Celebrating Nubian Goats
Nubian Goats: Mariah, Harriet, and Marge.
As we anxiously await the birth of new goat friends at the farm, we wanted to celebrate the Nubian goats who arrived at the farm three years ago on March 20th.
We named them after four strong women: Mariah (Lopez), Ruth (Bader Ginsburg), Harriet (Tubman), and Marge (Margaret Cho). True to form, we anticipated that this breed of goat would have sweet and affectionate personalities, and they do!
Mariah: ringleader; the others will follow her direction and give her the best sunning spots as well as the highest vantage points on the climbing structures
Ruth and Harriet: twins; originally it was difficult to tell them apart and then puberty hit
Ruth: is intersex (has male and female parts)--their body and personality changed significantly and now they are the alpha goat over all the other male and female animals in their pen
Harriet: experienced a significant seizure episode at less than a year and was considered potentially brain dead; she came out of the episode with no issues and is one of the most resilient animals on the farm
Marge: the most fun-loving Nubian goat; she is always up for a snack and loves to be at the center of the cuddle puddles
When the Nubian goats arrived, the biggest things about them were their ears. They looked like they could fly, but have since grown into their ears to become the biggest goats at the farm. They have long, narrow faces, sturdy bodies, and rough, leathery knees from bending down to rest.
They really enjoy being brushed or scratched by clients. They are often interested in helping with farm projects by trying to chew on rakes, knock over wheelbarrows, or lay in the middle of the pile you’re trying to sweep up. They are good on walks, although need lots of stops in order to snack on their surroundings. They are great for a side-hug, especially when it feels good to have the sensory input of a solid, weighted item.
They love a sunny day. As spring approaches, you can often find them with eyes-closed, faces tilted to the sky, sitting on their legs and basking. Or you will see them in a classic cuddle puddle, using each others’ bodies for pillows, while they nap or eat out of a hayfeeder.
We’re very fortunate to have these wonderful creatures at the farm. Come spend time with them the next time you’re at Cultivate!