June 26, 2008


Goats

Turns out they are strange animals:

Sneezing that is nothing to worry about:

Did you know that goats use the sneeze sound as an alarm? They use a sneeze to warn each other of danger (be it actually real or imagined). Young goats sneeze as part of their play. If you watch your goats you will begin to notice their use of the sneeze sound.

Goats sneeze sometimes when you give them alfalfa hay. Who knows why? It’s just their way of saying “I like alfalfa!”

Or,

Urinating

As bucks mature and go into rut, the male equivalent of heat (in the Fall), they will start peeing on their front legs and faces. They have a kind of “spray attachment” on the penis and can really spray. He will spray his urine into his mouth and then curl up his lip to get a good whiff. His legs, face and beard will eventually be coated with a sticky layer of urine (irresistible to a doe). Once rut is over (in the Winter) he may, or may not, stop peeing on himself.

The color commentary on the website is almost as odd as goats themselves, odd but more delightful.

posted by Andrew Simone in animals 

comments

27 Responses to “Goats”

  1. Sheila Ryan on June 26th, 2008 at 1:48 pm

    Many goats do like having their head scratched once they know you are just petting them and not going to do anything “funny”.

    What do you imagine a goat considers ‘doing something funny’?

  2. Andrew Simone on June 26th, 2008 at 1:54 pm

    I don’t know, Sheila, but I can guarantee you that it’s disturbing.

  3. Cindy Scroggins on June 26th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    I wonder if a sneeze is a goat’s safeword?

  4. Kathy Hilen-Smith on June 26th, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    I adore goats.

  5. Andrew Simone on June 26th, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    Is it the sneezing or the urine that really grabs you, Kathy?

  6. Sheila Ryan on June 26th, 2008 at 2:28 pm

    Cindy made me laugh second day in a row.

  7. Cindy Scroggins on June 26th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Woo! I’m so proud.

  8. Kathy Hilen-Smith on June 26th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    It’s the overall goatiness. I can’t explain.

  9. Sheila Ryan on June 26th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Like Kathy, I am besotted by goats.

  10. Kris on June 26th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    You know, it’s not just does that find that ’sticky layer of urine’ irresistible…

  11. Sheila Ryan on June 26th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    Ah. Does. Pl. of doe. Puzzled over that for a bit.

  12. Kathy Hilen-Smith on June 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pm

    Ah. You puzzled over PL.does but not the irresistible sticky layer of urine? What the fuck is wrong with you?

  13. Kris on June 26th, 2008 at 5:43 pm

    I was considering using “female deer” to avoid that confusion.

  14. derek on June 26th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    I had a fortune cookie today that said something like “the deepest desires of your heart will come true with a goat.” The backside, where they teach you a word in chinese, was “gooseberry.”

  15. Kathy Hilen-Smith on June 26th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

    You know, you have to add “in bed” to any fortune found in a cookie. It’s the law.

  16. Sheila Ryan on June 26th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

    Unless you’re Derek White. A law unto himself. With a goat.

  17. Cindy Scroggins on June 26th, 2008 at 6:41 pm

    Fa: a long, long way to run

  18. Deron Bauman on June 26th, 2008 at 6:45 pm

    this thread makes me happy.

  19. Sheila Ryan on June 26th, 2008 at 6:53 pm

    With a goat.

  20. Michael Grant Smith on June 26th, 2008 at 7:27 pm

    In bed.

  21. Derek on June 27th, 2008 at 9:01 am

    you know, what’s even better than goat + bed, is go to you tube and put Goat + Trampoline.

  22. Sheila Ryan on June 27th, 2008 at 9:36 am

    I’m going right now!

    Just got back, and it was worth it. (Then found “Fainting Goats”! I’d heard of ‘em. Hadn’t seen ‘em. Wonders to behold.)

  23. Derek on June 27th, 2008 at 11:39 am

    Oh yes, the fainting goats are wonderful. They pulled the trampoline video i was referring to, though I think the pictures of the autistic kid are from the same story.
    http://bitrot.net/blog/2006/01/17/photo-of-the-day-goat-on-a-trampoline/

  24. Derek on June 27th, 2008 at 11:41 am

    and speaking goat poops, notice them hopping on the trampoline too!
    http://cmsimg.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?NewTbl=1&Avis=AB&Dato=20051104&Kategori=NEWS01&Lopenr=511030802&Ref=PH&Item=3&Maxw=540&Maxh=500

  25. Dave Vogt on June 30th, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    I like Boer goats (a meat breed originating in Africa) but I don’t really care for your dairy breeds.

  26. Andrew Simone on June 30th, 2008 at 2:20 pm

    I know all about Meat goats, used to live near a farm.

  27. Sheila Ryan on June 30th, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    That is truly a great sign, Andrew.

    Yes, I have eaten goat. Well, kid. No. Goat and kid. Liked the kid.

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