Wildfire Fuel Suppression System

It is March now. That means no more alfalfa until the Wildfire Fuel Suppression System (WFSS, or WooFaSS) cleans up the vegetation so the Oakland Fire doesn’t give me grief. These pictures show a couple of the patches in the area where they have started grazing the sweet grass tops and flowers. The light green areas used to be the same dark green as the surrounding grass, but B&C have started to eat away at the green leaves and stems, leaving just the pale undergrowth. As that gets more sun, it will green up as well and become the goats’ second course.

 

I estimate B&C will finish my “back 40” in about a month, six weeks, tops. Then I will move them over to my neighbor’s back yard and let them graze over there until they have cleared her space. Jackie’s yard is larger than mine, with more trees and ivy. The goats absolutely love ivy. OFD will start their inspections in mid-May. Hopefully B&C will have eaten enough to pass Jackie’s property as well as ours.

 

Ed Rovera

 

A Peaceful Dinner -- Almost

I’ve started feeding B&C in separate bowls because Clyde has taken to butting Bonnie away from the trough of rations. By giving each one half a scope of goat rations they seem to eat slower and Bonnie gets more to eat. However, this is not a perfect solution to the problem. Whichever bowl is put down first, Clyde grabs. Bonnie, thinking that’s all they both are going to get, tries to push her way in. I then have to intercept Bonnie and show her the other bowl so she’ll go for that one. But Clyde eats faster than Bonnie. He’s a jerk and a glutton. This means he finishes his portion and then goes over to horn in on Bonnie’s food. I try and slow him down  a bit by scratching him while he eats, but it’s not always 100% effective. Still, I get to spend a bit more time with them, which they both seem to appreciate.

 

Ed Rovera

 

Clyde the Resourceful Goat

If you look at these photos, you will see numerous holes in this muck pit. At first I thought a possum or raccoon had been digging it it for bugs. Then I saw the naked branches directly above the pit, certain proof the Clyde had stood on his hind legs to eat what he could reach. The goats love leaves off trees and will go to considerable lengths to nibble a few.

Separate Dishes

Clyde has taken to butting Bonnie away from the food trough so I’m forced to feed them separately now. Much calmer dinner time and much less gobbling up of the rations. Both eat slowly and peacefully.