After living in a rickety old stallion shed for years, the goats were finally treated this year to a brand new "palace," complete with two stalls, gutters, and a portico (goats hate to get wet). We also extended their lot into the woods where they could feast on honeysuckle and pine tree bark. Unfortunately, our wizened old goat, Billy, didn't live to see his new pad. After a bout with a respiratory infection, we had to put him down in the spring. In his stead, though, Iris and her brood, Walter, Ivy, and Lily, are enjoying playing lawn and leaf mowers, and in Billy's honor, Walter is trying his horns at butting. We also have two new additions to the herd--Donny and Little Larry (who, like Walter, are affectionately named after characters from The Big Lebowski). Donny and Larry are Nubians, a dairy breed--and my favorite, but they had the bad luck of being born male. Though obviously not useful as milkers, they nevertheless found a job as herbicides at Walnut Grove Farm--and were thus saved from the roasting spit.
Powell tearing down the old goat shed
Mike building the new goat pen
The new goat pen!
The goats munching in the woods
Donny and Little Larry
Donny
Little Larry
The goats together
Good old Billy in the old goat shed
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