We didn’t mean to buy dairy goats. Honestly, we hadn’t even considered it.
Our plan was to raise a couple of baby goats, wethers-to-be, with the hopes that they would help us maintain some of our property. The more we read about goats, the more we started thinking that dairy goats might be just the thing for us. But not really, we weren’t really going to get dairy goats. It was just fun to talk about it and pretend. I started reading all about the most popular breeds, just out of curiosity of course. Based on pictures alone, I knew I didn’t want those funny looking goats that appeared to be virtually earless (LaManchas). But as I continued to research, and moved from photographs to actual words, I decided that hypothetically speaking, were I to acquire some dairy goats, I would want those funny looking LaManchas. They just kept being mentioned as sweet, quiet, curious. Someone wrote that once you had LaManchas, you would always want LaManchas. They are also the only breed of dairy goat to have been developed in the U.S. Since I wasn’t going to get any to begin with, it seemed safe to deem them my desired breed. I thought they might be a nice antidote to the loud mouthed Nubian cross babies we were already planning to bring home.
We ended up bringing home the dairy goats before the babies. It all started with a Craigslist ad. There was no photo, just a description. I called and spoke with a teenage girl who was selling a couple of almost one year old LaMancha doelings. She had raised them from babies, but didn’t have enough time to devote to them anymore. She emailed me a couple of cell phone pictures and we soon came up with a plan for us to drive out and meet them.
We ended up driving two counties over to meet the girls on Ash Wednesday. I didn’t think we would actually bring them home considering that we didn’t really have anywhere to put them besides the chicken coop. I thought we’d be home in plenty of time for the evening Mass. We took the front seat out of the van and squeezed all the kids in the back two rows in order to bring a large dog crate, just in case. We stopped at the ATM for cash, just in case. I could hardly sit still and practically bounced up and down on my seat the entire way there. The closer we got the more hyper I became. Jonny just laughed at me.
We arrived at our destination and pulled in. We could see the two girls in a small nearby enclosure. They had been living in this temporary pen for many months, and while their owner had meant for them to have something larger and more permanent, it hadn’t happened yet. And now, with college looming, she was just trying to find them another home.
Jonny and I told the kids to all stay in their seats so we wouldn’t frighten the goats with a family stampede. As we approached, both girls walked right up to the edge of the pen to meet us, friendly and curious. They seemed huge to me and I was struck with a small wave of panic at the thought of bringing them home. Suddenly, adding goats to our life seemed very intimidating. We waved our kids over and visited with the goats for a few minutes before heading to our next stop. There happened to be a nearby LaMancha farm and the owner of the two doelings had arranged for us to visit, to speak with someone with more experience with LaManchas and dairy goats in general. When we arrived, I was the first to enter the main barn and spend some time with the adult does. Some of them were huge, and most were really friendly, coming right up to get attention. I didn’t really know what to think, I was kind of thrilled and kind of freaked out. This farmer also had lots of LaMancha babies and they were so adorable that I thought that Jonny might want to get a couple of them instead of the big girls. I also thought that he might decide against the whole scene, which would have been okay with me because I was totally chickening out.
After our visit at the farm we headed back to the home of the two doelings we had originally driven out to meet. I was prepared for Jonny to say that we should just go home without any goats, and I would have been okay with that, I think. The kids were all in the backseat shouting and begging to get the goats. We parked and got out, instructing them once again to stay in the car so we could talk without their super loud input. I looked up at Jonny and said, “So what do you think? What do you want to do?” He replied, “I kind of think we need to rescue them.”
Okay, then! I exchanged a fat wad of cash for registration papers, and mere minutes later there were two goats in my van on Ash Wednesday. We went to Tractor Supply instead of Mass. I don’t know what to say about that.
Actually, everyone was starving so Jonny dropped me off to buy the goat supplies while he took the kids to get something to eat. I walked in that store and my mind went blank. Everything I’d been reading in the goat books left me. All I could think was that there were two big goats in our van and I had no idea what to do with them. After pushing a cart up and down the aisles for awhile, I finally approached an employee, feeling like the most irresponsible goat owner there ever was, and I was only half an hour or so into it. I stuttered something really clueless sounding along the lines of, “I have these two goats in my van, and I’m not sure what to buy for them.” Rather than treating me with scorn for obviously being the most irresponsible, reckless, bad all around goat owner there ever was, he responded with something like, “You’ve got goats in your van? That’s great! How cool!” His enthusiasm was contagious and helped me to calm down a little. I managed to put the proper items into my cart and buy them. Major feat.
And it is just getting better and better every day. I completely adore these goats. I feel a little loony in that I’m having a sort of “where have you been all my life?” experience with the goats in general. Every day we take them (the big girls and the baby boys) on a long walk. We call them Goat Walks. Usually, the whole family goes along, one big herd. It’s the best part of my day. We walk with them all over the property, and they alternate between munching onion grass and frolicking around the way that goats do, making us all laugh at their antics.
Despite the fact that the barn and fencing isn’t ready for them yet (Jonny’s broken collar bone slowed us down), the girls are doing really well. The chicken coop and hen house are a big step-up comfort and size-wise from what they were living in before. I can’t wait until we can move them into their new home (soon, I think!) but in the meantime this is working.
