We have had these 2 goats, Eos and Nyx, for 2 years, and the little wild miniature Cheviot sheep, Percy and Grizel, for almost 2 years.They kind of run wild back there in their big field. We have used all manner of trickey over the years to catch them when we have to comb the goats, trim hooves, or shear the sheep. They will come into the inner yard and their shed when we are feeding them, but very cautiously, and usually they hang back until we are headed back to the house. When we need to catch them, they seem to know, and they won't come into the inner yard at all!
They have lots to eat out in their field, and we occasionally give them some hay as well. So the little bit of grain we give them every evening is really just a treat.
To shear the sheep this year, we had to catch them late at night last Monday when Rich fed them. We did this by attaching a long rope onto the second gate, and pulling on it from the patio to close the gate after they were inside eating. We have been trying for a couple weeks to catch them like this, and it took this long. Then they had to be penned up all day Tuesday until I got home from work. It took 2 hours to shear each one. I did better than last year, though!
So after that insanity, I finally had a brilliant idea! The grain is a treat, so let's treat it like one! They only get it if they come close and eat while we are there. We open the gates, put our plastic lawn chairs right there, put some grain in a bucket, line up their bowls, and put just a little grain at a time in the bowls. We started thursday night, and Eos was the only one brave enough to eat. Friday night, Percy and Grizel got some, plus Eos got some corn chips that she ate out of Rich's hand. And last night those 3 were a little braver. Nyx is still hanging back. She wants to come get some so-o-o bad, but she is just too shy and nervous. It's kind of funny, because usually she butts everyone out of the way and eats her fill before letting them in. The hair on her spine stands up on end, and her tail is straight in the air. But I bet within a few nights, she will be right there. She can hardly stand it!
Our plan is to do this at least a few times a week all year, and then they'll be so tame they'll be easy to catch at combing and shearing time!
