Girl’s Rule

Nigerian Pygmy Crosses-  our goats are not purebred, but outcasts that needed safe landing spots.  Girl goats are called nanny goats or does. Goats can live for 12 to 15 years, and make great pets. Contrary to popular belief, they are not garbage eaters, being very selective about their diet. In my experience, they always like your favorite plant the best!

Dori

Nala

Molly

Molly, Dory, and Nala are a package set. Molly came to us when she lost her home due to a move. Her big secret was revealed a few short weeks after her arrival when she gave birth to two beautiful girls, Dory and Nala. Molly and her daughters now live in the Charlotte’s Web Barn, and enjoy warm days in the outdoor goat area. 

Penelope had a rough start going through three homes in the short two and a half weeks of her life before she came to us. Once she landed here, she settled in and became part of the family. The book “Penelope Finds a Home” is the true story of her journey to the ranch. 

Alpacas are a camelid, related to camels, llamas, and giraffes.  Llama and alpacas are often confused, but the biggest difference between them is size. While llamas may reach 400 pounds, alpacas are a dainty 150 pounds. Alpacas also have much softer wool, and usually have a mop of hair on their foreheads. Alpaca wool is also highly sought after because it is much less itchy than sheep wool.

Norma

Nollie

Norma, Nollie, and Noel are our female alpacas. Nollie is the baby of Nelson and Norma, and she has a very sweet disposition. She spent the first month of her life sleeping in the house because she was born in December. She now spends her days outside with her mom, nursing and learning how to be a proper alpaca instead of a house pet. 

Noel

They also “pronk” which is a kind of bounding hop where all four feet leave the ground at the same time. Alpacas vocalize often to express concern, fear, stress, boredom, curiosity, and even contentment. Male alpacas orgel when they are breeding, which is a sounds like you’re trying to hum with a mouthful of water. 

Boy’s Drool

Tom Dooley was named after the folk song Tom Dooley by Leslie’s mom. He is never called Tom, only Tom Dooley. He spends his days doing what boy goats do, peeing on himself to make himself more attractive to the girl goats. We don’t know why boy goats think girl goats find this alluring, but it is the way of the goat world. We think Tom Dooley’s pretty blue eyes should make the girls like him!

Van Gogh is named for the famous one eared painter he resembles. Before he came to the ranch, a coyote attacked poor Van Gogh, taking off one ear, and damaging the other in the process. We’re just happy to have Van Gogh here. 

Nelson is our male alpaca. He hated to be touched because he came to us from a children’s petting zoo. Left in front of the police station, tied to a pole, Nelson is happy he made out to The Pond Digger Ranch. We never force him to allow us to pet him.  After nearly two years of a avoiding us, Nelson is finally coming to us for some occasional petting. His favorite food in the world is a sweet tasty grape.