R.I.P. Galloway

It is with a very somber and broken heart I write tonight, Galloway passed away quickly and very suddenly tonight. He was out enjoying the beautiful sunny day with the rest of the herd and as night fell he went in the barn as usual to let me know it was time for grain and bleated like usual. A short while later I asked my son to go close the gate and it was him that found him alive, but so very near death. I did what I could think to do my husband tried mouth to mouth but to no avail. He slipped quietly away with all of in tears around him. We have no idea what happened and ask that you please allow us to grieve without offering suggestions or coulda, shoulda, wouldas. This is a tremendous shock and great loss to our family and I appreciate your understanding in this matter. We are simply devastated. Thank you.

Plans for Saturday?

We'll be at the Windsor Fairgrounds on Saturday to participate in our first dairy goat show. This show also includes a Jr. and Sr. Buck show and Galloway has been entered. So if you're in the areas and have nothing else to do and want to come cheer us on pop in, bucks show in the afternoon!

Love

featuring our rockettes... or maybe the rockgoats...

All three mommas.... 

I have to say I think this is a pretty cool shot. I was just hanging out in the pasture with them the other day and they came over to visit and Galloway came over for a nap. Spice never strayed too far from him, but did take the opportunity to catch up on some grazing since both her babies were together and in one place. Yes, when ever I am in the pasture, yard, vehicle, woods or walk away out of her sight in the barn after milking I am scolded because I too am her baby I'm guessing because I take her milk. Silly goat! In fact Bridger was out there with us and I had him come over and lay down near us and Spice was NOT happy about that, she snorted and stomped her feet then head butted him in the shoulder. She was on duty and was not going to let her babies be gobbled up by a big black goat and human eating ginormous monster! Poor Bridger, he jumped about a foot into the air and wondered what the heck had just happened then looked at me like" Mom! I didn't do anything, I was just laying here taking it in and wham!" I felt bad. Spice hasn't cared for him since arriving and the thing about it is he has never showed any aggression towards any of them. That being said the other goats have gotten used to him and I'm sure she will too.

We're just shy of two months away from Venus kidding (it's twins!) and while she was eating her grain last night Faith and I were watching her belly and could see the babies moving and kicking like crazy, watching her face light up in delight and discovery was worth everything  I do to make this place run.

Since Venus is having twins (and already starting to waddle like a penguin) and Spice already has two babies to take care for, I wonder what she's going to do when there are two more babies within her radar. hmm, should prove to be an interesting summer!

sometimes it's by choice...

Most of the time family is family by blood relations, and for the most part that typically works. Other times it's simply a matter of choice. For these two it's choice. Since the day Galloway arrived Orange Spice has taken to him like a duck to water. There is no biological reason for the two of them to have bonded so closely other than because they have chosen to. I cannot imagine any other way to be than to choose to love, for no other reason other than because you can. I'm glad my herd feels that way too.

Photo credit: Ron D.

hangin' out with my boys

Love

Taken yesterday morning, after Galloway was finished eating. I think we have another lap goat, like Buckley, and that is just fine with me.

Good Morning from our herd to yours!

Galloway's Kingdom

Lots of stuff going on here at the farm recently and some of the big plans I had for this year are not going to work out for several reasons, I'm disappointed but at the same time totally fine with it. Sounds weird huh? Cannot explain it.

Our herd has grown and will have two more sets of hooves arriving at the end of June! Spice has taken a whooping from the older does and what a trooper she has been. I think a week and a half later she's finally been accepted or at least now she's tolerated. I think this because she's allowed to lay down and rest with the rest of them. That made me happy, I think Orange Spice did too, look at that smile!

She seems to have adopted Galloway, not in a way that allows him to nurse or anything like that, but I think her maternal instinct kicked in when he arrived and she seems to be looking out for him. To the point that she hopped the fence dividing the herd to be with him last night and in doing that made her udder extra full! I found that to be interesting. And sweet.

 Galloway met his herd and was sniffed and sniffed and sniffed some more. Way too much butt sniffing for me but it did make me appreciate the fact that I'm not an animal and that humans don't greet each other that way!

Then he came back to me where he knew it was safe, then Orange Spice came to check him out and I think that's when she decided he needed proper looking after by his own kind and since she seemed to be the only one capable of doing it that it was henceforth her job, period.

Katie is really not sure what to think of him, though knowing Katie it's likely something along the lines of, "Haha good luck buddy!"

But really, look at him! He's SO handsome and should likely prove to be a wonderful herd sire.

 Babies and animals always love my husband; Galloway is no exception, he had quite a snooze up there then Venus walked over to whisper sweet nothings in his ear. I'm thinking that went along the lines of, "Thanks for letting the future king come live in his kingdom. Ahem and by king I mean goat king.... ;-)

Things are really hopping her at From the Country Farm!

Meet the Cast - Galloway

This is Galloway, he's our up and coming herdsire and yes, he really is that adorable! He was born at the end of January and if everything goes well will be fathering our next generation of Nubians! He's amazing and with the lineage of  milk and conformation our next generation should be stunning!

Katie like to ride in the truck..

She likes to hop up into the cab of the truck (because I don't have a cap and it's COLD; too cold to ride in the back, here in February) and stand between the rear seat and the back of the front seat or lay down on the rear seat or stand with her head in between the two front seats. Usually on the way back from not playing nicely with the buck she'll rest her head on my shoulder and make her sweet little Katie noise. This was my last shot this season with her and once again she didn't co-operate. UGH!

Maybe we'll have more co-operation and hopefully some success with Galloway! This him at 4 weeks and I am SO pleased with his growth and confirmation! Really looking forward to having him here and hopefully get a little black doe out of him next year!