October is on the horizon, the leaves are turning to orange, gold and red. I can hardly believe it has almost been a month since the goatlings arrived.

Bernie through her gap in the hedge
Goats were not my first choice of new addition to the farm. We have been looking into animals that could help turnover some ‘scrubland’ and make it more suitable for the creation of a micro wildflower meadow. Initially I had thought about getting some pigs . I ummed and ahhed, read up on housing requirements ,worked out where they could root, and decided pigs probably weren’t right for us at the moment. All of the planning had sparked a desire to expand the number of species we kept here on the farm. A chance discussion with a friend lead to us discovering that C was probably intolerant to cows milk (ironically).We started on a trial of swapping to goats milk to see if it would improve things for her. Within 24 hours of making the change, C was a much happier child. Coincidence or not, the journey towards our own small herd of milking goats had begun.
Don’t get me wrong, this decision was not made lightly, and it certainly wasn’t a spur of the moment ‘lets- go-and-buy-a-goat’ whim. Research was done, books were read, websites consulted. It soon became apparent that having one goat was not an option. They are social creatures, and should be kept together in pairs. I also found out that different breeds produce different amounts of milk. Some will give you enough to fill your milk jug whereas others will give enough to fill buckets! Toggenburgs seemed like the ideal breed for us. Friendly, amiable goats with an average potential milk production.
Within a few days of starting my hunt I’d found a pair that seemed to fit the bill. A farmer upcountry was selling his herd of dairy goat , amongst which were two 18 month old goatlings. He was very patient with our various questions and queries, and we decided a trip to see them was in order (with trailer in tow, ‘just in case!’) .
The journey to fetch them went smoothly , although it seemed like it took forever to get there. Eventually we met the farmer, and after a few extra questions, a quick ‘pre purchase’ examination and the obligatory paperwork we became the owners of our very own herd of dairy goats. As is often the way the return trip was much quicker, and we pulled back onto our yard before night fall. With out any bother we unloaded the goats and settled them in to their new quarters, leaving them in peace to tuck in to their tea.
Despite not having been handled for over 6 months, Amy and Bernadette have settled into life on the farm without any problems. In fact, if Monty Roberts were to see the three of us out and about he would probably agree we have already ‘joined up’. On walks around the fields, we travel in unison. I speed up, they speed up. I stop, they stop.

join up
When they are grazing they form two points of an invisible triangle whilst I act as the third. I no longer bother with lead ropes when on our sojourns, as I have learned how far they will go from me.

Amy does ‘tricks’ for food. Bernie does not.
Ash and sycamore are favoured browse, bramble leaves are an ‘if we must’ snack. Apples are snaffled, and cereal mix is rationed as they would gorge on it if left to their own devices.

If they could, they most definitely would. And then they’d regret it.
My favourite part of getting to know a new animal is watching their individual personalities unfurl. These two are like chalk and cheese. Amy is gregarious, happy to bask in human company and follows me around like a faithful Labrador. Bernie is fiercely independent. She’ll go, but only when she wants to. The other morning we walked the boundaries of the croft, a large field above the farmhouse. Bernie found a gap in the hedge, and picked her way to it, snatching mouthfuls of browse as she went. I called her away, and she followed me as I continued the walk. We crossed through into the adjacent field, and Bernie shot off ahead of me, and bounded back through that gap. She knew exactly where it was, and she wanted to cross through it. No amount of cajoling or coaxing could get her back through. In the end I gave up, and started to walk into the middle of the field. Fortunately amy followed, and reluctantly bernied hopped back through the hedge, and joined our train.
Having said that, I do have my uses.As far as Bernie is concerned they are limited to scratching anywhere she can’t reach and providing food that she can’t reach.

One of my uses
The eventual goal is to get the girls to milk, which will require them to have kids. I have started looking for a suitable Billy to, erm, ‘enhance’ the herd, and I can’t wait for the pitter patter of yet more tiny hooves. It will mark an exciting new chapter in the farms future. Fresh, pasteurised goats milk anyone?! Not to mention cheese…and soap!!
I’ve always loved the idea of having a goat, even more so since discovering goats cheese. I think it’d be a while before we’d brave that though as still getting to grips with chickens!!
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Chickens are on my list of creatures that will enhance my life 😁 Are they a lot of hard work?
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I adore them! They are so amusing, as soon as you open the door they’re there waiting for you to give them food. And they follow you about all the time – like your goats. So far they’ve been very low maintenance and they’re definitely worth the effort 😁
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To be very honest…I find them a wee bit intense. They seem to have a glint in their eye, like they know too much! But we’ll hopefully give them a go.
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How brilliant!! I love goats so much, although the farms we visited, the goats always liked to butt my dad 😂 Looking forward to hearing more about them! Dara ☺️
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Thanks dara! My previous experience of goats has been nibbly and butty goats , these
two are quite well behaved!
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Another use for your goats, fortune telling. A rand blog that came up on my recommendations. Goat Guidance http://wp.me/p3Ca1O-4Fh
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I saw that too! have to actually read it now. These goats will pay for themselves yet!! (jokes!)
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Goat keeping sounds like fun (although I’m sure it’s hard work too). I like how they follow you round the farm.
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I adore goats over the years and have had 3, all with very different characters. Hopefully soon we might get some more for our smallholding. Many thanks for adding your lovely goats to #AnimalTales and I look forward to reading about goat kids sometime next year!
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Thanks Rosie! They are definitely full of character, that’s for sure. Thank you for hosting the link!
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Would love to have some milking goats!! One day maybe! 🙂
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