Meet the herd
Rosa is the most outgoing doe in our herd. She was bottle-raised and consequently has the personality of a lap dog. She always wants to know what you are up to and can usually be found under foot. Rosa responds well to her name, and is the first to come running when we arrive at the pasture.
Genghis is a sweet but pushy wether that knows how to use his size to his advantage (especially when it comes to getting into the sweet feed store room). He enjoys being scratched under the chin and behind the ears and loves to play "king of the mountain" on anything scalable. His brother is Butch.
Sweetie does not always live up to her name or appearance. This gentle looking doeling is actually a little tomboy who has a strong rivalry with Rosa. One minute she's batting her long eyelashes to get a goat treat, and the next minute she's battling with Rosa over a tasty sweetgum shoot. Nevertheless, Sweetie is a real charmer.
Franco is a handsome fellow dressed in formal black and white right down to his spats. Franco has emerged as a contender for top goat and has been challenging all the other goats to increase his status. He has also developed a close friendship with Mr. Pickles, causing us to suspect a kinship between the two.
Eleanor's huge pendulous ears give her a classic old goat look despite her young age. Eleanor is a gentle and sometimes nervous doe who is most comfortable following the rest of the herd. She spends a lot of time with Nimoy, and tries to avoid trouble.
Nimoy is a cute and shaggy little fellow whose small size makes him hang back when the rest of the herd is tussling over a tasty snack. His charming Spock eyebrows and fuzzy little chin ensure that he still gets plenty of attention (and plenty of treats).
Priscilla is a princess with an attitude. She may be small, but she is not shy about claiming her place in the herd. She used to spend a lot of time with Olive, but the friendship seems to have soured. Priscilla's markings continue to darken as she gets older.
Sigmund is our most dependable and hardworking goat. He is always the first one in the trailer in the morning and the last one to stop working at night. Sigmund may not show a lot of affection, but he does his job and does it well. When it's time to take a nap, Sigmund snuggles up with Sugar.
Olive most closely resembles a Disney depiction of a goat with her dramatically drawn eyes and dainty posture. She is as feminine as her sister Sweetie is boyish, and the pair are rarely seen together. Olive now happily eats from our hands. We suspect this new fondness for people may have caused the rift between her and her one time friend Priscilla.
Butch's crooked ear and mohawk give him a distinctive appearance. Unlike his brother Genghis, Butch keeps to himself. He is neither shy nor aggressive, but he is aware of his size and knows how to use it if pushed. Butch has been observed restoring the peace when other goats start to rumble. We suspect he is the quiet leader of the herd.
Sugar earned her name (and her sweet tooth) when she discovered the joys of "Goat Magic". Goat Magic is a mix of molasses, corn oil, and corn syrup that acts as a quick pick me up for stressed or tired goats. She was so taken with the sweet elixir that she squared her shoulders to block the other goats, lowered her lips into the liquid, and sucked up every last drop in one long slurp. As soon as she emptied it, she grabbed the bowl in her teeth and ran off to lick it clean. Sugar is a bit of a renegade who has no interest in making human friends. She is fiercely loyal to Sigmund and will roust other goats who try to cozy up to him.
Elkie is one of our favorite goats. He is a tough and stocky wether who takes himself seriously but comes across as a real clown. What is it about this goat that always makes us smile? The crooked ears? The oversized head? Or is it the way he storms into every situation on his stumpy little legs? Whatever it is, we just love him. Unfortunately for Elkie, the other goats don't pay much attention to him. He acts like chicken little and gets the same amount of respect.
Rhoda is a strong and shiny beauty. This long legged redhead is our most graceful and confident doe. When it comes to saplings, Rhoda is the queen of the takedown. She can often be seen straddling a small sweetgum or scrub oak while the rest of the herd makes quick work of the leaves. Her only failing is her "grass is greener" philosophy when it comes to the fence.
Mr. Pickles used to be a sour gherkin but he is getting sweeter every day. This once reticent goat has become very friendly toward people, much to our delight.