JestersEye
Exploring the pasture
We got two pygmy goats for our boys to show in the 4-H, about four years ago. (I grew up with chickens and ponies and wanted them to have some "farmyard" experience, also.) We got two black wethers from two different breeders in PA, and named them HyJinx and BlackJack.
Unfortunately, we lost BlackJack to Urinary Calculi when he was only 7 months old, so we had to get a new herdmate for HyJinx. After one failed attempt at a replacement (the new wether died after owning him for only two weeks, probably due to Coccidiosis), we finally succeeded in finding him a new pal, which we named Gambit.
We love owning wethers because they make such great pets! Ours get along with all of our other animals... I swear they actually think they're dogs, too! They come running up to the fence to greet us when our car pulls in the driveway, and we've even seen HyJinx carrying a stick in his mouth. We got a horse and chickens about a year ago, and the goats didn't bat an eye about sharing the yard with the new arrivals. In fact, they're as happy as can be to have more food to try to steal!
They have recently escaped a few times, but luckily the neighbors have been great about the curious critters when they go visiting. They do like to push against the fencing, either to scratch themselves or to test their limits, not sure which. HyJinx is the real character, and he seeks out attention from people. He's a bit of a nibbler, and comes over on his own; while Gambit shies away somewhat. I think the breeders must have handled 'Jinx more as a baby than Gambit's breeders did. They are really funny to watch when they play together, sometimes!
Unfortunately, we lost BlackJack to Urinary Calculi when he was only 7 months old, so we had to get a new herdmate for HyJinx. After one failed attempt at a replacement (the new wether died after owning him for only two weeks, probably due to Coccidiosis), we finally succeeded in finding him a new pal, which we named Gambit.
We love owning wethers because they make such great pets! Ours get along with all of our other animals... I swear they actually think they're dogs, too! They come running up to the fence to greet us when our car pulls in the driveway, and we've even seen HyJinx carrying a stick in his mouth. We got a horse and chickens about a year ago, and the goats didn't bat an eye about sharing the yard with the new arrivals. In fact, they're as happy as can be to have more food to try to steal!
They have recently escaped a few times, but luckily the neighbors have been great about the curious critters when they go visiting. They do like to push against the fencing, either to scratch themselves or to test their limits, not sure which. HyJinx is the real character, and he seeks out attention from people. He's a bit of a nibbler, and comes over on his own; while Gambit shies away somewhat. I think the breeders must have handled 'Jinx more as a baby than Gambit's breeders did. They are really funny to watch when they play together, sometimes!
