New Goat

When we first got the goats a year ago, my goal was to keep them alive for one year.  I figured if I could do that, then I would have a chance of taking things to the next level.

Well, our break-in period of keeping them alive for a year is over.  It's time to take things to the next level which is to start breeding them.  We took the first steps last week by trading and old fridge for a billy goat.

The difference between the billy and the does is pretty striking.  He's a lot more muscular in the shoulders and has a lot bigger horns.  He seems pretty gentle though.

From 2012-10-16

Were still trying to decide on a name.  So far we're looking at Thomas, Scooter, Tumnus or, if I have my way, Goldie.  

From 2012-10-16

When we first put him in the pen, the two Nubians, which are the same breed, wanted nothing to do with him and basically ignored him.

However, Little Momma (a fainting goat) was very interested and immediately went over and started nuzzling him.  Little Momma knows how to get her man.  .

From 2012-10-16

I was out on the bulldozer doing some trail work last week and every time I drove by I kept getting irritated at how the cedars had taken over this nice little meadow.

There's some real nice grass and moss that's slowly getting choked out by all the cedar.  After about the third pass, I decided to take a right turn and start plowing down the offending trees.  It was pretty satisfying to push them into a big burn pile and free the meadow from these invaders.

From 2012-10-16

However, the field looks like a war zone now.  The nice thing is that once I clean it up a bit, nature will take it's course.  The grass will regrow and low level greenery will bounce back rather quickly.  I'm hoping to do a little more work on it and bulldoze the remaining dead trees and push things back to where the hardwoods start growing.

If all goes as planned, I should have a nice open area to plant grass, which will attract deer and turkey as well as having a meadow that's pleasing to the eye.  It'll be interesting to see the 'after' shot in about a year.

From 2012-10-16

The pond keeps filling up little by little and seems to be holding the water with no major leaks.  November is supposed to be pretty rainy, so it'll be interesting to see if it completely fills and if it does, what happens when it overflows.

I'd also really like to figure out how to get the water to clear up.  I think the problem is that the runoff that fills it mostly comes down a muddy road and other than graveling the road, I'm not sure what else can be done about it.  I keep hoping the mud will settle out, but so far, no luck.

From 2012-10-16