Rain, Rain, Go Away

We have been having one of the wettest Decembers on record here in South Carolina. Now while rain is normally a good thing, watering crops and such, for a goat shepherd it can be a real pain in the neck. Goats tend to hate being wet and will, for the most part, refuse to come out of the barn if there is much of any precipitation falling from the sky. Also it is generally a bad idea to put goats out on wet pasture. The wet ground and mud can lead to hoof rot and parasites are much more able to move up the stocks of grass and other vegetation when the plants are wet thus making it more likely that your goats will consume the parasites.

So here on the farm our goats have spent much of December stuck in their barns. They don’t seem to mind it much, although on the days they go get to go out to the pasture they seem especially bouncy and frisky, but I definitely do mind it. Goats in the barn mean they are eating my hay that costs money instead of the free food out in the pasture. It also means a much dirtier barn as they spend most of the day pooping and peeing in the barn instead out on the pasture, so more barn maintenance for me

So this shepherd has one thing to say: Rain, rain, go away…sigh