Meet The Goats Monday: Introducing Fauna

Welcome, dear reader, to another edition of Meet the Goats Monday. This week, I will introduce you to our sweet girl, Fauna, aka Twin. Fauna was born during our very first kidding season. She was one of a set of identical twins. We welcomed Flora and Fauna to our herd eight years ago. Sadly, we lost Flora several years ago. She was a sweet girl whom we worked very hard to save, but sometimes, one cannot beat death. The twins are daughters of our dear girl, Boo, whom we lost last August to barber pole worm and liver flukes. Fauna is the last to remain who looks like our Boo girls: reddish-brown with white ears and white markings. 

Miss Fauna has always been very quiet, very shy, somewhat aloof, and the most reserved in the herd. She rarely approaches us for snacks, scratches, or love. She prefers to stay on the outskirts, watching everything with a watchful eye and quiet judgment. Although she received more attention than the average goat when she was small, she prefers to keep her distance from us and most of the herd. 

Fauna is often found close to Dot. Dot seems to be Fauna's preferred friend. Although the girls have very different personalities, they balance each other out. Fauna rarely plays with anyone, but she does enjoy the occasional pushing session and head-butting session with Dot. The younger girls seem to annoy Fauna, and the babies don't interest her unless they are her own. 

Fauna does appreciate the occasional animal cracker, but she does not feel the need to push her way into the chaos for a treat. Although she is one of the oldest in the herd, she is usually in sixth or seventh place in the pecking order of the milking parlor. When it is my week to milk, I usually pull her in first or second. I feel she deserves the recognition and respect. The girls do not appreciate my interference with their social caste, and often this leads to a bit of turmoil. 

While on the stand, eating and being milked by our small milking pump, Fauna seems to enjoy being brushed. However, when out and about in the barn or the field, she will nonchalantly walk away from any attention offered to her. She will quietly observe us from the fringe of the herd. If anyone gets too close to her, she gives them a hearty push to tell them to leave her alone. 

Since her sister passed away and her mom and grandmother are gone, she tends to be even more of a loner than before. Even though she is a loner, Fauna is one of my favorites. I can appreciate wanting to be left alone, sitting quietly and observing those around me. She is me in goat form, I suppose. I often seek her out to offer her a special treat of apples or goat treats. Fauna prefers apple slices and anise-flavored goat treats. She enjoys quiet time and her friend, Dot. She does not like chaos, bananas, or little goats who do not belong to her trying to nurse from her. She does not like pets, scratches, or being brushed. She does stand quietly off to the side, judging the other girls for what she considers their idiocy. 

It takes all kinds of personalities to make life interesting. Fauna makes me wonder what she is thinking. I enjoy this introverted, standoffish, mildly judgmental girl. She is the calm in the storm. When I want quiet companionship, Fauna is my girl. It makes me smile that she looks so much like Boo. However, her appearance is where the likeness ends. I simply accept all my girls for their unique personalities and have no expectations for them. They are perfect just as they are. 

I hope you have enjoyed meeting my sweet but quiet girl, Fauna. She is a blessing to the herd and lovable in her own way. The next time you are out to the farm for one of our events, look for Dot and Fauna. Dot will create the chaos, and Fauna will sit quietly, observing. 

On this September Monday, stay safe, be smart, I hope you are enjoying reading about the girls, and keep washing your hands.