Goats&moregoats: KickinUpDust Farm Journal

[MsDeb]

I had to read your last post to David and reassure him it's not just us that has joined this never ending circus of livestock lovers. And your barn setup is amazing! I have a slide from the junk pile we inherited with the house. I have been trying to hard to save it for the grandkids but the goats may just win out. GRIN!

 

[goats&moregoats]

@MsDeb , Thank you so much. My circus keeps growing & growing. Just can't help myself. Already looking at possibly adding another doe, .

 

[goats&moregoats]

Well the $$ I was waiting on has arrived. So this week hoping to get that work done before we get to much colder weather. Tomorrow morning making a list of supplies needed. Then I will hopefully purchase everything tomorrow evening, then get started on the work on Wed. Just a few more days of waiting for Tahoe and Yukon and I have to reach a decision on the pup. If I am getting him I have to send the deposit out by Fri. Will keep everyone updated on Tahoe & Yukon as well as my decision on the pup.

 

[goats&moregoats]

Tomorrow is D day, oh yeah Friday is finally arriving!!! Yukon and Tahoe will be meeting me at 11am. Soooooooo fantastic! So I should have pictures posted late tomorrow night, so having dinner at daughter's and spoiling youngest granddaughter before returning home.

On another note: I have a very grumpy Haze on my hands. She seems awful boney except for her huge stomach. No signs of worms though in any of them. She seems quite miserable with her extra weight already. Getting very pushy and vocal even with her best buddy Annebelle (her not me), who is herself getting large. LOL. I called my Cassie my "Little Fatty" today, she didn't mind just all lovey dovey. Hazel is a month behind the others and not showing much at all. My poor little Poppit is still as happy go lucky as ever, just much rounder. I'll see if I can't get some decent recent pictures of them as well. Going to start increasing their grain portions this week. Diva, Pippy, Venus and the two sheep are all doing very well.

Late night tonight cleaning the house. Won't be able to sleep for the excitement anyways. So might as well accomplish tonight what I have been putting off for a while. Bad Bad me.. Early am run to goat pen, feed them and finish what little I have left to do before dogs arrive.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

How exciting!

 

[goats&moregoats]

They have arrived!!! Yes, I had to travel to Quechee, VT. to get them because Deb's car was giving her trouble. Thankful Deb made it back home safely because they discovered it was the drive shaft.

Yukon, Tahoe and I hit it off famously right from the start. They both hopped right into my van as if I owned them all their lives. Two of my friends, my oldest daughter and son all traveled with me and were just as excited as I and just as accepted. Ride home & settling in all went without a hitch. Quickly discovered that they do know some commands(sit, stay back, wait & here) will have to find out what others they know. Both actually walk pretty good on the leash.Yukon was nose to nose with Poppit (9 months) neither minded the other at all. Obviously Yukon was on a leash. Other two little ones didn't even pay attention to what came in their pen.

Other goats & sheep were less then thrilled with these big hairy funny smelling creatures.(goats) Hazel my most dominant doe charged at the fence twice but stopped short of the lower hot wire at the gate.( again goats) Others stood stiffly around hair on back raised staring and I know they were questioning my sanity.

All animals were fed and watered. Yukon and Tahoe got a bone to gnaw on to help keep them content. Hot wire runs one on top and one near ground. They knew immediately what it was.

Later I was running an errand and my son called to let me know the dogs were already doing their job. He said my granddaughter(who had not met the dogs yet) had reached her hand through the fence ( part where goats were not dogs) to pet Poppit and Tahoe growled. Even later I took my daughter's fiancé out to see the two and I would guess because he was not at the original meet and greet she again growled as did Yukon, but he did his from his corner. I repeatedly told them that it was ok in a pleasant voice. They soon stopped.

At dusk I put the chickens in their coop and I rounded the corner near the goat pen and Tahoe let out a quick bark. Once she saw it was me she laid down. I locked up the chickens and the goat pen and told Tahoe and Yukon to watch they are all yours until morning. When I left goats & sheep were eating, Yukon was in the corner of the barn and Tahoe was watching out over the pasture.

A few picturessorry not so great) Tahoe on the ride home & Yukon and Tahoe laying in the van on ride home. Tahoe watching the goats & sheep and Yukon in the corner. Hoping to get more and better pictures tomorrow. They are both a bit under weight. Monday scheduling a vet visit. Need two shots and Yukon has an infected ear.

 

[goats&moregoats]

Vet visit is scheduled for tomorrow at 11:15 am.

Today we let them off leash in the pen with us in there. Three adults, two of which read dog eyes and body language pretty well. These two are very well trained LGD's as far as behavior. They scoped out the pasture and shelters then returned to me as if to ask if this was what I wanted them to do. Neither one took interest in the goats at all. They came over when I gave the command "here". I just can't get over how awesome they are. Yukon just captures your attention and looks deep into your soul and Tahoe is constantly watching you as if asking you to tell her to do a job.

I am putting the electric fence up on the goat pasture itself as fast as I can. This way the dogs can free roam in the pasture for more then 15- 20 minutes with me still in there of course. I was worried today that they would see that there was no fence and jump the pallets.

Yukon got rammed by my grumpy queen goat. He didn't react at all. Not even a glance at her. Good or bad? I mean I don't want them ripping my goats apart, but should they just not react? Tahoe on right and of course that means Yukon on left.

They are great with the chickens as well as long as chickens don't get to close to their chew bones. Then it's a couple of sharp barks and chickens choose another direction of travel.

Coyote's howling early am and dogs can be heard barking. Tahoe doesn't like the sound of the camera shutter, last picture is her expression when she hears it. Both are very respectful of electric fence and they look at it with utter disgust.

Not sure at this point who is the dominant, but I am thinking Tahoe is. She is definitely the first to the fence to see who is approaching. When I open their gate to go into their portion of the pen they are like all giddy with happiness. Once they see their leashes they get even more giddy and know we are going outside the pasture. They will however sit calmly while I hook their leashes on and won't crowd me to get out first. They are not all over me but will come over to me for loving. I just can't believe how lucky I am!!! I am absolutely totally and utterly in

 

[goats&moregoats]

update: Yukon had his second vet visit. Ear was infected quite badly, 50% better. he goes again this next Monday for a recheck. He was weighed. 871bs, well under weight. Hoping it's just poor daily diet, but taking in a sample for him & Tahoe. She didn't have to go back, but if he is under weight I am sure she is, looks it any ways.

Looking over their paper work: They are indeed brother and sister; litter mates. They just turned 7 in July of this year. No other health issues listed in paper work. In the past they guarded cattle, horses and chickens. Have been doing so since they were babies.

Goats and sheep are finally adjusting to the dogs being there. My Miss Poppit( 10 months) hangs around with them both. Pippy (6 months ) is not bothered by them either. Hazel is still huffy, but getting there. The others will come out of barn and wander around pasture, but avoid the dogs. Will try to get pictures of dogs and goats together.

 

[OneFineAcre]

That's great news.

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I have been following your journal

Congrats on you LGD's! I love pyrs

I'm glad Yukon's ear is healing. Poor baby!

Yukon got rammed by my grumpy queen goat. He didn't react at all. Not even a glance at her. Good or bad?

It sounds good. The dog should yield to the livestock.