Geriatric Farm

Leo is really showing his age. He is nineteen.  I think he’s having seizures.  I talked to the vets, and they said it is not uncommon at his age and having had diabetes.  Sadly, there’s not a lot they can do, so I just am trying to keep him as safe and comfortable and happy as long as I can.

Leo

I’m not sure how much longer I can do that.  My poor boy.

I also have lots of old goats.  When I expanded my herd, it was not a well thought out plan what would happen when I retired all those goats.

Stormy

I have some that I am not sure will make it through the winter, even though we’re almost past winter.

Penny

After losing Clover this weekend, there are eighteen who I expect to lose in the next three years just because of how old they are.

Clover

I keep babying some of them with the insulated building, heat lamps, and extra feed.

Cookie (front) and Maggie (back)

Hopefully, when real spring and summer gets here, they’ll rally and enjoy themselves again.  But I can promise there will be a lot of good-byes in the next few years.  Just remember all the good times and don’t be sad for me.

Clover Blackboer

Clover is one of the goats who has most struggled with the copper deficiency.  It’s impacted more of her kids than any other goat on the farm.  I thought I was going to lose her last spring after she had her babies, but she did manage to recover.  This winter has been hard on her, and she’s lost weight until I finally added her to the greenhouse a few weeks ago.

Clover and her twin sister, Coral

This morning, she was really weak, and I knew it was time to say good-bye.

Clover Blackboer

I will miss you,  Clover.

Old Ladies Together

Since I sold the bucks, I spent yesterday afternoon trying to get everyone moved where they need to be before kidding in March.  I took the old ladies from the Love Shack and easily led Margarita, Maggie, and Cookie to the greenhouse.  Chiffon and Marge snuck in while I was dragging fat wethers out.  I’ll leave them for now, but I might have to kick them out if I need more room.

Cookie, Margarita, Maggie, Marge, and Chiffon (with Sidney on this side of the gate)

Harley was another story.  I had to drag her.  I don’t know why she won’t walk.  Dragging is so hard on her back.  I even tried bribing her with peanuts.  I finally got her into the greenhouse too.

Harley

Then I brought Pistol and Antigone from the garage.  The weather was fairly warm today, and it is supposed to be fairly warm tomorrow, so I figured there wasn’t going to be any better time to move them.

Pistol

Margarita greeted Antigone in typical goat fashion–fighting.

Antigone and Margarita (with their moms, Pistol and Maggie watching)

Finally, I added Clover.  She spent the night in, but she wanted out the next morning, so I let her.  I’ll keep an eye on her in case I really need to put her back in the greenhouse. You can see that I have a heat lamp in there (the circle in the doorway).  Actually there are two in the building.  That will help it stay a little warmer.

Antigone, Clover, and Pistol

Maggie has claimed this lamp for herself.

Maggie

I thought about adding Dolly in there.  She’s seemed tired lately.  I don’t know why.  She did go in, but when she didn’t find sweet feed, she wanted back out.

Dolly

They have all the ameneties they need in here.  It’s a heated water bucket, sweet feed delivered every day, and lots of hay.

Pistol

I also gave them a sweet lick bucket last week.  I figure anything to encourage them to eat is good.

Maggie

They like it.

I also want to apologize for the post I accidentally published this morning.  I meant to hit save.  It will be coming later in the week.