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his legs are twice this tall…i am taking the pic on a hill,  pointing down.   somewhere around 8 years old.  100 lbs.   Gotten from my Goat friend Jan in New Mexico at 6 months old,    as exchange for use of TenZen,  our buck to her best doe.  Impeccable breeding.   Lived as  ( neutered)  Wethered companion to all our bucks at different times,   Gideon,  TenZen,  Sunny Ray, Nogal and  Buckwheat.   Most recently with Sunny Ray until SR became weak and Jack became a bully.  His untamed skittishness is my fault.   He was a wether and that was his purpose.    I spent little  time with him.   He  lived peacfully once separated from SR  until January 25,  2023 when some Thing happened.    All of us have searched the internet for other instances of a wether suddenly coming into  Full On Rut behavior at such an advanced age.  We find none.  Will continue to search.   Buck Goats and wethers,  when outliving their use ,  become food.   Many people are delighted to find Goats for this purpose.   Often, in this country,  for traditional  celebratory meals of other cultures.    otherwise,  they are simply  "put down".     Shot.   

i wasn't directly involved in the work of the fencing.   hung out watching the kids.   There wasn't a lot of conversation about any decision making.   They just worked worked worked at securing the fence.   It didn't seem like there was a whole lot to say.   There is full confidence that he can't possibly get out.   While all this was happening he ran back and forth,  back and forth along the front fence line…anxious with all the people in his space, the noise.     I watched him.   He has no clue.   Something just happened inside him.   

He cannot do what he so desperately is determined to do.   

The keeping of the doe Goats in the doe forest last night,   the mending of a weak place in his fencing,   worked.   None of them were happy.   But this morning,  all was quiet.  Everyone came and immediately set to work mending his  fencing,  inch by inch.  Many lengths of heavy duty steel farm fencing,  cattle panel patches,   T posts and steel clamps.   

the paragraphs here are out of order.  I don't know how that happened.   but you can get the drift.  i do not have the energy to fix it.

So it seems that we will try again.    All day today doe Goats went about their ordinary business of Life.  partly because of all the people here,  so tomorrow and days forward will be the test.    But we'll see.   He is him.   a sentient being.   at the mercy of some quirk of  biology.  

have almost lost this post 3 times,  so will quit.   am tired.   i counted the Spirals this evening.   there is 40 of theirs.   13 of mine.  

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12 responses to “Jumpin Jack Flash”

  1. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    I wish for the best tomorrow! I can’t claim to understand it all. I am not knowledgeable nor strong enough to help, but you have your smart and strong ladies to help. I can hardly wait to hear about the wrap up!

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  2. jaime Avatar
    jaime

    Grace, I have found nothing online about the suddenness of Jack’s behavior. The behavior of his can be typical for a neutered male goat but as I said, I don’t see anything about the suddenness of this change. One thing that occurred to me is the change in the hierarchy of males since the loss of Nogal. Sunny Ray is the only other male goat except for the babies? And he has proven himself able to bullied by Jack. So Jack now thinks this really is his herd. The power structure has shifted and become unbalanced. Without Nogal, Jack is “king of the mountain”.
    I did see where people keep wethered goats as a barometer for telling when a doe has been bred but it didn’t take. They often let him have his way with the doe until she cycles out of heat and kicks him to the side.

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  3. jaime Avatar
    jaime

    Another thought is that perhaps there is something else triggering the flood of hormones he seems to be showing. Your vet would possibly know that just by talking to you.
    I wish you love and luck. I know you are tired and feeling vulnerable to this crazy goat. I wish I could help.

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  4. Marti Avatar
    Marti

    Cannot know of the tiredness, the stress but what I do know is that above all else, you all have given him another chance by shoring up the fencing, etc. So whatever comes or happens, you can rest in that…

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  5. Yvette Avatar

    You did all the possible and I think too that the loss of nogal has big impact.
    I’m sorry you’re tired but so much happend lately
    Love

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  6. jude Avatar

    I guess we learn a lot from tired.

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  7. deb Avatar
    deb

    My question is, if no babies will result, why not let him be with the herd?

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  8. Faith Avatar

    I was wondering the same as deb above me, but then, when I thought of danger, I thought it must be that he will defend his herd, his “right” to his herd. And apparently even against non threats like Tay, you and Emrie. I can definitely see how being rammed by goat would be dangerous.

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  9. Deb G Avatar

    Hope you got some rest today….

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  10. Nancy Avatar

    Oh Grace. I can’t imagine. I hope you can get some rest now with the fencing stronger and also rest in the knowledge that you’ve done all you know to do to care for all of the beings there.

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  11. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    I have been wondering if animals can have complex emotions like humans do. Jumping Jack might have witnessed Sunny Ray’s attack and ultimate changes, and maybe Nogal’s illness and death. Can he, a goat being, be traumatized? They are pretty smart to notice all the changes, but not have the wherewithal….
    I don’t know. I just feel for him.
    Love,
    Me

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  12. Laura Avatar
    Laura

    Also, the weather has been crazy scary at times.

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