Suburbanites build a fence

[GLC1968]

Oh, how adorable!!! Does he do anything besides just be cute? My mother has always wanted a burro and if I were to get one, she'd probably just die of jealousy!

The reason we are thinking of a wether ('fixed' male goat) is because he can eat all the weeds and nuiscience shrubbery that we cannot feed to our milk doe for fear of tainting the milk. Other than that, he won't serve much purpose other than companionship.

We were also thinking of an alpaca - they give fiber AND protect family/flock from predators...so they'd be nice to have as well. A wether is about $75 though...so that's a little hard to beat.

Can you ride a miniature burro? Or can he pull something, maybe? We don't want to get any animal that doesn't 'do' something...since that's what our dogs are for!

[ginny]

Well... he can pull stuff. Burro teams can pull carts. I think a single burro can also pull a cart. I have pretended to sit on his back (to tick him off - it's fun to harass the critters). They are often used as pack animals (like in the grand canyon or on hunting trips). Most importantly for me, they are considered the guard dogs of the pasture. Burros are actually known to kill mtn lions and rattle snakes. I live at 8000' in the Rocky Mtns, and my pasture is wild! I had a mtn lion take a deer in my front yard last year, so a watch dog burro is important for me. ... and he's super cute and fun, and he gives burro hugs . I have to say the gelded goat is a better deal...

[SadieKate]

Burros look so sweet. Are they really that good tempered? Shirley MacLaine rode a burro in "Two Mules for Sister Sara."

[maillotpois]

The nose on that burro looks velvety and wonderful!

[ginny]

He is an amazingly sweet and intuititive animal. I have had a tough year, and when I would be at the barn trying not to cry, Tristan (the burro) would sidle up next to me and breath out this sweet burro noise he makes to commiserate with me. He was way better at catching tears than the horse

Also, yes, his nose is velvety soft, but he doesn't let me kiss it very frequently. Sometimes, I can sneak in with a stealthy kiss...

[tulip]

Miniature burro...that's beautiful! And they don't spit, like llamas (do alpacas spit, too?) Maybe GLC could get a mini burro and a whether.

Dogs can work. They guard the place, and they can carry things in packs on their backs. They can even pull carts. Put 'em to work; everyone else seems to be working hard at your place. Do you have cats to keep down the small furry rodent critters? Better wait til the chickens grow up, on second thought.

[GLC1968]

Ah, we do have one cat. He's currently not allowed in the garage where the chickens are living until they get their real feathers. I don't know if he'll help with our mole problem though. He was pretty good at controlling the chipmunks in NC...so we are hopeful. We've also made sure to introduce him to the basement pantry where the previous owners were using mouse traps! He's fat and out of shape after 6 months of indoor apartment living though. Just like the rest of us, he'll have to build up his 'farm' strength!

Our two dogs are pretty much useless. One is afraid of everything (yeah, the big tough Chow/Shephard/Boxer mix!) and the other has a bum leg and can't run real well. They do keep the bugs in the house under control and they are very good at cleaning plates (since we don't have a disposal!).

I would LOVE a mini Burro!! I have a feeling that they are well out of our price range though. Maybe I should ask my parents for a specific house-warming gift!

[jesvetmed]

Dogs can apparently be great goat companions, too...

I was doing a training walk one day out around the farms here. My lab was with me. A little goat came running out, and followed us for about a 1/4 mile. I walked her back, she followed us again, and again. Finally the owner of the place came and got her. He had to pick her up and carry her. He said that the goat had been raised with their dog, and the dog had passed away about two weeks earlier. She was following my dog and trying to play.

It was very sweet but I was so sad for her. She missed her dog friend so much!

[GLC1968]

Jes - that's so sweet! Sassafras is defintely interested in hanging out with the dogs, but the dogs aren't buying it. Maggie is terrified of her after just one head butt, and Charlie doesn't quite 'get it'. He occasionally growls at her like she's another dog, but doesn't really know what to make of her. Hopefully, they'll eventually get used to her! I like having animals that all get along.

I did see the cat sitting in the grass about 6 feet from the edge of Sass's fence. He was just sitting there watching the goat munch on some weeds. It was a great photo op, but I didn't have my camera with me!