More of the Herd

What is that?

Dolly

Rub-a-dub dub, it’s Dolly in a tub.

This just proves that goats and tubs are like cats and boxes.  Mr. Peacock isn’t technically part of the “herd,” but I just had to share him.

Glover and Jack took their turn in the tub with Haley beside them.  They all really like hopping in there and napping.  I came out one time and Onyx was in it with her boy.

Glover, Jack and Haley

The June kids on the picnic table.

Top: Jack Middle: Ivy, Sunshine, Lemuel: Bottom: Glover and Pretzel

I’m going to say that the llamas are a part of the herd.

Maybeline coming up from pasture in the evening

After all, they are here to protect the goats.

Aurora

I can’t believe how big the spring break kids are getting.

Jasmine and Aladdin, Pluto, Chunky with Cinnamon, Caroline and Purl behind

Perdita is still not happy about being re-weaned, but at least she’s going out to pasture with everyone and not sitting around crying now.

Popcorn is still sweet and cute. He’s a good boy.

Popcorn

So is Myson.  I still think it’s funny how he likes to stand up on top of things and watch over the rest of the herd.

Myson

The two bucks seem to like my tarp tent.  With the hot weather we’ve had again, it has been nice for them to be able to be under it and catch a breeze.

Xerxes and Freddie

Sometimes, Lemuel and Jack like to hop up in the cattle tank (it’s empty).

Lemuel, Sunshine, and Pretzel

They really are silly.

Too Smart

Goats are the smartest of the barnyard animals.  They are too smart for their own good.  Once again, Moose has opened the pen and let the birds out and the goats in.

Moose

I even put a chain around the gate instead of the twine I had been using.  I don’t know if I didn’t get it slipped on properly or if he pulled just right for it to come out.  I’ve added a carabiner. If that doesn’t work. I don’t know what else to do.

Again, if they get too much grain, it will kill them.  The next morning Purl had diarrhea.  That’s a good thing. It indicates her body is still moving and isn’t blocked.  As of yet, nobody else has shown any signs.

Purl

The hens just went back in.  They are also pretty easy.

obviously, we’re molting

You might remember this is also how I lost my other peacock.  Thankfully, this one is pretty calm.  I grabbed his entire full tail (if you grab just one, he’ll let it out) and worked up to his body so I could pick him up.

nice long tail on Mr. Peacock right now

I am ready to strangle smart goats.  Between him and…

Things to Do

I long ago figured out I’ll never be caught up on the farm, but I do keep trying to make improvements and at least move in the right direction.  There are several things on my need-to-do list for this summer (preferably this week).  I already had the weed patch where the magnolia tree used to be on my list.

There’s actually a lily blooming in that mess of weeds

Since we had rain (a glorious rain) on Sunday, there’s still more yard work.

Honestly, I’m still trying to clean up from the derecho also. I could stand there and just watch my yard turn back to green from the brown it had been.  And I finally got me a push mower, so I can try to mow under the plum tree and lilac bushes and closer to the fences.

Of course, I’m still checking my pregnant goats.

Sidney

Sidney and Moira are both due this week.

Moira

I also still need to clean the bedding out of my garage.  I’m embarrassed to admit it’s still there, but it’s been a hectic spring.  I know. They all are, so that’s no excuse.

Anyhow, I’m milking Astra, and she is giving me enough that I have to do something with it, but not enough that I want to jump into cheese making mode yet.

Astra

That means I’ve been freezing it in cubes.

I don’t have a lot of soap left, and it’s been ages since I  made any.  Between the farmer’s market shutting down and the pandemic shutting everything else down, I put that on the back burning.  Now that I have milk, it’s time to make soap.  Hopefully, people will buy it.

One of the first things on my to-do list is making something with the cherries from my tree. The tree might be finally recovering from too many years of yard goats.  I’m thinking jam.

One thing I’d like to have on my list is fixing my chicken and peacock pen.  The top on half of it is ripped up and still has a huge limb from the derecho hanging through it.

I’m sure Mr. Peacock and the hens would like to have this space back.  And my free-range hen would probably like to get back over there so she can sneak out and free-range again.

I just don’t even know how to go about fixing it.