Our fainting goat "kids" have become quite adept at "fainting". For those of you who are new to the breed Fainting Goat, this is a genetic condition known as myotonia that causes this type of goat's muscles to stiffen...causing the goat to fall over as if he/she has fainted. During one of these episodes, however, the goat does not lose consciousness. Generally right after birth and for the first few weeks of life, the kids don't faint. As they grow, however, they start to exhibit this behavior. Typically it is a reaction to some sort of stimulation of their nervous system such as fear, startle, etc. As the kids grow and become more physically active and athletic, they "faint" when something unexpected happens to them, such as falling off of a goat house, or, in the case of the picture below, my back.
Sunday morning, our friends Kelley and Donnie came to help us with farm chores. While we were playing with the youngsters, one of Myrtle's doelings jumped up on my shoulders....
and then proceeded to fall off.....
Notice the reaction of our friend, Kelley, when witnessing one of Myrtle's doelings fainting. Don't worry, she recovered quickly (the goat that is) and hopped up after a few seconds ready to play again. Kelley recovered almost as quickly.
Comments
hugz
>^..^<
Kelly