Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

Like mother, like daughter!!! We have commented before how the colours of our pygmy goat kids don't always follow their parents. Satin and Parsley however are hugely similar, with triangles of white on their faces and white around their bellies. When Satin was born she was jet black and then became browner due to the sunshine bleaching her coat. Now however, she is more black again like her mum - this may be due to her winter coat but we suspect she will remain black now, more or less!
In terms of character, our experience is that the kids really do take on many of their parents' characteristics: whether this is due to the fact they grow up with their mums and so 'copy' the behavior or because they share the same genes is a question for debate. Our kids don't grow up with their dads but Pepper definitely had his dad's confidence and friendliness - but then again his mum Onion is also confident and friendly...
Back to Satin and Parsley - both of them 'adore' striping our willow and what's more they enjoy doing it together. Satin is still quite shy but gaining more confidence especially if her mum is nearby!! So, has Satin 'learnt' to strip the willow like this or is it a natural behaviour? She is very good at it, in the second photo you can see she has got hold of a long strip and is pulling it away in order to get herself a lovely big mouthful!! Goats' teeth are perfectly designed to strip wood like this so we imagine they are naturally good at this.
The other great fact about all the willow the goats are eating, is that it means they are all eating far less hay - so saving us money, the willow of course being free!!! Free food is always a huge thing when running a smallholding and having lots of mouths to feed!! Our Talk Topic for today