Starlight Becomes a Goat

Starlight watches her new herd descend upon fresh grain.

Today Starlight decided it was time to become a goat. Ever since she moved here, she has been spending nights in the kennel--first sharing space with Biscuit, and later hanging out with the Leghorn chickens. During daylight hours she has meandered over the front acres, grazing here, nibbling there, and occasionally visiting through the fence with the alpacas and the other goats.

This morning when I brought grain up to the dairy does in the home pasture, Starlight trailed along and asked to join the herd. She has put on some weight since arriving and no longer appears as frail as she was at first, so I agreeably opened the gate for her. The other does are bigger than she is, but I am hoping that Pamela and Marcie will be too busy with their kids to spend much effort beating up on the newcomer. Leslie is another story; she made her feelings known today: she's hazing the new gal rather than welcoming her into the herd.

Little Emmilye asks, "Hey Lady, what's the hold up? Aren't you supposed to pour this grain out into our feed tubs so that we can all get to it?"

Starlight, though, should be able to hold her own. Plus, her udder has begun to fill and her sides have begun to bulge. She is likely due to kid in March, and I want her well away from the chicken coop when she has her kids. Hopefully, she will have settled in with and become accepted as a member of the herd before her young arrive.