[Texas.girl]

Monday we delivered our twin Spanish wethers to their new home, leaving us with only 4 goats. Our plans are to keep these 3 does and 1 special needs wether and purchase some dairy goats. Our plans have temporarily been put on hold because Tuesday morning our queen, a Boer doe cut her leg pretty badly (right above her dew claw). She was taken to the vet and we have been nursing her back to health but until she is eating normally and functioning better we do not want to leave her alone all day long.

Anyway, it has been interesting watching the other 3goats. Before selling the Spanish wethers we had problems with the herd going to forbidden areas, like the neighbors land, so far away on our land we could no longer see them, etc. So our usual pattern was as soon as we noticed they were missing we would call them home and using a treat convince them back into the goat enclosure for the rest of the day. This week we have not had that problem at all. Our Queen, Lawn Mower, spent the first part of the week locked in the goat enclosure with us bringing her food. Yesterday (Friday) was the first day she showed any desire to even venture out of the goat enclosure to graze but then would return to rest. We keep finding the herd resting next to her if the gate is open and nearby if it is closed and they are outside. No one has gone where they are not supposed to be even though the 3 do graze all around the house. I am now wondering if Lawn Mower has been the ring leader in traveling to the neighbor's land or far from the house.

Yesterday evening I opened the front door and found Lawn Mower resting on the porch.

 

[ksalvagno]

That is funny. Sounds like she may be the culprit! I hope she gets better for you quick.

 

[Trickyroo]

Awww , poor LawnMower !! Prayers for a speedy recover
She looks adorable curled up on the porch
How funny is that , lolol She has been the ring leader of your traveling herd
How is Sport ? I loved seeing pictures of him , such a sweet boy :hugs:

 

[Texas.girl]

Today is the first day Lawn Mower has made a real effort to graze. She takes frequent rests but then will get up to graze again. Before today she had very little desire to eat.

We had to go run an errand this afternoon so I made a fruit salad to convince everyone to return to the goat enclosure. For the first time all week Lawn Mower tried to hog both of the long metal feed troughs. In between them is the shelter so it took a lot of limping to get from one to the other, but she tried.

Sport is doing fine. When Lawn Mower refused to leave the goat enclosure to graze, he seemed a bit confused as to whether he should be inside our outside the goat enclosure, but finally decided to go out and eat.

 

[nancy d]

Naughty naughty Lawn Mower! She sure is cute though, how can you resist that sweet face?

 

[HoosierShadow]

Yep sounds like she may be the culprit,haha. That, or the others just don't feel secure not having the boss lady with them.

She looks like she is saying 'Hey, your interrupting my beauty sleep,' haha. Silly critters.

Glad to hear she is trying to get around, hope her leg continues to heal quickly.

 

[Texas.girl]

I have also noticed no one is eating on the back side of the house, where the dog happens to be tied up and loves to chase goats. Lawn Mower is not afraid of the dog and has challenged her. The dog respects Lawn Mower. Normally the herd will graze behind the house, everyone but Lawn Mower keeping their distance from the dog. Clearly Lawn Mower is in no shape to stand on her hind legs and tell the dog who the boss is (back leg got cut), so she probably wants to keep her distance too.