Moving on.

Even though it just happened a few days ago, we have very little time to locate a companion for Vanessa. Goats are herd animals and being alone isn't their thing.  At the moment she has 5 chickens and a few humans to keep her company but from what I've read that isn't enough for goats.  She needs a buddy.  Luckily it's spring and all the goats are giving birth.  Lisa at Sonrisa Farms (where I got Gregory and Vanessa) said she has angora's that will be ready to go soon.

But do we want to stay with Angora's?  Maybe we want to try another breed? I've been looking at Saanens and La Mancha's lately, I've read they are mellow and friendly.  I had been looking at Nubians because they're so cute with their noses and ears, but everyone says they are very vocal.  Can't have that in the neighborhood.  I  really like classic goat look of the Saanen.  If we get a doe we could one day breed her and then do the whole milk & cheese thing?  I suppose there is more to do with goat milk?  I've sent out some emails to some local La Mancha and Saanen breeders so we will wait on their reply.

Saanen

La Mancha

Nubian

Metal Goat

That metal goat looks more like sheep though.

Tragedy

Yesterday was a sad day.

Gregory has died in a freak accident.  His horn tangled up in his feeder and he hung himself.  To say that we are sad is an understatement.  Gregory was just warming up to us and I really shaken up by this loss.

Better than a swing set.

Our five and a half year old loves spending time in the animal yard with the goats and chickens.  She spends hours outside everyday.  Playing with the animals, rearranging their "furniture", building nests & castles for the chickens, feeding them all treats, singing them songs. Bringing the country life to town was the best thing we could have done. My husband said "its better than a swing set." And that is so true.

Leash training

It's been almost 6 months since Gregory & Vanessa have come to live with us.  I've slowly gained Gregory's trust to the point where I could grab his cheek hair and have him hang out with me. Today I finally got a leash on him and let him explore a bit outside the pen. He seemed to enjoy himself.

An important step in building our relationship. 

Haircuts!

Vanessa & Gregory got their hair sheared today!  This is their first shear while living with us and their second ever. They did great. Those shearers sure make it look easy.  

They look so silly all naked.

I now have two large trash bags stuffed with mohair...now I need to learn how to spin.  

Caught: egg theif

The chickens started laying eggs recently (we got them as day old chicks in July)...and then one day there weren't any eggs.  I went out to the yard yesterday & I caught a big fat goat crawling out of the chicken coop!  Egg yolk dripping from the culprits chin! Gregory has been stealing eggs from the chicken coop, that rascal.

We have blocked the door with a log so it is chicken sized...and now egg production is back on track. 

Dos Cabras: Our Goat Story

In July I was at a neighbors house having coffee and I saw the book Urban Homesteading: Heirloom Skills For Sustainable Living on her coffee table. I started flipping through the pages, mildly interested in the information inside.  When I came to the chapter Life is with Creatures and saw pictures of goats living in urban neighborhoods I was sold.  I borrowed the book and began researching City Goats...

Come October I brought my first two goats home.  Welcome to Gregory and Vanessa, the Angora Goats.

Gregory

Vanessa

It seems that most people who keep backyard goats do so for the milk and cheese...I decided to go the fiber route and located an Angora Goat farm here in town, Sonrisa Family Farms.  I hope to learn to spin and one day knit a little something with the mohair we collect.