Damn Goats!

As many of you know we have been having serious issues with our goats.  To the point where we are seriously considering selling them.  First it started off with moving up here on this mountain above Cuenca and eventually not having enough pasture.  So, we created more pasture with the hopes of moving them back and forth between pastures every two months or so.  Well, the wire that was sold to Mark as aluminum was not and has started to rust, which has created shorts in the wire.  Which means that the electric power running through the fence is weak and the goats have learned that.  Every two or three times a day they go through or hop the fence to head to greener pastures.  Our neighbor's pastures.  They don't eat as much as his cows do and don't do any of the damage that they do, but they are our neighbors and we want to be good neighbors.  So, they can't keep doing this.

The goats always come home after two hours or so, but the problem is that for some reason they have decided that it is fun to jump on and walk all over the roof.  The first time I thought it was funny to see goats go trip trapping across the roof, but its not funny anymore.  In Cuenca they cover the roofs or rooves (you can use both) with clay tiles.  And they break when goats walk all over them.  So, the goats have broken many many tiles on the roof.  We are beside ourselves.  This is a rental property.  Which led to us fencing ANOTHER area for them in a more lush and dense area of the forest with the hopes that they will be so satisfied with the food available that they will not try to get out.

So, on to another fence.  Thankfully, labor and fencing materials are cheap and we already had quite a bit of wire left.  The fence was finished on Wednesday with four strands of electric wire.  We moved the goats to the new area, and watched as they walked right through the fence.  After many minutes of serious frustration we just gave up and they followed us back home.  Talk about depressing. 

Next idea...what about filling in the four strands of electric with barbed wire?  We are just about to give in and get rid of the little bastards. 

Today the fence was finished.  AGAIN.  So we took them back to the new area.  AGAIN.  This time they seemed a little calmer.  The area was familiar to them.  When we first got there Mark started to walk away and Beauty threw herself at the fence, I guess thinking she could go through like she used to.  Well, she got quite a surprise this time.  She yelled and jumped back with quite a shock.  It was a joy to see.  Sorry, but it was.  As we worked on the fence tending to some certain spots they got down to business eating their butts off.  We drove the car by honking a few times.  We walked up and around the hill a couple of times out of sight, but they stayed put.  So far we haven't had any goats knocking on the door this evening.  I plan on going back to check on them in about 15 minutes.  Ohhhhh, I soooo hope this works!

The first time bringing the goats down.  Compared to what
they had in Ohio and their current pasture, this place is
perfect.  Goats are browsers.  They will eat grass, but
prefer weeds, leaves and bark.

What are you doing and where are you going?  Don't even
think about leaving us here because we will come after you!

J.J. (Joan Jett) throwing herself in with abandon.

There's J.J. again.  Lower right-hand corner.

They are very suspicious.

Alice and her wether, Sinjin, were the first to escape
and take off home. 

Mark and his sidekicks. 

Mark is so frustrated he can't even look at them.

Second time around.  Fixing spots in the fence.
They are still suspicious, but a lot more relaxed this time.

Beauty up in a tree.  Goats love this stuff.

Now Honey Badger is getting in some tree climbing.
Lower right-hand corner, in case you can't see her.

Fingers crossed this fence will hold.  I really want to keep
my goats!