Davy Hollow Backyard Farming: Don't have to be rich, to be my girl

Pheobe the Nigerian Dwarf came to us just after the new year, when we picked her up from a man about an hour or so away. Ever since Lissa's twin sister Amara died, we were worried that our queen would be lonely. Actually, she began to think she was human, but still, it couldn't be all that fun to be in a big pen and a big barn all alone.

So I did a random search on CraigsList on a whim, and saw a wethered Nigerian Dwarf for sale very cheap. It was perfect! He wouldn't eat much, but he'd keep Lissa company and only need a bit of care. I called to see if he was still available . . . but he'd been sold already.

But it occurred to me that a ND was the way to go. It'd be difficult for my mother to manage a new larger goat all on her own in the middle of winter, but a little goat would be hardly a problem. So I went around on CraigsList again, searching for just the right goat.

Four Nigerian Dwarves were available in a nearby town. Two does, a buck, and a wether. We decided very quickly to get one of the girls, and soon we were off to pick her up. When we got there, we were faced with the decision whether to pick the sunny gold doe, or the chocolate brown. I tried to eyeball them all over, and see which one had better show form. But it was hard to tell under their winter coats and skittish nature.

Finally, we decided on the sunny gold girl, because she was just so pretty

So we brought the girl home, and I already knew her name was going to be Pheobe. It took some arguing with my mother, but eventually she agreed that the name really fit the little goat.

"Fifi" as we nicknamed her, was very shy and skittish. We had to corner her to pet or hold her, and getting her to STAY in her stall proved a problem within the first few minutes. But she instantly stuck like glue to Lissa, who also seemed rather interested to see another goat around again. Though Lissa remained possessive of "her" home, lil' Pheobe didn't seem to care that she would always push her away. It was like she had adopted her as her surrogate mother. And she would stand her ground against Lissa, going up on her hind legs to better reach her penmate's head.

It was a surprise to discover that Pheobe had been kept in with the buck that the man had also owned. Which meant she was most probably pregnant. Which worked just fine with us, since Lissa was also pregnant. The two grew huge and fat together, Pheobe grew so wide she had trouble making it through into her stall at times.

Fifi popped first, giving us two lil' babies, a boy and a girl. We named them Thor, who would later leave the farm with Lissa's buckling Maximus, and Rosie, who we decided to keep from the moment we saw her.

But the reason I made this post was because I wanted to talk about the crazy amount of improvement Pheobe has done. Before being within five feet of her was a chance miracle, but now, she'll come right up to me and my mother. For me, she'll even stand to be loved on, and seems to really enjoy having her sides scratched. If new people come to the pen, she becomes her shy self again, but only until they leave the pen, then she'll be right up at the fence saying hello.

Today I found "Fifi Marie" (all of our does get the middle name Marie) to be the most sociable I've ever seen her. I stayed out in the pen with the three girls for a good hour or two, and Fifi was at my side almost all of the time. At one point she even laid down next to me. And she most especially loved to have her food swollen sides rubbed and scratched after a good long grazing session.

The change in her is so incredible, I just had to talk about it. Its a little sad to think that Pheobe and Rosie will be the only NDs we ever keep (though maybe we'll have a buck someday too), it also makes them all that more special.

Today I also brought Rosie Marie with me in my car to go get some hay for the girls. On the drive there (about 15 min) she lay down in the passenger seat, content but obviously on alert. When we got there, she panicked at first when I got out of the car, until she realized I was coming around to get her. She wasn't very happy to be left on her feet, and soon enough I had to pick her up and carry her with me inside. The people who worked there were excited to meet her, especially when she started bleating because I had to put her down to pay. On the ride home, I let her sit on my lap, and though it made driving difficult, she seemed to be a lot more reassured. Towards the end of the return trip she clambered off and over to the passenger seat where she laid down once again.

All and all, it was a day for the Nigerians, and I think they know it. Though I love all three of them dearly, each one is special and has their own lovable and sweet personality. Each day I can't wait to go out and spend more time with them.