More Moving Goats

The cold broke just in time for the weekend.  That’s good because I needed the three days of cold (as opposed to brutal cold) to make a couple more adjustments in where goats were located.

Zinnia finally came into heat and got bred, so she and Joy could go back to the main herd.  Honestly, I was also looking forward to going back to milking in my nice warm milk room instead of the garage.

Zinnia

I also hate having goats alone, and Freddie was by himself.  I needed to put him and Xerxes together again.

Freddie

The only question was where and how. I really didn’t think the two mean bucks should get the warmest accommodations on the farm when I have old ladies who are struggling with surviving the winter.

Victoria shivering after the last cold snap ended.

So Saturday morning I decided to trust that Xerxes would just follow me through the barnyard to the north pen.  But I always move bucks when the rest of the herd is out in pasture, and that isn’t going to happen for another six weeks probably.

Myson, Chiffon and Moose–no reason to go out in the snow

I got just a little corn and went to the west side of the barnyard and tossed it around.

Rosie and Tansy searching for the last kernel.

All the goats but Coral and Dolly ended up over there.  I tied a panel across the barn door and just left those two girls.

Dolly and Coral on the east side of the barnyard

Xerxes is such a good boy (As long as I don’t try to touch him)!  He followed me right out the garage door.

He did pause by the little gate into the barnyard because my dog was going crazy barking at him.

Sky

But he decided grain was worth walking past a barking dog.  Then he went right in the north paddock.  He and Freddie acted like they hadn’t been separated for the last two weeks. Thank goodness because I’m tired of fighting goats.

Xerxes and Freddie

Zinnia and Joy followed at a more cautious pace.  They were disappointed they didn’t get grain too, but they got it at milking time.

Joy and Zinnia

Then I wrangled Flower over to the buck room.  She really dropped weight during the last cold spell.

Flower

She was followed by Coral.

Coral

Then I brought Victoria over.

Victoria stopping for her snack in the milk room

The nice thing about the buck room is that it is an insulated room in and insulated building.  While we’re cold, I just shut the door, and their body heat and a heat lamp will keep it nice and warm.  This really is the only chance for Flower to make it through the rest of the winter.

Victoria, Flower and Coral enjoying the sunshine.

I decided to leave Antigone in the Love Shack with the three little bucks because she can’t get stuck in there, and the boys are all three good to her.  Frodo tries to play with her occasionally, but it’s not like he’s being mean to her.

Antigone

And she’s not getting stuck. So, unless I had to move any other goats into the buck room, this was the arrangements until further notice.

Time to Breed

Well, it’s time to make June babies, and, boy, do we need to make a lot of June babies.  I think only seven girls settled for spring break.

Pretty sure Antigone is due for spring break babies

This is the second year in a row I’ve had very few settle for spring break.

Astra didn’t settle; Perdita curled up behind her

Even Trace came back into heat, and that never happens when it’s going to be an oopsie baby.

Trace and Pluto

Anyhow, I have to figure out where to put my three bucks and which girls they are going to get with them.

Margarita

I can say, I think I’m going to put the two little bucks in the Love Shack with Flower.

Lemuel before the move

It’s kind of nice that she’s a freemartin because I don’t have to worry about her being around bucks.

Ice, Snow, and Hay

With the layer of ice in pasture and another dusting of snow on Wednesday, I’ve begun feeding hay.

a dusting of snow on her back

It’s greatly appreciated.

Dolly

I did also decide to shut Flower in the Love Shack.  She had lost quite a bit of fur with the copper deficiency, so she’s a bit cold with the turn in the weather.  Hopefully, it will get grown back in quickly with the copper I gave her.  In the meantime, she has room service.

Flower

Rosie (and Pretzel) are such assertive little girls, they have no problem getting in there with the big goats to eat.

Rosie

Freddie is having a harder time.  I swear, since I lost Fionn, Xerxes has become a jerk.

Freddie

I just make sure I put hay in lots of places so everyone can get some.

Daisy

Wanda’s “leave me alone; I’m eating” look.

This is also the time of year that I am very grateful that I have electricity to all of my buildings.

Zinnia

I guess I’m as ready as I can be for the winter weather.  That’s good because this weekend is looking brutal cold.