visiting at the house (just for a coffee klatsch and treats) Turner was able to jump up onto the window sill push in the screen and come right in... what fun that was seeing a goat standing in the double sink mauing down on coffee grinds from the coffee pot...I really miss the whole lot
Your great fun hub brought back a lot of good memories, thanks for that.
Do you have the new kids yet? Please share pics I would love to see them.
regards Zsuzsy
Great hub and what wonderful sweet names Licorice and Tootsie. Recently we went to Banff and Jasper and saw mountain goats. They roam on the high cliffs without a care in the world. Thanks for giving us a peek in your wonderful peaceful farm life. Thumbs up for a wonderful hub.
Many of our country-dwelling friends in Jo Daviess County, IL had pygmy goats. One was a "pet" of sorts and had free reign in the house. Since they had linoleum floors, and his little hoofs just skittered around when he walked, they called him Fred Astaire.
We love our new babies as well, Bert and Ernie (on our hub picture). We have two wethers and another doe that are 2 years old. Love the antics! We have a llama to keep an "eye" on things...He lets us know if they are fiddling with gates and such...
I took my grandkids over to a friends farm a couple times. They just loved the goats and when it was feeding time with all them goats it was also the time I got my movie camera out as they jumped all over the people with the feed. Someday I would like to have more farm animals.
Zsu...too funny!!! love the names.... and yes, goats are sooooooooo naughty!!!!
CW... we have mountain goats here too... we have not been able to catch a glimpse of them yet... they climb on the rocky mountains right along our 2 way highway.
Chef... can't imagine letting one of our 'bad little goats' inside the house...it would be destroyed in a matter of moments!!! people are so clever in naming their pets!!
Veach...cute names!!!! we have thought about a llama... heard they are really good 'guard dogs'....:-)
MB... I know, they love to jump...the babies are so adorable...they look like pop corn as they jump about non-stop!!! sooooooooooo cute!!! can't wait for our new babies to arrive...any day now!!!!! Thanks to all of you, again for reading and sharing your happy/lovely comments!!! :-)
I love your little goats, they sure are cute. A very interesting hub, I will make the time to read more of them. Thank you.
Our male Llama is a great low maintenance guard! He adds quite the personality to the mix. He oversees the barnyard with a quiet sense of authority. We have had up to five at one time and definitely reccomend them!
Thanks Earnest and Veach!!!! There are oh-so-many hubs here, I soooooooo appreciate you taking time to read mine and leave such nice comments!!!! We would love to add a llama to the mix here...perhaps in the next few years as we develop the rest of the property... :-)
Thanks for your comment on Caring for Horse Hooves and I just had pop over to check out your hubs. I love this one especially. Some years ago, I also owned a pigmy goat - he played companion to an uppety horse and kept him grounded. Years ago, we had a mom and daughter nubian goats. They're pretty clever! My best animals, ever, were my fallow deer. Come to think of it, there comes a story. Thanks for checking out my hub and I wish more people would stop by too. Thanks for sharing your adorable candies with us.
DYH.... thanks for reading and commenting!! We want some nubian goats too, for our back acreage, as they are such good grazers! Hoping our girls will kid today...thought Licorice would last night, but still waiting!!!! When they do, that too will be another hub :-)!
Your Pygmy Goats look so cute. We've considered a small goat as a pet on our 1 acre property, these ones look like they would be perfect. Maybe you could write a hub on things that you have learnt owning goats? Tips and advice for a newbie like me?
Thanks LeonJane... I can certainly give it a go.... so keep looking/reading and you may see a more detailed hub about life with our little goats. I will be writing and sharing photos once our girls kid (any day now!!!)
I have seen many goats in my life but yours are outrageously photogenic! Great photos!
How cute is that! Great pictures as always. Must be so much fun on your farm! I can see why you keep busy...oh my!
Thanks Mr. Happy and Gwennie! We keep very, very busy and I am rarely without my camera, as there are always picture perfect moments to be snapped!!! Although, I keep my camera with me at every moment, since bad little Licorice threw my old one in the pool (see my hub about what happened!!!). Can't wait to be taking photos of the new goats, that should be here any day now!!!!!
God, the Almighty has exibited his creativity on these beautiful kids, especially the first photo of two pygmy kids.
They look awesome. Congrats to you Montana Farm Girl!!!!!!!!!
What awesome feedback!!! Thanks so much!!! I so appreciate uplifting messages such as yours!!! :-)
Feline Prophet says:
4 months ago
Ohhhh...I can imagine why you fell in love with them! MFG, can't make up my mind whether I enjoy your descriptions more or the adorable pictures! Let me go catch up with your other hubs that I've missed in the past few days! :)