Alex Is Sold

We kept Alex last year to be a buck for the does that were related to our Registered Full blood buck Neo. 

Zola had big twin boys and it was pretty much a coin toss of which to keep.  Alex was the lucky guy. Alex bred Neo's sister and we are waiting to see if any of the yearling does are bred.

But as Alex was getting to be a year old and more mature, he was also starting to become a bit more full of himself. 

After a few pushes from behind and having to watch my back after that, I decided we were going back to one buck.  Alex had served us well, but I put the word out that he was for sale. Isn't he handsome?

We are all going to miss his adorable girly curls on his head and his crazy voice. 

Just wanted you all to see those curls one last time.   

Bye Crazy Boy!

Love Lorn Layla

Meet Remington. Don't you love those horns?! This has been Layla's "companion" for the past seven weeks at SCS Farm. He is the father of Layla's next kids, if all goes well.

Remington is said to weigh about 300 pounds, although I don't know the last time someone wrestled him onto a scale. Just look at the difference in size between him and Layla. It took two men to get a halter on him to tie him so that we could capture Layla. She'd gotten a bit attached to Remi and did not want to leave his side. Layla is in her own stall and her own field for now until we can ease her back into the herd. She's warming up slowly today, but is still a bit skittish. Pockets of corn have been working their charm though.It was tough dragging her out of her stall, and then once she realized we were going out side, she was dragging me. The other goats called to her and she has spent the day looking at them in the distance, and then circling her area.Nothing a little corn and time shouldn't cure.

Bo the Beau

Trinity is back at SCS Farm for her date with her new beau, Bo. He is smelling love in the air!

Trinity made her annual pilgrimage yesterday, and will be at the farm 45 days to get her through two cycles of heat.Oh Yeah! Bring it on Ladies!

Bo is two and has matured quite a bit since I saw him last year. We look forward to some nice kids for our herd, sometime in April or May.

Fall Wrap Up

I got behind on my posts, so I want to catch up on Fall news before the snow flies.
Did I say that? Mowing is underway, and the place is getting ready for winter. Some of the grasses will remain standing for winter browsing. Its that time of year and Neo has been dating a few of the girls.
When he's not with them, he manages to be a bit of a pain, and twice I arrived at the barn in the morning to find him with the chickens.

Both times he managed to break through his gate that forms the back wall of his stall. The second time he lifted the gate off its hinges.
That's not easy folks!
We've made a few modifications. I had a special guest stay a few days. My high school best friend, and maid of honor, Terry, spent a relaxing few days of walks and touring around the area. We also had a few small feasts from the garden and Delallo's grocery store in Jeanette.
I can't wait to do it again. Jake finally found a new home, and we are all so glad its with Sam and his family.
Sam was Jake's farrier - and a Penn State fan - so all's good!
Sam also has two 4-H riders that will give Jake a few more years of activity. We managed to get to the Forbes State Forest and take a hike in the Laurel Mountains before all the leaves were down. Beam Rocks Trail is about as flat a trail as you can find, and my knee had no complaints about the brisk walk.
It felt good to be out and moving, and Jock appreciated the new smells and the many pats he got along the way. The weather turned from shorts and tank tops, to long pants and long sleeves, it seemed, overnight.
The afternoons can still warm up, but I've unpacked the turtlenecks, so I'm ready for the frosty mornings and cool nights.Tomorrow, my Fall flowers.

Buck Aroma

I am being kind.
Buck Stink should be the title. As bucks mature and work on their techniques to attract the girls, peeing on themselves is part of their efforts. They stain their legs, beard, and whatever they can hit to drive the girls wild, and the rest of us away. Neo has quite an odor right now, but truly, I've smelled worse.
I'm afraid he's just getting started though!!
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/behavior.htm#am
For more about bucks and their bad habits check the above link under Adult Males.
There you'll see categories called Smell and Urinating and Aggression.
Perhaps too much information!?Mia stayed around long enough for an air kiss, but look at her squinty eyes.