Goats?
As all of you know the name of our company is Everything & The Dog and so, from time to time, my sister - Lydia or my Mom, will come home smelling really strange.
This morning, Lydia came home stinking to high heaven and she smelled like --- you got it ---- GOATS!
It seems that one of our clients has three Pygmy Goats and they require care from time to time. I don't much mind the fact that she stinks --- my big worry is that she and my Mom think it would be a good idea for one (or more) of these creatures to come and live in our home.
Lydia reasons that because Pygmy Goats eat Poison Ivy plants, then we need to have them here because we have a lot of Poison Ivy on our property and Lydia is highly allergic to it. I suppose this is good reasoning, but I have to tell you, it is a pretty awful thought to think that I might go outside and find a goat living here.
Because I am a Boy Bloginator, Pit Bull Reporter Extra Ordinary, I always like to check my facts on Wikipedia, because so far they haven't told me anything wrong and it is nice place to get information.
Here is a picture I found of what these little beasts look like:
These particular goats are in Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo, so Lydia says they are considerably fatter than the ones she is caring for. However, I am sure you get the idea.For comparison purposes.... they are about my same size, and this is an even more terrifying thought than the fact that they may be coming to live here. I am to have wild, stinky goats living in my yard and they are the same size as me? Oh Dear. This is not good.
Being the good reporter that I am, I wanted to start with the basic explanation about these scary creatures:
A pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, pygmy goats are not typically used for milk or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. Pygmy goats tend to be more robust and breed more continually throughout the year than either dairy or meat goats. They are also sometimes kept as pets in urban or suburban backyards, depending on local regulation of livestock ownership. The pygmy goat is quite hardy, an asset in a wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates.
Here is some more interesting information:Housing and care
Pygmy goats are adaptable to most climates. Their primary diet consists of greens and grains. They enjoy having items to jump on and may be able to leap onto small vehicles. They are also in need of a shed and open area accessible at all times. They also need a companion that doesn't necessarily have to be its own species. They are prey animals and should therefore be sheltered in a predator-proof area -especially at night. Goats require fresh water at all times or they won't drink it. Pygmy goats are often affectionate if they are treated with respect. They can also be trained, though it requires quite a bit of work. It is important to make sure pygmy goats are comfortable and warm during the wintry months, when cold weather is abundant. Simple measures such as feeding pygmy goats luke warm water and luke warm food, as well as ensuring their living quarters are free from draughts, can make pygmy goats a lot happier during the winter.
All of this information is very helpful if you are contemplating acquiring some goats for your own property, but PLEASE, can you tell my Sister that I would not be comfortable with them living here?
We aren't called EVERYTHING & The Dog for just any old reason, and I do appreciate the fact that we are able to care for lots of differnet animals. Over the years, my Mom and my sis have cared for many exotic things. But here? I have to draw the line.
If you have something strange living in your home, will you tell me all about it? Not that I would want to invite anything home, but still I would like to know.
Love and Licks,
Bob
Boy Bloginator Pit Bull Reporter Extra Ordinary.
------------------ Please! No goats in our yard
When it comes to farm animals, goats are my favorite. I never had any myself but once had a neighbor that had them and they would get out of their fence and into the yard. They followed me around the yard. Just had to be careful with the bigger goats as they could butt you pretty hard.
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I need one... to hang out with the chickens I can't have... Moosie might be scared though. Jean Luc could bite their ankles and Tara and the cats could salivate.
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Hey Bob- Don't sweat the "small stuff" - be glad they are at least only pygmy goats! Only kidding - but there is definitely a silver lining to this cloud. We've got 2 mini-donkeys here (Mona & Lisa, retired breeding Jennies who are themselves mother and daughter) and at first my three dogs were furious devil-dogs when the Donkey Girls arrived - barking, snarling, snapping at these long-eared intruders. But then they discovered the glories of the MANURE PILE! Heaven on earth, or so they tell me. They view these droppings as fresh-baked brownies, and even appreciate them at this freezing time of the year when they are frozen solid - like many treats that are good when fresh, they can be even more delicious when frozen. Think of the Milky Way bar, for example. So don't judge those goats by what they appear to be, but think of them for what they can potentially provide for your gourmet pleasure - I know you are a picky eater and this may be just the appetizer you need to spark your appetite!
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