And Then There Were Three! And Then There Were None!
When Daniel was eleven, we moved to a four-acre property in central Massachusetts. It wasn’t long before he came to me and announced he wanted to get goats.
“Goats?” I exclaimed. “Why goats?”
“Because there is too much grass to cut,” he replied.
“Well, if you want goats, what if we get sheep instead? I’ve always wanted sheep.”
“No,” Daniel said, “sheep gnaw the grass down to the ground, and you have to rotate their pastures, but goats don’t do that. It will be much easier to have goats.”
I answered, “Before you get goats, I want you to have experience with goats.”
Daniel’s Goat Adventure Begins
Daniel had done his homework and found a goat farm a few miles up the road. (I’ve never seen it, but somehow he knew about it!) We went to Crystal Brook Farm a few days later and met Ann, the goatherd. Ann, with a generous smile, asked how she could help us.
Not wanting to do the talking for Daniel, I remained silent. Daniel remained tall and straight and didn’t say a word. I nudged him a bit and asked him why we were there.
Stiffly and formally, Daniel blurted out:
“I want to come to work for you, and you don’t have to pay me!”
Ann and I both laughed at his directness. She then told us to come back on Sunday afternoon, and she would talk over his proposal.
We arrived back at the farm on the appointed day, and within a few minutes, Daniel had a job as a farmhand at the goat farm. Thus began a friendship that has continued to this day, 24 years later.
The Goat Trio (and Then Some!)
Soon, it was Daniel’s birthday, and Ann gave him two male goats. He named them Sherlock and Mr. Tumnus after characters in some of his favorite books. (Those of you who are Narnia fans will undoubtedly know Mr. Tumnus!)
Daniel, even at age 11, was incredibly responsible. I could trust him with anything. Never did he whine or complain about caring for the goats. They were his pride and joy, and he spent much time caring for them while they spent much time keeping the grass “cut.” They quickly learned to unzip his red jacket, though they never mastered zipping it up.
A year after Daniel started his goat herding venture, he bought a female goat. So, we had three goats. When I commented on this fact, Lizzie said:
“Mom, did you know that the goat is pregnant?”
“What? Pregnant! Well, I suppose four goats are not much more than three.”
Daniel spoke up with my dad’s smirk and said:
“Well, they typically have twins but can have triplets!”
The Great Rose Bush Incident
Daniel was a steady worker on his little goat farm. He and Eric built the goat shed, which we painted “barn red” to match our barn. He installed a wire and electric fence, which worked great—until the grass grew high and shorted out the current.
During that time, the goats jumped right over the fence. And guess where they headed? Right to my prized David Austin roses.
Not my white Winchester Cathedral!
And my pink Elizabeth!
And my Shropshire Lad!
Eaten to the ground. Yes, all three rose bushes eaten to the ground. (If you are a rose enthusiast, you know these British roses are not cheap!)
After a trim, all was working well again. So just know that if you are using electric fencing, you must keep the grass cut around it.
Fencing Solutions for Your Goats
If goats are your desire, we carry a terrific sheep and goat fence. Check it out here. We can also provide you with an electric fence, though I prefer a permanent fence for goats as they are clever, curious, and always entertaining!
Warm regards,
Debbie Page
CEO, Louis E. Page Inc.
Woman-owned business and family-owned since 1893.
(True! That’s 131 years owned and run by our family!)