'Scape Goats

There is a saying about goats: "If your fence won't hold water, it won't hold goats."

Good thing the goats are cute!

We made it four days before our goats escaped for the first time. I thought that was pretty good. But then they escaped again. That same day. And then again. Three times in one day! I think they were making up for not escaping sooner.

We had just had some friends over to meet the goats. In fact, they were just pulling out of the driveway when my daughter yelled that the goats were out. I raced over and, sure enough, the goats were out and seemed pretty proud of themselves. Of course they wouldn't let me get near them but they did wander over to our fenced garden. I opened the gate and they wandered in. Then the fun of catching began. I caught Wetherby first, with much trampling of the garden, and carried him back to his pasture. I then had to catch and carry Tulip, who was very unhappy being separated from her friend and was very vocal about it. I just hope the neighbors weren't watching (though I'm sure they would have been thoroughly entertained)!

I found a gap in the fence and I realized that if we weren't outside with the goats, then they could not be left out in the pasture as they would just escape again so I put them in their barn stall to stay until Jon came home and could fix the fence. Little did I know, that they could get out of that too! 

So...I understand the first time that they escaped. They found a gap in the fence. Of course they will get out of that. But the barn stall?! Tulip got out of there and I still have no idea how she did that! It is quite tall so I doubt she jumped it. My best guess is that she somehow climbed out. This escape occurred when Jon was just, ironically, heading to the store to get some supplies to keep the goats from escaping the pasture when I looked out and saw Tulip standing in front of the barn. So more goat-catching ensued. At least I had help this time!

The third time happened while Jon was actively fixing the gap in the fence. The goats were back outside but he walked away for a moment to get some more tools and they saw their chance and went for it. I think they were just mocking us at that point. Now that gap has been fixed so hopefully it will be a while before they get out again. I may have gotten into some poison ivy during this chase but I really hope I saw it before I stepped in it! I don't want to go through that again!