Confessions of a Tired Goat Person

Pony · #1 05/10/10, 09:01 PM

I yelled at Trub this evening.

The wind is howling today, and it's been unrelenting. Between that and the rain, I've been just about pushed to the edge. And of course, the worst of the storm happened AFTER Nick went to work.

After replacing a door panel on Trub's shed, I had to go and rescue the chickens, whose house pretty much blew away in the wind. (We have to get the barn done NOW. THIS WEEK.)

Anyway.

Trub was feeling very vocal this evening. I'm trying to transfer my laying hens to a chicken tractor, my guineas took off and I think they're lost, the ducks are freaking out... and Trub is in full voice.

She set off the kids.

The kids set off the buck and the wether.

I'm listening to what they probably think is a lovely harmony of goatie goodness, and I just lost it.

I charged over to where Trub was standing on the fence, with her goatie mouth WIDE open to really project her voice, and I asked her, "LADY, WHAT IN THE WORLD IS YOUR PROBLEM????"

She looked at me in shock.

"GO TO BED!!" I bellowed.

She turned away in a huff and went to her pallet.

"AND STAY THERE!!!"

I looked at Beaux and Clark. "Do either of you have a problem, buds?"

They looked at me as if to say, "No, no, no problem at all... just gonna head into our little bachelor pad here... g'night.... "

I feel like a heel.

Good thing Trub is a forgiving sort of goat. I think I'll bring her a marshmallow and a few raisins tomorrow morning when I go out to milk her.

Minelson · #2 05/10/10, 09:12 PM

We are getting high winds and rain too...I feel like a heel because all my outside critters were only given the basic care today and no extra attention because I didn't want to deal with the weather any more than I had to. The goats were very antsy and made a total mess of the barn. Everyone acted like they hadn't had food in weeks....even though it looked like 2 weeks of poop in there.
I'm sure Trub is sleeping soundly, dreaming of nicer days ahead

General Brown · #3 05/10/10, 09:18 PM

I certainly hope she forgives you.

ChickadeeL · #4 05/10/10, 09:20 PM

I bet tomorrow will be much better.

shiandpete.1 · #5 05/10/10, 09:22 PM

No wind here but waiting for the 2 feet of snow to arrive (yes you read that right) and that is when everyone will act up.

where I want to · #6 05/10/10, 09:34 PM

I have a dog who will bark nonstop when I shut her away but she can still see me- somedays I can deal, somedays I can't so I know how you feel.
Luckily for me, it mostly rains around here. And you know what goats do in the rain- go huddle quietly in their sheds.

Alice In TX/MO · #7 05/10/10, 09:35 PM

I totally understand goat frustration. I have two does that I pen at night so I can have the morning milk, then I turn them in with the kids. This morning I discovered that the LaMancha had forced the Mini-Mancha doe to stand outside in the rain all night.

I was VERY angry. I milked her last instead of first.

thaiblue12 · #8 05/10/10, 10:37 PM

I too am so tired of the wind! It is blowing again today and I just hate standing out in it. It gives me a headache and it blows sandy dirt into the goat water buckets and they of course will drink that yuck. It does blow away the goat berries

but that is the only positive.

I hope the snow stays down in your part of CO, I see 3 days of rain coming but no snow. If I see a single flake I will scream.

Trub will forgive you and I bet she would love a marshmallow

shiandpete.1 · #9 05/10/10, 11:17 PM

Thai-it appears that your area is going to get the most out of this storm. Better out your short goaties in the barn or you might have to dig them out of the drifts..lol

Pony · #10 05/11/10, 08:58 AM

Oh, Alice, I'd have been fit to be tied if any of my goats was shut out in the rain!

This morning was much better. Even though I had to muck out the sheds (oh, man! Wet goat poo, after they walk through it and mix it with the bedding -- such a fragrance!), the wind has died down considerably, and everyone is much calmer.

Trub seems to have forgotten my outburst, but the buck and wether were VERY polite when I went into their pen to feed them. LOL!

ozark_jewels · #11 05/11/10, 09:30 AM

Oh, you are so not alone. This year my usually darling old Crystal is being a snot. Stands at the gate waiting to be milked, then when I call her name, turns around and heads the other direction. This has been going on for 4 months now........

If she wasn't nine years old, I'd be tempted to sell her. If she wasn't such a good producer I would dry her off.......Oh the frustration!!!
*hugs*

thaiblue12 · #12 05/11/10, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shiandpete.1

Thai-it appears that your area is going to get the most out of this storm. Better out your short goaties in the barn or you might have to dig them out of the drifts..lol

No, no, no, no NO!!!

I better not see any snow, it is MAY and it is suppose to be Spring and I do not want it. I will pass and take the rain Thank you, lol!!
I have had to dig paths plenty of times and then the goats stick to the path, forbid they should get a tiny bit wet. Plus they act like they are starved and rush me in the snow.

Pony the boys are only pretending to behave, they are lulling you into a false sense of security

QoTL · #13 05/11/10, 11:10 AM

(((hugs))) I have my moments like that, too.

Especially when I'm trying to do some everyday, mundane task and the goatie girls turn it into a darn circus.

The worst though is when I try to sneak in late night barn visits, just to check on everyone. The goats will start yelling, which sets off the roosters every time, and the noise is crazy. I whisper, "guys, it's 2am! Quiet down!"

Do they listen? Nope. MAAAA! RR-A-RRR-A-RROOOO. MAAAA. The nubian sounds like a cow. BLAAAAAAAA!

wintrrwolf · #14 05/11/10, 02:18 PM

Sorry just had to...know what your feeling and dealing with ...was nasty last night and been so tired with taking care of the sick puppy. And Sugar is such a bear sometimes when it comes to milking....

Pony · #15 05/11/10, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wintrrwolf

Sorry just had to...know what your feeling and dealing with ...was nasty last night and been so tired with taking care of the sick puppy. And Sugar is such a bear sometimes when it comes to milking....

LOL! Weather bad in your part of MO too, eh?

Sugar... Bear.... SUGAR BEAR for SUPER SUGAR CRISPS!

ozark_jewels · #16 05/11/10, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

LOL! Weather bad in your part of MO too, eh?

I think the weather was bad all over MO last night.

Heritagefarm · #17 05/11/10, 03:07 PM

If you don't let the goats know you're boss, then they will get out of line....

susanne · #18 05/11/10, 03:09 PM

it is bad here today. i can go swimming outside. so much rain and cold too. yuk

Pony · #19 05/11/10, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

If you don't let the goats know you're boss, then they will get out of line....

Right.

You've obviously owned goats for a long time, eh?

LOL! <snork>

ozark_jewels · #20 05/11/10, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heritagefarm

If you don't let the goats know you're boss, then they will get out of line....

Animals are just like children, they keep testing their boundaries. Difference is that children eventually become adults and grow out of it. Animals never do and will test their boundaries all their lives.
I am the boss and they know it, but that doesn't mean I won't have to prove it all over again tomorrow.