Duane's "sheep"

A while back Duane came home from work one day and asked, "Do you want a sheep?" I replied with a confused, "What?"

You have to understand Duane is not an animal person. Yes, he tolerates my menagerie. But if it was up to him, we'd probably only have one horse, one dog and a few chickens. (And that's not because HE wanted them.) So you can see my confusion by his question. Duane does not initiate bringing more animals home. That's my job. And if I had come home and asked if we could get some sheep, goats,...... (fill in the blank) he would have vetoed that idea immediately. But since it was "his" idea, we're going to run with it!;)

So I queried him more about his strange question. It seems a friend at work raises sheep; Barbados sheep. This is a breed which have hair instead of wool, hence no need for shearing.  And apparently, they eat noxious weeds and brush. We have both and would like to be rid of them. And this guy was willing to give us a couple babies.  Duane thought it would be a good idea to help get rid of the brush on our property.
 
We talked further about it that day and the next and then the subject was shelved for a while. At least between us.

Of course, I am always ready and willing to add another animal to the farm. But I had always thought it would be fun to have a couple goats, not sheep. So I started doing a bit of research on both. And came to the conclusion that goats would probably eat more of a variety of things and be a whole lot more personable. (There are actually businesses  where a person can rent a herd of goats to clear their land!)

We talked more about the subject later and I shared my interest and information about goats.

Then one day, I was browsing craigslist (that site is going to cause my demise;) and came across an ad that read:

"THREE GOATS ONE BRED DOE, BRED BY AGS NIGERIAN BUCK THAT IS A TRIPLET . THE DOE IS NOT REGISTERED. TWO WEATHERS FOR PETS OR 4H. NOT TO BE EATEN."

Nigerian Dwarf goats is the breed I was most interested in and these guys were close by and cheap!
I called the ad, made an appointment and went by later that day. I assured the people they "wouldn't be eaten" as we were vegetarians:) Then called Duane and left him a message to call me when he got off work. If it was up to me, I would snagged them when I first went to see them, but I was trying to be good;)

I got the "o.k." and went back to get the boys.

It's been a couple weeks since we got them. For now they are housed with the chickens. (Poor girls were a bit traumatized when I put the goats in with them. I didn't think we'd get any eggs for a week!) But they've all settled in together nicely and my chicken pen is being cleared of brush!

And you just can't beat those adorable faces and the little goat sounds that greet your ear whenever you walk outside!

"Heartly & Thumper"

Oh, and Duane calls them "his" goats;)