October 07, 2010

Leaf Carnage

One night this past summer there was a thunderstorm. The wind blew, the lightening flashed and the rain poured down through the night but the storm was gone by daybreak and the morning brought sunshine and blue skies.

It was at that time I also realized that the tree beside our big feed pen had fallen to the storm. I really hated to lose that tree. It had provided shade for me and the goats when I had to trim hooves or work them in that pen and it's fork gave me a place to set a water bottle up high away from curious goat lips while I was outdoors.

I don't think the goats would miss that tree though, truth be known I think they played a part in it's demise by eating the bark on one side of it's trunk making it weak to the wind of the storm. I figured it was only fitting to let them finish what they started. So we piled the leafy limbs high in the pen and opened the gate.



LEAVES!!

The goats rushed in and started stripping and tearing all the leaves from the fallen tree, it was brutal. They didn't waste a second or a leaf.

They competed to see who could stuff the most leaves in their mouth the fastest and the tree limbs got more bare by the minute.
Blackie the buck didn't think it was fair that the girls got all the fresh leaves. He stood up on the fence with sad eyes and whined, "ahh...ahhh" as he watched the the leaves disappear like candy in front of spoiled children. A friend took heart to his complaints and gave him a hand so he could get some tasty leaves too.

The leaves never really had a chance, I mean just look at that face! It was total leaf carnage and in no time all that was left was a few stripped bare branches and a lonely tree stump.

19 comments:

jaz@octoberfarm said...

they would love my yard right now with all the fallen leaves. canned clam chowder is notoriously nasty. it always tastes like the can to me!

Claire MW said...

They are so efficient, aren't they? Goats can put humans to shame!! :)

Melodie said...

Like piranhas only much,much cuter!

Teresa said...

They do love their leaves! Very efficient machines.

Grandpa said...

Hi, greetings from the tropical rain forest. I have a small farm and a few boers. Drop by when you are free...meanwhile I'll hang around your place for a bit

Sorry abt the storm, but the goats seem to be enjoying it

farmlady said...

Amazing! Now I know, without a doubt, what will happen if the goat boys ever get into my flowergarden.
That was a good way to clean up a downed tree though.
Thanks for reminding us how these goats can clean an area up. Love the pictures and the video.

Twisted Fencepost said...

It must be that they have been looking at those leaves all summer and wanting to get a nibble. Kind of like us wanting a candy bar that we can't have.
And all of the sudden....candy bars everywhere! LOL

Unknown said...

We needed goats a couple of weeks ago when we had to fall a tree before a storm took it out.
I know this love affair with the neighbors goats began when I was in grade school and has gone on all my life. I've never had a place I could have one but it still goes on. Guess it's cause they're so cute. I just remembered the neighbors 2 baby goats were starting to get horns, they hadn't even hardly broke through yet and they started ramming each other thinking now they were so tough. I guess that's what started it all.

Bossy Betty said...

How handy that buffet came right down to them! I always love seeing your critters, Jennifer! What is it about goats that makes me smile??

Joanna@BooneDocksWilcox said...

Your Boers sure look healthy. Do you cook goat? I sure would like to try some one day.

Thanks so much for the award Jennifer, very thoughtful, I'll blog about this weekend sometime.

Callie Brady said...

Yep, leaf candy is right. Neat photos. Our goats used to love to eat dried up leaves if they could find them. It would sound like they were eating potato chips.

Anonymous said...

Some of our goats love going after leaves too!

Amy

Alison said...

Wow, that's kind of frightening! Is there anything they won't eat!?

Harry/Sally said...

I loved this; reminded me of the goats we had when I was 9 or so - after the first summer, the two acres of shrubs, bushes and general vegetation around our house was eaten neatly to the ground, including a 20 year old ENOrmous lilac bush. Very impressive. They are a little like piranhas. (The lilac grew back)

Kelly Cook said...

Callie-we have cottonwood trees and the wind blows small branches out from time to time and the goats love them-even more when they dry out and we call it their potato chips!

The power company was out a few weeks ago trimming trees along the power lines and we asked them to leave the branches for the goats rather than chipping them. Gotta love free food!

Kitty Deschanel said...

Leaves! They are just darling :)

Liesal said...

I swear leaves are like manna from Heaven for goats. :)

On the Old Dirt Road said...

I love your goats! My mom used to have some years ago. I cant remember what kind. Love your site! I think I could enjoy some goats.

Harry/Sally said...

Hey Jennifer,

Did you see the Colbert report on how goats are taking over the landscaping industry? Hilarious! I wish I could link to it for you, but I can't figure out how! I saw it today, Oct 14. . .