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Despite the fact I had a couple of more collapse related stories lined up for today and a story about Lilly holding up the entire haying operation from yesterday I went out to take an updated picture of Lilly this afternoon for it, and The poor old girl was so far back into the barn in the coolest spot she could claim she refused to even get up for a photo shoot. Lilly can only see about 3 foot now and refuses to move for anything except food so I went out to the shady spot and sat down. As usual I was soon surrounded by animals so I snapped this photo of our old mommy goat.
The goats and chickens especially love this spot because it is about the only place on the entire farm that has a dust bath area. So since I was there as protection (not that the goats have ever actually needed protection but) Mommy goat decided it was time to show me her improved death nap technique. She hates it when I point out she is bit more rotund than she used to be.
So when I got home yesterday Roz was standing at the fence of the East pasture screaming her head off. I finally figured out that some how while I was at work and the sheep were moved Lilly had managed to get separated and was in the main field by herself. Roz and her being the last two original sheep are best friends but unlike Lilly, Roz can still see and hear, so Roz watches out for Lilly but now Lilly is in the wrong field and isolated. Lilly just doesn't know where she is or what is going on except she found a brand new freshly cut row of grass-type stuff.
When Lilly gets lost she pretty much just freezes in place until Roz comes back for her. The only other way to get her to move is if I go out there with grain and slowly walk her in the right direction with the grain right on her nose. So I limped out to Lilly and a laughing hay crew who wanted to know where I had put the lambs up at. I informed them I haven't had a lamb in years and the girls I had left were just basically retired pets at this point which made them look at me strangely. One finally asked "you mean you just let them hang out and eat all day?" They then offered to take my girls to market for me. I declined of course and putting on my best indifferent air exclaimed that if I took these last old retired gals to market I would feel like I was cheating someone.
Never let a farmer know you are sentimental with livestock of any kind (just a general rule of thumb not a hard rule honestly). ever. or you will never be treated as normal ever. They understood the too old to market excuse though but it is fairly well known around here that I have been really sentimental with my stock animals anyway.
So after a slow walk back to the gate and a full scoop of grain I managed to unite Roz and Lilly once again.
I sure hope that when one of those old girls leaves this world they take the other one with em because I don't think one can live long without the other. Half the time as it is I would be looking for Lilly for hours if it wasn't for Roz letting me know where the old girl is.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!
I confess this is the reason I avoid keeping goats to old age. Even favorites, I try to sell while they are still productive. I love that you take such good care of them. Our critters deserve it.
ReplyDeleteLeigh - I admit I am a lot more tolerant than most farm people ever think about but I come too it honestly because my mother was the biggest babi-ite that ever lived and used to drag home all kinds of strays and make a home for em. So a lot of it was put in my head when I was too young to really understand the reason against it. My wife is kinda the same way so I just started going with the flow rather than argue. Honestly I mostly keep the old retired sheep around because I like seeing them out as they always were and it doesn't really cost much since I have plenty of forage for them that I pay for anyway kinda for same reasons. I don't need the extra land etc. anymore so why cause them undue stress at their age? But I happen to have that luxury so I don't judge one way or another. What gets me though our people who buy new young animals when they know they may not be around long enough do care for those animals and are going to push that burden on to someone else. With Goats and the like there are always plenty of demand usually but an old lame (or just old horse for that matter) typically has one future if an old human owner dies.
DeleteBalderdash! I gave a lot of love and attention to my herd of 35 Boer goats, three donkeys and a riding mule. I also had a La Mancha wether that was a hoot to have a round, he was my buddy and like a big dog. His coat looked like he had a tux on, his name was Ollie. When I retired I kept Ollie, a very affectionate Boer doe, Rebecca and my three donkeys and mule into their days.
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