Farm Tales: Fences can’t contain goats Lily and Buddy

By Jennifer Ashawasegai

ALBAN –There’s a saying in the farming community: “If a fence doesn’t hold water, it won’t hold a goat.” I know this to be true.

We’ve been reinforcing fencing since both Lily and Buddy were aware they could escape from their pen. The goat pen is not small by any means, and is more room than six goats need, but still, they want out. The grass it seems, is always greener on the other side.

Once Ken has reinforced the part of the fence where they last escaped, Lily and Buddy always seem to find another weak spot. And they look for them.

Willow goes along with her twin kids if she can, however, Billy always stays in the pen. Being a whether (castrated goat), he’s too fat to think about trying to jump the fence or squeeze through some gap. He bleats loudly when others are out, like he’s squealing on them.

Lily is the most accomplished escape artist. We’ve seen her walk the perimeter of the fence, looking for weaknesses. If she can’t find any, Lily will calculate the height of the fence, and will back right up, run, and take a leap over the fence. The fence is about four-and-a-half feet high, and she clears it easily, so we’ve begun to build the fence higher.

Buddy, the breeder (stud), will attempt to join Lily outside the fence.  He no longer tests the fence alone. Earlier this summer he had an accident where he ripped off most of a scur,  horn material which grows when a goat is not dis-budded or de-horned properly. Lily, on the other hand, is another story.  She constantly tries to find weaknesses in our fence repairs, despite currently being pregnant.

Another goat farmer taught me something about escapee goats – ringleaders, she calls them.

“Get rid of the ringleader, and you won’t have any issues with escapee goats,” she says.

That’s advice I don’t think we’re going to take any time soon. Despite her tendency to test every possible avenue for escape,  Lily  is the most endearing member of our little herd, and has the most personality….if a goat can have such a thing!