I need to update the “farm” roster. Last count was June 2007 and there have been many changes since for better or worse.
Goats: We still have the same 7 from last count which is good. However, during that time, we’ve lost 2 babies. One was born with a curvature of the spine so it couldn’t stand on its own. We tried to help it by splinting its back legs with popsicle sticks and considered making a frame to keep it straight and upright, but it was just too much to overcome. The other was left behind by a young mother and eaten by something bigger. And it doesn’t take much to be bigger than a baby goat. Out of the womb, they’re about the size of a small adult cat. We still kick ourselves for that one because we didn’t take more initiative by bringing it back to its mom or taking it inside for some TLC until it could fend for itself (Just the thought of a baby goat in our living room cracks me up). It can get a bit discouraging when you lose one animal after another. I was reading today about some other newbie goat tenders who encountered the same issues so I know it’s common, but it still makes you sad. The hopeful news is Big Mama goat just had two babies! One is very strong and healthy, walking and nursing in a matter of minutes. The other is a definite runt. As of sunset, she/he was still not up and nursing. If there’s no progress by sunrise, I guess we’ll be nursing a baby goat in our living room! So goat count is anywhere between 7 and 9 TFN.
Horses: Well, two! Beautiful and Brutus. Still not up to riding, but beautiful to see wandering around the property.
Donkey: Sonic! Awesome goat herder, alarm and protector when something’s just not right in goatland. He has already played “Lassie” when Topsy goat was stuck in a wire. He actually tried to pull her out. And he played nursemaid when baby goat with curvature couldn’t stand. He would go and try to push up her butt with his nose to get her to stand. Truly a sensitive beast.
Chickens: Oy. We’re down to nine. On Sunday, we thought there were ten, but somehow there are only nine now. And we get one egg a week from a stealth chicken who we have yet to identify. We still haven’t gotten any new chicks yet which was a high priority, um, that was before the donkey and the horses. They are now tops on the list again…until something else comes along, followed by dairy goats.
No other new members. Cats and dogs holding strong at current numbers although John has his eye on a puppy down the dirt road with a black patch over his eye. I know I’m going to come home one day to find it in the kennel and John swearing there was nothing else that could be done. At least there’s plenty of room.