Meet the herd
Please join us in welcoming the newest members of the Goat Patrol! Jacques and Kima came to us last June from a farm east of Durham. The two of them arrived with their mother KD and sister Trudy, who haven't yet joined the patrol. Welcome Jacques and Kima!
Jacques is a handsome devil who draws attention with his striking coloration and large horns. He was a real mama's boy when he arrived but going out on patrol has helped him build the confidence to stand on his own. Jacques is very curious and often is the first one to the fence. He still isn't super comfortable being touched by people, but we think that will come with time.
Kima is a slightly smaller and paler version of her big brother Jacques. She has embraced her job but shows no interest in getting to know the human members of the herd or in making friends with the other goats. Priscilla once had a similar attitude. Maybe they will be companions one day.
Gunther (nee "Buster") spent his first year in the Patrol as king of the herd, throwing his weight around to get what he wanted. Some time last winter a coup occurred and several of the larger goats challenged Gunther's dominance. After weeks of losing battles, Gunther resigned himself to a lower status in the herd. He is a kinder, gentler goat these days and is happiest when left to himself to graze peacefully like Ferdinand the Bull. We love Gunther and are sure you will, too.
Magnus von Magnusson, Magnus to his friends, is sweet little pygmy that came to us from APS of Durham along with Gunther. At first he was frightfully shy around people, but now he is a confident little charmer who always makes us smile.
Rosa is one of our most popular does. She was bottle raised and doesn't really see herself as a goat. Rosa does what Rosa wants to do, and there is really no point in arguing with her. The good news is she never strays far, and will usually come when called.
Genghis is a true individual with a lot of personality. Genghis enjoys meeting new people and pleasant conversation. He is a real ham, so chances are if you have seen the Goat Patrol, you have met Ghengis up close and personal.
Sweetie is the most laid back member of the herd. She will approach any newcomer to the goat yard, and is particularly fond of children. Unfortunately for our goat herd, she is also very good at finding her way to the wrong side of the fence. We love Sweetie, but she can be a real stinker.
Franco is a handsome fellow dressed in formal black and white right down to his spats. Franco has had a lot of brushes with fate over the years and we are sometimes amazed that he survived them all. He has 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 fellow who likes to hang back and assess the situation before rushing into anything. He shares almost nothing in common with his sister Rhoda except for a distinctive white forefoot. His best pal is Eleanor and the two of them are most often see side by side.
Priscilla is a princess with an attitude. She may be small, but she is not shy about claiming her place in the herd. Priscilla is always tidy and clean with only a faint tea colored patch on one side to interrupt her pretty white coat.
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 a feminine and gentle little doe. Olive will happily eat from our hands, but she does not seek out attention from people.
Butch's crooked ear and large horns give him a distinctive appearance. Butch has mellowed into a strong and confident wether who enjoys a fairly prominent rank in the herd. He is big and he knows it, but he doesn't take advantage of his size all that often. Most of the time he is content to let Ghengis hog the spotlight.
Sugar wins the award for most improved attitude. She used to be a rebel who took no guff. Now she is affectionate and pleasant to be around. She is still a bit of a bully to the other goats, but that's just how she gets respect.
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. The other goats don't pay much attention to Elkie. This suits him just fine.
Rhoda is a leggy red headed beauty. Her shiny coat is as soft as it looks, but only a patient few can get close enough to touch it. She loves to stretch for the tallest branches and is queen of the saplings. 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.