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Posted by GoatWorld on April 06, 2002 at 23:57:50:
Hi folks,
I'm sorry I have not been around more to keep things going. I have been so busy and sick that I don't know how I am managing to get up in the mornings and proceed with the day - but I am feeling better and things are starting to lessen slightly. I'll give more of an update after my next little "story" here.
Some of you might remember a couple of months or so ago about one of my wethers getting his leg stuck between the Billys' horns - the result was gruesome to say the least. Lost the leg, wether died from an infection a week or so later - I shudder to think about it every time. Well, I dismissed it as a freak accident and left the Billy in with the girls figuring no problems. And there were none - up until this afternoon that is.
I was unloading the truck from a duck sale when suddenly my wife called to me that something was wrong in the main goat pen. Thunder, our registered Boer nanny who recently kidded, had her leg stuck in the horns. Thoughts of that wether suddenly flashed in my mind. I was about 50 yards up the hill from the action so to speak and I can guarantee you that my track and football coaches would have commended my run to get to the pen.
Luckily it had just happened and the leg was still intact. I grabbed this 250 pound + Boer Billy by the horns and did my best to keep him still while Thunder tried to pull away. My wife got there seconds later and held Thunder still. There was just no way we could pull that leg out and I realized that we needed a third hand. But just before, the Billy got rambunctious and even though I was doing all I could to hold him, he somehow managed to buck me forward, face first into the dirt. During that little flight, I almost was certain it was going to end with the same results as that poor wether. But no. Somehow, the leg loosened up a bit and was still straight. I immediately brushed goat berries off myself and grabbed the Billy again for all I was worth, somehow managed to tuck Thunders head under my arm to keep her straight, and told my wife to call the neighbor.
Within minutes, my neighbor was there and we both lifted Thunder just enough so that my wife could get that leg dislodged, intact and with no apparent damage. Relieved Thunder limped off to her kids while the neighbor and I banished the Billy to solitary confinement where he will stay until either a trip to the sale barn or until I hack his horns - at least one of them. The mood I was in, I was half tempted to take out the SawzAll and get it done right then - damn the bleeding. I'm just thankful that this all turned out okay. Every time I think of it, I get a real queasy feeling though.
So what did I learn from my stupidity of leaving that Billy in the pen after the first incident? Not much I guess. But I now know for certain that if it has happened once, it will probably happen again. Especially with goats. If I would have gotten that through my hard head the first time around, I wouldn't be writing this - but please, any of you newbies out there - never take anything dealing with goats for granted. While goats certainly are a joy to raise, they will present you with alot of situations that you have to account for and make certain cannot cause trouble repeatedly. Always anticipate with goats because I can guarantee you, if it happens once, it will happen again.
On a lighter note - I had been working for a nearby dairy doing the evening milkings. To be honest, the job got to be too much - I was only supposed to work from 3pm to around 8pm but equipment problems always cropped up and there were nights where 10:30 was an early night. The extra hours didn't matter because it was a salaried position. So adios I bade my employer and the very next day began working for an Off-Road shop (4 wheel drives, etc.) that a friend of mine owns. 9am to 6pm I will be away Monday through Friday but it pays well and is something I enjoy also.
Anyway, I'm hoping that I can soon start spending more time again here on the web site like I really enjoy. Please don't think I've abandoned any of you - I haven't. I know you good folks are doing all you do to keep GoatWorld alive and thriving. Hope everyone is doing well and your goats are healthy and happy and ready for spring - finally.
Best regards,
Gary
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