Micky was my first goat, presented as a leaving present when I retired from work. Keira and Jack were bought the following week to keep him company after the sheep refused to include him in their flock. Micky was such a good escape artist that we had to increase the height of the walls in their yard.
We allowed them into the larger yard while we are down there extending their platforms in the stable. (Micky was very interested in the Muscovy ducks.) The floor had been covered in straw after keeping the ducks in the stable the previous winter plus an extra thick layer the goats had made by climbing on the straw bales store and splitting them. It took two days to clear it all even with Max's hel. We could then start on the frame work. The window in the back wall is going to be the doorway into the paddock so we are providing the first shelf at 18" where Max is lying in the picture below. There is a second level at 3', just below the window sill, and a final 4' high platform on the left hand side wall. The high platform has a trellis panel up to the ceiling to prevent accidents, but still allows access for cleaning. From the high platform they can jump down onto the existing U-shaped platform. The window platform is just the right height for the dustbins in which I keep their feed, and stops them knocking the lids off and helping themselves.
The platforms are all in place now. We just need to get some angled wood to put in all the angles to make cleaning easier and put doors on where I will use the under-shelf area for storage. The outside platform is a lot simpler than my original design which had a canopy over it so it couldn't rain in. This has proved unnecessary as the goats won't go out in the rain anyway so we just keep the window shutter closed on wet days.
The view from the goats' doorway.
Mickey is always the leader and is first out in the morning, and where Mickey leads the others follow. At the moment we have a spring board to assist Jack and Keira jumping back in. They can get in without it and Chris thinks I worry too much, but I wouldn't forgive myself if they strained themselves. Perhaps I'll replace it with a suitable log when we prune our Oak tree. The corrugated iron is not very aesthetically pleasing.
I can't think why they prefer the water in the duck's pond to
the fresh water in their stable - I wouldn't drink it. Goats are browsers rather
than grazers, so they are particularly interested in any cliipings meant for the
bonfire. Keira and Jack have found a tasty, half-roast holly branch, while
Mickey is munching on a dried Oak branch. They do graze as well though and enjoy
a good run round, though they don't understand this chasing stick game that Max
enjoys.
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... Kid's'll eat Ivy too Afternoon siesta |
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