Their names are Agnes (the black one) and Greta (the brown one). Agnes is my favorite. Greta is my other favorite. The babies are cute too and of course I love them, but Agnes and Greta are my favorite favorites.
I think we are up to 37 alpacas and about 6 or 7 crias due in the next few months 🙂 I love each of them the most and I couldn’t imagine what my life would be like without them. We have been walking the show alpacas the past few weeks on leads. They are just too much fun. I can relate to the joy you have for your goats 🙂 Just don’t get 37 of them or else you might get a bit exhausted (I promise) 🙂
Oh, I love this! We have two dairy goats (Nigerian Dwarf) does both pregnant for the first time and I’m freaking out at the thought that these two goats could turn into 8 goats in just four weeks! And the birthing part is freaking me out too. And then there is the milking and oh my, so much to learn!
I’m swooning, over the goats, the goat walks, your photos, your humorous description of the process, everything!
I have serious goat envy! 🙂 Glad I can live vicariously thru you and your family.
Tractor Supply instead of Mass? I’d say Amen to that!
The goats are so adorable, they’re all my favorites, too! Love all your pictures and really love the posts about goats.
This just makes me so happy for you. Your family is clearly a goat family. It’s destiny.
The cat and goat stand off is fabulous!!!!! Life goes better with goats. not doubt about it.
This post is wonderful! I grew up with Saanens … There were three of us kids (at the time – two more followed) and Dad and Mum did the maths and realised that drinking our own goat milk would be a lot cheaper than store-bought milk. Between eight and 18 I milked a goat every night – it was a beautiful way to grow up. And I still have such a love for goats (they are so intelligent and often gentle – although some Saanens can be very sassy). A few years ago I was volunteering as a missionary with a Catholic community and they really became like a second family. I had moved on but they asked me to come back and serve with them again and one said, “If you come back, we promise we’ll get you a goat!” (This was in the inner-city in Sydney, Australia.) When I did decide to return they were really going to get a goat but I said not to, because I knew it wasn’t the right time – so instead they bought me the most random but also awesome modernist painting of a goat.
I’ve just discovered your blog recently, and this is the first time I’ve commented – I’m just so happy to read about your goats, and to say “hi” through this post. Wishing you and your family a very blessed Holy Week and Easter!
Ginny, recently Anna at the Pleasant View Schoolhouse blog said coyotes killed four of her goats – be careful. I don’t know the particulars.
Does the kitty like them?
What a great story! Sometimes you just have to jump in, huh? (I spend too much time pondering instead of jumping in these days, so I am envious!) And I *love* the picture of Agnes with the cat…and of Job having a boo-boo kissed! So sweet. This was a lovely little tidbit at the end of a long day for me–thanks!
Oh, and thanks for the link on LaMancha goats…I was expecting some link to the Quixote, but alas, no! (However, you could chase some good windmills with these goats…!)
Agnes and Intruder will eventually be friends 🙂
My mother also got two baby goats last years, they grew up at the country, at my grandmother’s, got pregnant last fall and now they each have a baby, a boy and a girl. One of the goats had a difficult birth, my grandmother who assisted her cried helplessly, bot all was fine in the end.
I’m happy for this addition to your family, and looking forward to read your adventures!
I sooo love your site!
yes, you should write a book, I would definitely buy it.
No matter the subject.
Oh my gosh they don’t have ears!– Maybe you could knit them some, the kids could help them play dress up!
Oh Ginny, this is probably my favorite blog post from you, ever!! I loved reading about your goat adventures, and now I want goats too! And, BTW, I totally think you should write a book.
How sweet that one of the older children made the little one’s booboo better. And I love the picture of the goat and kitty getting acquainted.
How sweet that one of your children made the little one’s boo-boo better! And I love the picture of the goat and kitty getting acquainted!
Here’s the thing, if we weren’t living in the midst of suburbia, we’d probably have livestock…..Husband has been talking about an alpaca or llama farm. I think he’s forgotten that we live in suburbia. Of course, I’d be on board with that (spinning alpaca fleece? yes, please!).
I do like goats, though. They’re cute 🙂 And they eat everything 🙂
Our neighbor has goats and they are a riot! We spend many hours just watching them be silly. It cracked me up to see your goats going for a walk and not running away from you! Smart goats…they know to stay with the people that will care for and love them. Enjoy!
Munchies really are the very best goats ever! Sweet lap goats if ever there were any.
Now you’ve done it. I’ve been trying to resist, saying that four dogs, five cats, and a few precious chickens is enough. (I don’t want to talk about the naughty mini horses.) But my sweetheart would love some goats to munch the blackberries and make us laugh, and we do have the empty house attached to the barn now that the chickens live in our garage so that I can tuck them in at night…
We are looking at two properties tomorrow that could probably accommodate goats. I don’t know if my husband can handle that though! We are in retirement mode….I also can enjoy them vicariously through your blog….
The picture of Agnes and the cat is unbelievably sweet. 🙂 I’m so glad it’s all turning out the way you hoped. Love your pictures.
