Fall Maintenance

It's the time of year, once again, when we have to think about the care and comfort of our beloved barnyard family. My bib overall wearing wonder buns is looking at the calendar and planning the fall maintenance schedule. The barn must be cleaned and disinfected before the temperatures drop, the pastures must be brush-hogged, the fence line must be weed whacked, the girls and boys must be wormed, and hooves must be trimmed. Caring for our herd is a pretty big job. Fortunately, we work together to ease some of the burden.

Monday, we trimmed the hooves of our boys. Trimming the hooves of a buck in rut is quite possibly one of the most unpleasant experiences a goat farmer can have. Currently, we have two bucks. Ace or "Acers" or this time of year, "you stinky bas@#$%!" and Oliver, our Boer buck. Ollie is not the friendliest boy one will ever meet, but he does a nice job standing still to get his hooves trimmed. On the other hand, Ace is a bottle baby and loves to have pats, scratches, and rubs upon you. What makes a billy goat so stinky during rut or breeding season, one may ask? Pee. Billy goats pee all over themselves during rut to release pheromones and attract the ladies.

Our billy goats' beards, chests, and bellies are stained a dirty yellow color from repeated urination. The smell—don't get me started on the scent that, on a still day, smacks you in the face like a stinky, urine-soaked towel as soon as you walk outside. One buck on the property is bad; two bucks are disgusting. Oliver is going to live at our friend's farm in Ligonier. He will have a small herd of Boer ladies to keep happy. However, he can't leave for a month because our friend travels for work. So until Ollie leaves for his new home, we must care for him and make sure he is in good health. Touching the boys anywhere on their bodies is gross. The boys are sticky with urine, and the sticky, stinky substance clings to everything it touches. Once we had finished trimming their hooves, we raced to be the first in the shower. I put our clothes in the washer immediately, not allowing the scent of our dirty farm clothes to touch anything in the house. I love my goats but don't want my home to smell like them.

The little boys, born this year and weaned for several months, have yet to adjust to their hoof-trimming experience. Most of the little guys are small enough to put on our laps. We sit on a bucket turned upside down for the little guys, place them in a corner so they feel safe, and work on their feet from front to back. Everyone did well, but a few were high drama. One little guy was so distraught that he lay in the corner to get his bearings about him for a while when he finished his trim. Once he finally realized he was free to move, he jumped up and screamed as though we were murdering him. It was a bit of a delayed reaction. I was the one who trimmed his hooves. When I trim, I talk quietly to them the entire time, encouraging their good behavior and explaining what is happening. Eric merely rolls his eyes and asks me what the goat says in response. My response is usually a one-finger salute.

A few of our boys are showing signs of the start of hoof rot. Eric has placed the trailer, bedded with a dry layer of hay, at the gate so the boys have somewhere to get off the wet ground. When they are in the pasture below the house, they prefer to hang out at the gate, although they have a nice dry hut bedded down with dry hay to go into in inclimate weather. When the girls are in heat, they don't venture far from the fence line near the driveway. We treated our boys with a thick paste of copper sulfate and gave them a shot of antibiotics the vet gave us specifically for hoof rot. I am happy to report that most of the boys have almost wholly cleared any signs of hoof rot. This year, it feels as though we are always trying to stay one step ahead of some pesky problem. Overall, everyone is healthy and happy.

Caring for the goats is a big job. However, we have such lovely goats that it is a pleasure to work with them. Working slowly, methodically, quietly, and gently is the best approach to making the process as nonthreatening as possible. The Bibbed Wonder finds working with the little ones early on helps them overcome their fears of regular herd maintenance. He has started to put the little girls on the milk stand in the evenings, giving them grain, lots of pats, and murmuring to them. He also picks them up, carries them about, and lifts their feet individually to familiarize them with our touch. Most of the babies respond well to individual attention. Our babies are very friendly, for the most part, so working with them is enjoyable.

As the daylight shortens, the temperatures drop, the leaves change, and the winds turn chilly, it's best to prepare for the upcoming winter before it arrives. Keeping our herd safe, healthy, and happy is worth every ounce of effort. We could not do what we do without our goats. Ensuring their health and happiness is the least we can do to make the lives of such wonderful, selfless creatures the best they can be. On this lovely fall day, stay safe, be smart, care for those who give freely of themselves, and keep washing your hands...especially if working with a billy goat in rut.