On The Subject of Housebreaking Goats......

So often when I talk of our goats,
I talk about our fainting goats.
We have a second breed of goat, though...
our Nigerian Dwarf goats.

Two years ago, we started out with a pair of pregnant does, 
Star and Ash...
 
Pregnant, these two were half the size they are today.
Today they look pregnant all of the time (which they are not).
Rotund, is what I would call them.

Star, with blue eyes....

Her sister Ash with brown eyes....

Two springs ago, Star gave birth to this little sweetie pie, Stella...
Stella, held by my friend Sheryl-lyn.
who morphed into this gal, today....
Adult Stella
Star also gave birth to our Spider, who was the friendliest of all
the kids...
Jenn with Spider.
And, like all adorable kids,
Spider grew up....


Ash had tri-colored twins.
We kept the little girl, Audrey.
(Tawdry Audrey)

Today, Audrey looks like this...

I often get the question...
"Could you house train a goat and keep it inside?"

The answer to that would definitely be
NO!

Unlike dogs, who search out a location to do their business
and then perform that deed;
goats, on the other hand just perform the deed as they go...


dropping goat berries everywhere they walk.

This is especially evident in the winter time,
as they leave well marked trails through the snow.
Funny, they always use the same trails...
which become darker and darker as the weeks after a snowfall pass.


Goat berries are good fertilizer and don't need to be cleaned up.
Thankfully, because I cannot imagine what a manure rake
for goat berries would look like.
Perhaps like a huge comb.

They also make wonderful houseplant fertilizer 
and have next to no odor.
I would be happy to send you a box if you desire....
(kidding!.....not sure if the Post Office would consider that a hazardous substance!)

PS....a few of you expressed the desire to see more photos of our 200+ year old log cabin.  I have a few that I took during the summer months. You will find these photos on the sidebar to the right in a slideshow.

 There are two rooms on the first floor and stairs to the second floor.

Two bedrooms are on the second floor with stairs to an attic above.  It looks as though there might have been a porch with a roof at one time, however that no longer exists.  This house sits on top of a spring...hence the slatted door on the ground level.  The spring drains out beneath this slatted door and down to our pond. 

This area was heavily populated with Native Americans in the days in which this house was built.  Having the house on top of a spring gave the settlers the ability to drop a bucket to the cellar to get their water, without having to go outside and risk contact with hostiles.
We have had the house shirred up and re-chinked a few times in order to preserve it.
Amazingly, without plumbing and just rudimentary electricity, this little cabin was inhabited until the mid 60's!
I would love to turn it into a little colonial tea house, but we are too rural to attract enough clientele.
For now, it provides a bit of storage space and is a picturesque landmark.

Comments

Margie said…
My hubby often wonders what I'm laughing at at 6:00 in the morning ... your blog! It gives me my morning giggle! Thank you!
I agree with Margie, I always get a smile from either you or your animals. Enjoyed my visit this morning.
I agree with Margie, I always get a smile from either you or your animals. Enjoyed my visit this morning.
This N That said…
Very nice history lesson..I had forgotten most of that..Guess I won't try to steal one of the new goaties and bring it home for company for Max and Mollie
Suzan said…
Thank you for posting the log cabin pictures. The history that this cabin has seen and been through is would make a great book!
JC said…
Loved reading about your goats. I always say that if I had a farm, I'd get a few. Your old cabin .. could you get it listed as a historical site ?
Bee Haven Bev said…
JC...we never looked into that. I honestly think it might just be the oldest structure in the county.
If only they could just stay a baby. We had twin goats once. We lost both. It was heart breaking. The vet told us that they had a genetic problem. The breeder was advised to never breed the two same goats again. This was very heartbreaking to my then very young children. Some day maybe I will try raising a few goats. Til then I will enjoy seeing & hearing about yours Blessings!
I forgot to mention your cabin in my last comment. It is a beautiful cabin. what a lovely stair way. These old structures have so much beauty. I think it would be fun to add a few together & make a home of them. The cabin & your grounds would make a lovely setting for weddings. You could be a wedding host. Blessings!
Loved your goatie poo post. I can remember growing up my friends and I would chuck frozen goat pellets at one another. Looking back, what were we thinking? Ewwww. LOL!!
Heather in PA
Journey11 said…
My little daughter and I just ooh'd and aww'd over your darling goat baby pictures. We can't wait to have some goat babies of our own!
Anonymous said…
Goat berries translate to beagle treats. sigh. unfortunately, that would mean that my future goats would need to be kept separate for the dogs. bummer!

Betsey
Bee Haven Bev said…
Dear Betsey,
Fear not....goat berries never hurt beagles!! My dogs say they are yummy!!!
Dogert said…
Hahaha well that's a bummer, I've always wanted a pygmy goat to keep in the house like a puppy... :P Maybe a diaper would work? Great post.. Too cute!
Katmom said…
Hey Bev,
If you ever decide to go for it & open a Tea room in your lovely old Log Home, let me know,,,I'll gather up all my tea pots, tea cups & vintage linens and bring them over to you....
Hugz.
>^..^<