Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

A big treat for the goats this evening as a kind neighbour brought over a load of willow from a tree she had cut back in her garden. Both the dairy and pygmy goats tucked in with huge enthusiasm. We stuffed the willow high in their racks and climbing platforms so they could do what goats do best: stand on their hind legs and munch! Goats are browsers more than grazers in that they prefer to eat leaves and branches rather than grass, and willow is one of their favourite treats.
Goats are often used by people to help clear their land of unwanted shrubs and other plants and they particularly LOVE brambles which of course most people with gardens/land hate. Goats have developed to be able to stand on two legs and reach as high as possible to get the best leaves and branches. This is great except when you DON'T want your prized trees and bushes being eaten: tall fencing is therefore essential to keep the goats where you want them. On our small paddock we tend to bring in branches and similar for our goats as their opportunity for browsing is limited.
Meanwhile, our Bourbon Red female turkey has laid her fourth egg in as many days whilst our hen eggs have been flying out the door as fast as they are produced. We can report that tonight we have precisely ZERO chicken eggs in our kitchen!!