A few weeks ago I received a call from a neighbor who owned a small herd of goats.
The conversation went as follows: “Mary, we have been called to do mission work. We would like to find new owners for our goats and thought of you first… .” Mark went on to explain that he wanted someone “who knew what they were doing” to take their girls under new wings.
We needed no more goats. No more animals. But, could I say no? After talking with my loving partner, we take great strides in making these types of decisions together, we decided we could move the goats to our new barn. We were honored to help.
Why the move to new barn? The girls are pregnant. They are used to being with each other, not my herd. The code of goats: decide the pecking order upon arrival. That simply wouldn’t be a good choice for a pregnant goat.
I’ll openly tell you what my husband said today, “The goats get to live at the new place before we do.” He wasn’t complaining. Neither am I.
These girls are nothing special. If you look close enough you can see their shaggy coats (between winter and spring they tend to look scraggly). Some of the goats are a boer mix, some resemble more of a spanish type.
But these ladies do come with a history. They all produced kids in an embryo program. Yes, they were recipient does for a very well known program.
I am glad they have been retired from their prior position. And, by the way, they were treated with dignity and care. I visited that establishment years ago. I was amazed by the outstanding animal treatment (frolicking kids/spoiled dams), plentiful knowledge, and beautiful animals.
So, we wait for births. The first in the new barn. As the girls definitely came large with kid’s in tow.
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
What a great story, Mary! Best of luck to them in their new (really new) home!!
Diane, the girls did well overnight. I am so glad the move did not send them into labor. It was a chance I did not want to take, but the friend needed help now. It worked out well. On the funny side, they were standing around looking goofy today, as if they were standing in the same position when we left yesterday. Silly animals! I appreciate your wishes of luck!
Enjoyed reading this post! We’re not breeding or selling goats now since we’ve been travelling a lot as of recently to see our family and we don’t trust just anyone to come take care of our animals for us especially ones that don’t know much about goats!
We have a kid that is a junior in highschool that comes and helps us on our farm that comes and watches and takes care of our farm for us.
Amy
That kid, Amy, is certainly learning a lot about animals and helping others. It sounds like a good option for both you and them!
Have a beautiful Sunday!
Yes he is, he is in FFA in highschool right now and he’s been showing turkeys at the fair as well but he’s not doing that this year though.
He’s mostly a horse person though and he’s not much of a cat person though. We also have a college kid that helps sometimes too.
Amy
I love to hear about young people that do constructive things in their lives.
🙂
Hi Mary,
That must make you guys feel special that you are trusted that much to take care of their goats. It all comes from love and compassion.
It’s nice to know there are people out there like you who have the kindness to take such good care of God’s creatures. I’m sure your family will enjoy having them there.
Michael, I do agree with you regarding the love and compassion for animals. I also think some of us were designed for different jobs, mine fell into the animal category. Even as a child, when we visited the zoo, I would ask my family to just “leave me” in the petting area. I am blessed to be able to do what I do in life.
Thank you for your heart-sent thoughts. Mary
Thus begins the history of your new place, a blessing for you and for the goats! Your place will be flowing with milk and soap , plus joyous kids and happy contented goats before you know it ~
Hi Kathy!
I need to now write a story about the escapades of chasing after 4 of them the very next night. You know how it is though, you don’t actually chase a goat. You follow them, act like you really are not looking at them, and you walk at different angles than they do to corral them back. It is a skill, ha ha ha. We went through 4 fields, under (me across) bridges, and then back again. They are safe.
I would love for our place to be filled with all of us soon! The rains have not stopped long enough to dry things out. In God’s time…that is all I can say.
I need to get busy visiting blogs, catching up with my friends, especially you, Kathy!
Oh Kathy, you always say such beautiful things.
I hope the good Lord continues to let me milk and raise goats for many, many years to come. I look at the soap as a product of that love. Happy animals and happy people. If I can do both of those things, then I am satisfied too!
This is an awesome story. Best wishes to the new additions.
We’ve had babies born since I wrote the blog post. One of the gals had quads today. Amazingly, they were on their feet and nursing. Two more goats are still on the maternity list. 11 kids so far.
Thanks, Melissa, we’ve added some extra work to our day. The animals are all doing well. It seems to be a good fit so far.
Congrats! Wow, quads, never had quads here when we were still doing kidding season.
Amy
I just ran across your blog while I was looking for goat milk lotion preservatives, and feel so blessed!! I had an experience today that I would like to share, if I may. I had purchased some Nigerian Dwarf does from a lady recently, and she told me they were wormed. Well one got sick yesterday, so I called her and she came over to my “farm” to help me de-worm her again. After looking around the place, she said to her husband, “We’ve been meaning to go out of town, and now we know someone who can take care of our goats.” That made me feel so good! I am a relatively new “goat lady” (2 years) and to have someone that has been raising goats for 20 years say that she would trust me to take care of her herd really boosted my confidence. I am glad to have a new online resource to go to, so thanks for being there.
Hi there to a fellow “goat lady”!
I’ll never forget the first time someone asked me to come over and assist with something medical for their goats. My internal question was, “Me?” Sometimes we just fit into the job that we love, and others see the fit (as in your case), before we do. I agree, it truly is a blessing.
Come back and visit often. I am slow with postings recently as we are in-between 2 farms, animals, and busy small businesses. My aim is to stay in touch here as often as possbible!
We used to raise Nigerian Dwarf goats and now we raise Mini-Nubians.
Amy
Everything happens for a reason, Mary. It may be a little much right now, but I believe God has a blessing in store for you for doing a small part of helping him reach out to others.
A little too much, and then more…I’ll do what it takes. Thank you for your encouraging thoughts, for sharing them with me.
You can read my blog again now since I figured out how to not make it private anymore.
Amy
Okay, I hope to go check it out soon!
😉