Ramses and Lotus the New Goats

Today, we went to Lone Rock, Iowa to purchase our new herd additions! It was an exciting day!

We purchased two new Nigerian Dwarf goats for our herd. The male we purchased is named Ramses, and he is our very first buck. We have a few wether goats (fixed males) but no intact bucks. The intent with Ramses is to breed him with our other pygmy and Nigerian dwarf goats next fall when they are all a little older. We are excited about this possibility. Ramses is extremely handsome and has absolutely marvelous horns.

We also purchased a doeling (born in April '08) but she can't be with Ramses yet because she is too young. She can make special friendships with him next fall. She had been named Daffodil, but we decided that since she came with Ramses, she ought to have a more Egyptian sounding name. Thus, we decided on a different flower - Lotus.

Here are Ramses and Lotus in the back of the pickup for their drive to their new home.

For now, Ramses will be sharing quarters with our Nubian wethers and does. He may breed with the Nubian does, which would result in mini-Nubians, who would be good milkers and cute kids.

Ramses was VERY interested in what the rooster and hen were doing (fortunately in this photo the hen is behind the red plastic crate, because this is a family site!). Clearly he is knowledgeable of his function on our farm!

Our spitzhaben rooster is also well aware of his function. Ahem.

Lotus is very beautiful. She is a delicate caramel color and so sweet natured.

Here is Lotus making friends with Opal, another Nigerian dwarf doeling.

Ramses the Great! Of course! And it sounds like he will live up to his namesake:

http://www.touregypt.net/19dyn03.htm

Lotus is lovely. And such a nice, appropriate name:0)

And here is Lotus again - she has a fascinating marking on her side. I like to believe it is an Egyptian hieroglyphic for something. Anyone read hieroglyphics? Catscan???

It looks like Anubis venerating the sun god Ra. Maybe?

We got them from Black Cat Creek Farm, who also happen to breed llamas. No, we did not buy another llama, but I was sorely tempted.

Such noble creatures...

A nursing llama

The babies are so cute and cuddly...

Cute as they all are, I think I still covet your sheeps...since Da gen'rul has dibs on the baby llama...sigh.

{how are the llamas liking their new farm? are they proprietary at all? do they like chickens?}


pps. yes, he looks very handsome and vir-ile as a Ramses should...and the ladies are delicate but not weak, wilting, shrinking or any other floral affliction...;-)

So what do you do with your goats? Adorable pictures, every one of them.

I think Id love Iowa....Im such a farm girl at heart. Nothing makes me happier than seeing miles and miles of corn or wheat. But those winters.....

CMoxon, What a beautiful boy he is. And the little girl....AWWWW. She looks so tiny next to him. Congrats on the new additions! I am turning a bit green. I have wanted a little goat awhile but the DH just got adjusted to having chickens! hehehe. There is always next year. (heavy sigh)

Grownut - yes, the llamas seem to be taking well to their new home. Hazel comes up to the fence to chat. Cabernet comes up if we have treats, and Lilly is always highly suspicious of us. But, the three of them enjoy frolicking in the pasture and we love to watch them. They also do seem protective of the goats and sheep, especially Lilly, and that was her previous role, so we feel that she is used to it. They sniff the chickens but they do not mind them. Sometimes they spit on the goats, generally when the goats are trying to eat their hay.

Wait until you see the sheeps we are getting in a couple of weeks.... (secret till then!)

Fla_Chick - we play with our goats. Really! But also, we intend to begin small scale production of goat and sheep milk cheeses. We also plan to have some fiber goats (pygoras perhaps) for fiber use. The Nubians are very good milkers, as are the Nigerian dwarves. They are particularly good milkers given their size. Most of our goats are female and as we learn more, we hope to produce some baby goats for sale and continue with milking perhaps for butter, yogurt and/or ice cream. Many people (including many children) who cannot tolerate cow's milk can have goat's milk. We feel that would be an interesting niche market.

Sewincircle - Kelly ADORES the goats. He is fine with the chickens, but he LOVES the goats. I think your DH would love goats too - it'll just take a bit of time.

I will get to work placing goat magazines in the bathroom and other opportune places! hehehe

Adorable - glad to see that there were new additions to the zoo while we were gone.

DH and I laugh quite frequently about your zoo and how we'd be doing the same thing if we were new to 8 acres. HA!