New Development

I should be ironing, or loading the dishwasher. David is finishing up at a football game and I'm too tired to want to be productive. So, I'll sit here and type a line or two about an unexpected new development.

I was concerned that Jill might be wiggling her way in the feeder and stealing Hully's food. Jill isn't the one who has been wiggling in the feeder, though. At least I think that's what is happening. This afternoon, when I went out to feed and spend some time with the goats before loading the crew in the van and heading off to Samuel's group violin lesson, I found Hully in the main pen! I think she must have climbed in her side of the feeder and out the other side. I don't think she climbed the fence.

Jill and Julie weren't terribly mean to her, either! They have asserted their dominance, and let Hully know when she's out of line. She quickly lowers her head and they let her be, since she knows she's not the herd queen. (Though, smart as she is, she may be when she's fully grown--you just never know.)

After romping a bit outside the pen and in the woods with the girls, it was time to put them back up. I put Hully back in her pen to insure that she could eat all her grain in peace. When we came home, though, she was back in the main pen! Since she's so determined to hang out with the big girls, I think I'll let her do it for the night. Maybe I'll go out and latch the gate to her pen open, just in case.

So, that answers the question of, "When will I be able to let Hully out of her pen?" I'm still a little concerned about her eating her share of the grain. She has access to plenty of alfalfa hay, though, so I suppose she'll be fine until she learns to eat grain a little more quickly! These animals are teaching me almost as much as my children are!