I love this story!!! Family stampede…so totally relate!! One question, do goats house train? I noticed that you had some pics of them in your house, which I love, but was wondering if you had house trained them. Love watching your family adventures!!!
“Jonny and I told the kids to all stay in their seats so we wouldn’t frighten the goats with a family stampede.”
We have 8 children; this was one of my favorite sentences in the post. I can relate! We frighten grown people with the family stampede! 😉
“We frighten grown people with the family stampede!”
Isn’t that the truth!!!
I love this goat story. The best part is that now I can live out my own farm dreams vicariously through you. Thanks for that!
What a great story! The best part about you getting goats is that now I can live out my own farm dreams vicariously through you. Goats were on our radar once, but I think we missed our window of opportunity.
What a wonderful post, Ginny. This made me smile! There’s a lot of love there for those cute little goats! I love that you all go on Goat Walks together. I want to go too!
“Are you sure you won’t want dairy goats, Ginny?” “Oh, no! We’re sure.”
Or, maybe not quite so sure. 😉
I love that you found these sweet girls for your family. We’ll have to compare milking notes soon!
Love, R
Ha ha ha!!! I love you, Rachel!! You made me brave!
sounds like a real gift, these goats and the walks! 🙂 and love those pictures! :))))
Your herd is beautiful! Walking with goats is also one of my favorite things to do. I just love watching them eat, especially the way they eat thorny things like blackberries.
I got 2 goats for Mother’s Day last year. Now we have 4 goats. I am crazy in love with them. I eat a pint of fresh homemade goats milk yogurt every day. Their milk is super delicious and they make me happy.
Just wait until you are milking your girls, you will enjoy them even more! By the way, you might want to switch collars, either to plastic link collars from Hoegger’s, or cheap dollar store collars with plastic snap latches instead of metal buckles. That way, if they get hung up on something (goats are very good at finding ways to injure themselves), the plastic will break and set them free. Nylon and metal buckles are very hard to break. I always figure I would rather replace collars frequently than have one of my goofy goat friends hang themselves. Do you have a catalog from Hoegger’s yet? If not you’ll love it – nothing but goat supplies!
Yes! I didn’t understand why the only ones labeled for goats at Tractor Supply weren’t safety collars. I didn’t have a good experience with Hoegger’s, but If I had, I would have had the plastic chain collars many weeks ago (I placed an order and after a month finally called to see what was going on–a couple items from my order were backordered and they hadn’t emailed or contacted me to let me know and were just sitting on my order. I know it’s a busy season, but still…) I am expecting an order from Caprine Supply this week though, with the chain collars!
I am a Heidi and yes we have had goats…..how could I not with a name like that? Our kids are grown now and we have a yard that’s not quite large enough but I loved the years we had them. Since I can’t and you do, please tell us stories often so I can relive it through your family! Loved your whole experience!
How timely! My daughter thinks her uncle (that naughty brother o’ mine) is taking her to a goat sale on Saturday. I was wondering what they should come home with. Maybe a pygmy? Now if only we had a forest to walk them in.
I love the pic with job’s booboo being kissed.
This is so adorable. I just love it. It would make a great chapter book for kids.
I raised goats as a girl and absolutely loved them. I wish we had some land so I could again raise them for my family. They are such happy creatures, very useful and really very clean. Congratulations! PS: my girls were named Agatha and Colleen.
“All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voices now and sing” Alleluia …
Seeing your nature walks and your creatures just moves me to sing this song.
Thank you Ginny
See you soonish
Bonnie
such precious names! Our are Alice and Eliza Jane (Farmer Boy). I love to call “Aaaaaliccce” in the morning, and she comes running to be milked. Eliza’s next and she comes running. Goats are great and naughty.
My husband ask me the other day what people do that don’t have animals. I have no idea. It’s amazing the joy and entertainment they bring us!
Oh, I love this! All your goats are my favorites, and Agnes & Greta are great names. Thanks for sharing this story, it made me smile.
A lovely post to read at the beginning of my week! I think God will be ok with you caring for some of his creatures instead of going to Mass. It would be lovely to have such space to roam (as I look out a window across the fence at my neighbor’s back porch …sigh! Oh well I was lucky to grow up on a farm & dream of space maybe some day!
That’s so sweet! I love how they have become such an important part of the family! I don’t know anything about goats, but it looks like these have definitely found the perfect home!
I giggled all the way through this. Of course you didn’t intend to buy any goats…
When a shepherd dies, someone is to tuck a lock of wool in their pocket or hand so when they get to heaven God will know he or she was a shepherd and that’s why they didn’t always make it to church :-).
Oh, I love that!!
Well written! It makes me want goats! Do you plan on milking these goats?
The plan is to breed them this fall and start milking next spring!
What a wonderful thing to do, its on my wish list along with a small holding, chickens and donkeys.
love it. thanks for sharing. love those photos….
So great–can’t wait to hear more goat stories!
Love how you tell your real life story Ginny! What a great idea to do your daily “goat walks” with the whole family. You are Heidi all grown up!
Love your story Ginny!…and the pictures are fantastic. I thought that looked like onions coming out of the baby goat’s mouth. I’m so glad you and Jonny rescued the goats!