These two old kitty biddies are getting more and more snuggly and friendly with each other as this long winter drags on. I think they have finally figgered out that there is more warmth with a friend!
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Miss Emily, the fancy shearer, said that our mohair from our Angora goats was very nice! Gosh… We think so, but hey, it’s sure nice to have someone officially confirm it!
We haven’t officially gone through our fleeces from this year because 7 are already sold! And it’s been too cold, to really play with them and get them ready for processing.
But I just couldn’t wait, so I pick out a little bit of Rafeka’s beautiful locks and thought I’d give it a wash up and rinse!
First rinse water and it’s not that dirty! That’s nice to know. Angora goats are a bit of prima donas of the goat world… at least my dainty twins are. They do not like to frolic in the rain or muck or mud… they would much rather stay in the comfort of the big barn, thank you very much!
This is after the second wash! I did a third just to make sure it was really nice!
And it was! I wish you could feel this… it’s like silk!!! I can’t wait to get the carding hands out and give it a try… just been busy of late, trying to get everything inside done so that IF it ever gets nice out, I can spend like hours and hours outside!!!! Yah!!!!
Isn’t it just heavenly!!! Such beautiful curls and crimp… and just as pretty as silk! We do have a little more left… if you’re interested in any Windhaven wool and fiber… just check out our farm page! I know it won’t last too long!!!!
http://www.chekal.com/farm/wh-store-wool.htm
We’ve gone through the sheep fleeces as well, and got them basically ready for sale. I am happy to report that 6 sheep and one goat are being traded to start a wonderful new adventure here at the farm on Sunday. (Shhhh… can’t tell yet! You’ll have to check back in Sunday afternoon or evening and see what is up!!!!) I’ll get those pictures up next! They are so pretty!!! I love my sheepies! They are just so lovely!
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Poor Ratchet… he was so excited to see another baby goatie and then we go and take her away from him as well. Oh goodness…. well, since Daisy had been outside at her birthplace, it didn’t make sense to keep her inside too long. We knew that Buttercup would be so excited to have a little sister and well, it’s a lot easier to deal with potty breaks and such when livestock lives in the barn. Just saying…
Of course, we had to stop at the sheep paddock and meet everyone… Bridget is my in your face ewe! She has to be the first one to check out any new happenings. She is not afraid of people at all! And she liked Daisy right away…
Fergus thought she was pretty keen too. It’s so funny how the sheep look very much like goats when they are all shaved down! I believe that Daisy is hairier than Fergus is at this point!!!
Cody just pretty much was uninterested.
He’s mad that he has to stay in the big sheep paddock with the SHEEP. I’ve let him out a few times for a roll and a gallop in the middle yard, but it’s just too wet and mushy. And I want the grass to get a good grow if we ever get any nice spring weather.
Instead of snow.
Well, Buttercup gave Daisy a quick sniff and then was mostly interested in lunch. So I figured it was best to get that out of the way. Rana and Rafeka were very interested in the new baby.
Daisy decided to just wait for a more formal introduction and chew on a bit of hay. She is so sweet…
As soon as Princess Buttercup was finished, which is about 27 seconds flat… (my goodness, she can chug a 20 ouncer in no time flat!!!) the two little doelings got to introducing each other.
I’d like to think that Buttercup is giving her a sweet little nudge of acceptance and tender goat nurturing.
But, in reality, I’m pretty sure it’s a big sister thing.
“Listen punk, this is MY log and you better stay off it or else we’re going have a problem….”
Miss Bianca is our Jersey Giant Splash hen. She’s huge! And when she’s roosting and it’s cold, she fluffs up even bigger! Ain’t no hawk gonna mess with this Jersey chick…
Of course, Buttercup had to go and show off, jumping up on her goatie circus platform and pretty much playing King.. er… Princess of the mountain. The angora twins are not interested. Actually everyone gets up on the new platform. It’s fun.
Buttercup is one saucy little doe. She is Miss Personality. Quite the goofball goatie. She is just so funny, and is getting all nice and comfy with our routines and bonded with us. She will be a wonderful milking doe some time in the next year! Talk about a long wait for a fresh cup of milk!!! MAYBE this time next year we will have one of the girls ready to give us a little milk! Just depends on how they grow and such. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it in the late fall!
In the end, I had to move Rana and Rafeka to an adjoining stall. They were just being tooo rough on both the little ones. Especially Daisy. It really was for the best. I think since they are very bonded to each other and mature, they just did not take kindly to TWO little brats in their midst. Rana was especially mean, biting and just being nasty to them. It was one of the reasons that I got Daisy… I didn’t want Buttercup to not have a pal, and as it was coming along, she was the third wheel and unwanted according to Rana and Rafeka.
As you can see by the video earlier… Buttercup and Daisy are getting along wonderfully. They cuddle together and play, it’s so adorable. Buttercup is almost 3 weeks older than Daisy, so she is a little more rough and tumble at this point but Daisy will catch up for sure. She’s a little tough nugget, too!
Our dairy adventure is just beginning… this year, these two little darlings will have a chance to grow up and play and learn all about life here with our little homestead plans. I can’t wait for the lambs to come and maybe they will all be able to hang out together. Maybe not. I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. But for now, they have each other and things couldn’t be better!
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