Breeding Groups

The last few years, it seems like the goats have been on their best behavior for me getting them put into breeding groups.  Not this year.

Xerxes and Joani

On Wednesday, I managed to get all but Antigone where they belonged after a ridiculous amount of work and chasing goats and bribing with food and having some fat wethers and Pretzel constantly in my way. I might have broken numerous fingernails, broke a blood vessel on the palm of my hand and smacked myself in the forehead with a cattle panel. But I got everyone where I wanted them!

Antigone

Moose, Myson, Pretzel, and Casey

Well, I did also adjust where I put Hera because she jumped over the fence somewhere in the process, and I decided she’d be more likely to stay up north.

Hera running from Freddie

I will say Benji and his girls were the easiest.  Benji just followed Freddie into the buck room and stayed there while I led Freddie out and shut the gate.

Benji is so cute!

Then, I just had to drag the little girls across the barnyard, and they aren’t as hard to drag as a big girl.  And Chiffon came in the milk room without me even having to drag her!

Benji, Venus, 2TC, and Chiffon

Anyhow, Thursday I finished the process by getting Antigone where she belongs, so Xerxes has: Antigone, Zinnia, Joy, Hilda, Daisy, Athena, Penelope, Margarita, Ava, Astra, Cutie, and Joani.

Ava, Xerxes, Penelope, Margarita, and Hilda

I also put Caroline in with Xerxes, but she was on my “Do I? Don’t I?” list, so I didn’t give her a shot to bring  her into heat.  I guess I’ll just see if she comes into heat or not.

Caroline

Freddie has: Flora, Aphrodite, Purl, Cupid, Hera, and Bubbles.  I was actually going to put Hilda in with him again, but I was too tired to drag her that much farther across the barnyard.

Freddie, Aphrodite, Purl, and Bubbles

Benji has: Venus, Chiffon, Trace, and 2TC

Benji checking out Trace

And I’m going to go out on a limb and call Bubbles the first one due for spring break kids!  Freddie’s going to have a hard time getting to Purl if she stays up there.

Purl, Aphrodite, Hera, and Bubbles

Hopefully, most of them will come into heat.

Too Hot to Fight

We were rather warm Saturday, but I thought I’d try letting Cutie out of the north paddock. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I mentioned that I had her up there after weaning her girls because she was thin and needed some extra help.

Cutie up north with Perdita

I let her out when I fed the goats, and then I figured they’d head right back out to pasture.

Cutie is feeling better

Instead, I ended up with a brawl.

Cutie, Ava, and Caroline (all Sam babies)

Look at that face.  That is a face with a mission to fight.

I decided to put Cutie back up north because they would not leave her alone.

Ava ready for another round.

This explains why I can’t lead her daughter anywhere.  She apparently learned the drop down and just make her drag you technique from her maa.

Caroline was actually a bit helpful at this point.  She bit Cutie’s butt and pulled some fur out which made her get up…for a minute.

Seriously.  I finally got Cutie back up north, but look at how hot and exhausted she is.

The other two still wanted to come fight.  They stood on the other side of the fence to harass her.

Caroline, Ava, and Cutie

Of course, they were panting the whole time.

Don’t look at me like that. I told you it was too hot to be fighting.

I don’t know why on earth the thought they had to fight in this heat, but it’s just too dang hot for that.

Ready to Work

My bucks are ready to get to work.

Xerxes stalking Caroline along the fence

Freddie is such a sweet boy, but I have no desire to give him any loving right now.

“Come closer; I want to kiss you!” -Freddie

Freddie checking out Gemma

I’ve been trying to plan for next year’s kids.  Can’t believe it’s already time to start thinking about that.

Penelope

I think I mentioned that Reva is retiring this year, and Maisie is also retiring.

Maisie

I am excited to see what kids I get from Benji.

Benji

I actually have a spring break from work next year, so that will make things a bit easier.