Tips for Preparing for Winter

This is always a tough and hectic time of year (for me anyway) and any help is always welcome.  But I decided to get my tips from a expect on the subject, Strawbaby.  She is the hardiest goat out of my herd and definitely prepares properly.  So without further ado, here is Strawbaby!     

Hhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
Hhhhheeeeellloooooooooooooooooooo!
I love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!
Ok, now that I greeted you properly and have your attention, this is a very important topic after all, I will commence with the operation.  Oh!  I mean treats. 

Now treats are lovely and yummy.  I prefer to eat them all.  Never let one go to waste.  Carrots, and grain, sunflower seeds are the best, then orange peels are sufficient, bananas are heavenly, lettuce is so good, and then there is spicy radishes, Oh! and kale is so good!  But don't eat the beets!  I warn you about the beets!  

Oops, sorry, my mistake.  Tips about winter, not treats for winter.  Ok, then.  

Tips:

1. Eat a lot.  

This really isn't just for winter but extra important over winter.  You need your energy to tackle the cold weather and the grumpy goats who will be locked in with you.  Eat plenty of kelp too!  It taste good and I know in my inner self that it is good for cold weather.

2.  Don't fight over the food.  

This uses up calories and you need calories to build your insulation.  Insulation is good.  It will insulate you and keep you warm.  Go stand at the last hay bin and wait to be fed.  If goats are fighting over the best piece, don't believe them.  It isn't any better then your piece and while they are fighting over quality you will be eating the quantity.

3.  Grow a lot of fur. 

 I mean a lot.  The more fur you have the better off you will be.  Don't be like Coco who barely gets a good fall coat and has to be blanketed in a artificial coat.  Long hairs for protection and small fluffy hairs for warmth.  Many much cashmere girls come on!  Now building fur takes nutrients so eat up and eat plenty.  You need it to build your fur.    

4. Make lots of milk.  

You don't need it but who ever is getting it does.  They need to get round and insulated for winter too.  So don't hold back.  And you can't make milk if you don't eat and drink.  So eat and drink lots.  The best water is fresh so drink the most right after your water is filled up. 

5. Get plenty of sleep.

You can't do anything if tired.  Eating is a lot of work and can only be accomplished if you are at your best.  So relax, chew your cud and drift off.  A soft cozy nest is a great advantage to pleasant dreams so take some time to find the perfect spot.  

6.  Think thankful thoughts.  

Be positive.  Winter can be bleak and being locked up against the cold with grumpy goats can be wearing and can even chip away on your sanity.  But don't give in!  If you practice being thankful now then it will be easier for you to be thankful though the hard months.  I thankful goat is a positive goat and a positive goat is a happy goat and then you can even enjoy the winter.  Be thankful for your food and grain.  Your friend you can cuddle up to.  Not being out in the wind and snow.  You comfy coat you have worked so hard to grow.  Your lovely treats!  

7.  Pick up a new hobby.

Last year I did singing and dreaming.  Dreaming was very pleasant and my babies did appreciate the singing.  I could tell by their kicks.  They especially enjoyed my breakfast song.    

Hope these help and you have a well fed and safe winter.  Eat well!  Love Strawbaby.  

Strawbaby enjoying her dreams.....

The schedule of a Goat's walk

Good Evening, I am Parsley.  I was elected to do this post and I complied.  The subject is the wonderful delectable topic of going on walks.  This is a very exciting in the spring, or the summer, but, and I might be get 'maaa' backs at my saying so but in the fall the delight goes down. As very well might be expected if you now anything at all about plants.  The one very good part about it is our human friends allow us to eat all the oak leaves.  That is very nice of them and I have made a petition that it should be allowed all year long not just in Fall.  So far all us goats have signed, except Honey who never thinks very well this time of year.  

Now on the subject of taking your goats on walks.  Be alerted that we have a simple plan of executing this proceeding.  Meaning to say we like to do things in order and with certain conditions met.  I am very lenient on terms.  Coco not so much.  She requires that the whole heard of goats, minus the boys, come along.  It is not very safe otherwise in her opinion.  Strawbaby hasn't thought about terms and is even more lenient then myself.  I shalln't mention Daisy because if it was left to her all of us would be left behind and she would go by herself with only 'Maa-aww-aww'.  Blackberry only says she wants her mom along and no collar.  I am partial to no collar myself.  In fact we are all.  That is the part of us picking our own schedule.  

See we all like to pour out the gate.  Of course Daisy goes first, being the tyrannical boss, and we all squeeze after usually with a frightened Coco getting squished the worst because she believes she will be left behind.  

Since it is fall we make straight for the closes lone pine.  They all grab a few bites but I methodically walk towards the back porch.  Coco by this time has completed at least three wild dashes back to the pen, not really wanting to give up her safe home.  They all soon follow me and we clean up all the remaining seed left for the birds.  

My quick tongue is the center of many aw inspiring comments from our human friends.  I do have a quick tongue.  'Little vacuum' it has been called.  I don't know what that is but I shall label my tongue it with pride.  

After there is not a seed remaining we head to the next pine.  Then if we are left to our own devises we will circle the house time and time again.  Sometimes we will be led off to the oaks or down deeper into the field to eat bush or maybe find some weeds on the sunning hill but it being late fall we usually just circle the house.  Most all is gone out there.  Most depressing in till I remember the alfalfa I shall receive for dinner. 

A huge break in our schedule always comes at the 'end'.  I say 'end' but it isn't the end in our opinion.  One of the friendly humans just says it is.  We never believe in this saying and, unless it is getting late and are getting hungry for alfalfa, the friendly humans have to walk us back to the pen one by one.  Except for Daisy and Coco.  Coco will take off at the slightest inclination for home and Daisy follows like a dog.  So there you have it.  A happy goat walking schedule is to let us goats do what we want.