Hansel and Gretel joined Farmhouse rescue as a pair. Their mother was a weed abatement goat and if like us you live in Orange County, you may have seen hundreds of goats on many of the hills, especially in Laguna Beach, and wondered what they were doing. The goats are released there to clear dry brush and vegetation for fire prevention. They are natural climbers who are not defeated by a steep hill or uneven ground that might cause issues for a tractor or a mower. The goats will eat everything so are perfect for clearing large areas of land of course as long as there are no specific plants that you want to preserve.
It seems that unbeknown to the owner of the weed abatement goats, there was one goat carrying a secret or two. The baby goats were delivered on the hillside and later found by a ranger and that is how they came to be with us. They immediately got on well with the other goats, which is not surprising as goats are very sociable animals. They are even known to get depressed if they are separated from their companions, so we always make sure they are together. They communicate with each other by bleating, and they have unique calls and voices which we hear a lot of at Farmhouse Rescue. Hansel has such a cheeky and playful character, we have never met a goat quite like him, however, his sister Gretel is a little quieter and much more laidback. Hansel has a wonderful set of horns and while not all goats are born with horns many are born with their stalks.
We all know a baby goat is called a kid, but did you know that when a goat is giving birth, it is said to be “kidding”? Goats are like dogs in that they can learn certain words, their own name for instance. They are much smarter than they are usually given credit for, and their inquisitive nature means they love to explore, although they are not fans of water and would prefer to leap over puddles and streams rather than step in them.
Have you ever looked a goat in the eye? Next time you see one, be sure to take a closer look. Their pupils are actually rectangular rather than round, and they can rotate their eyes significantly in their sockets which gives them nearly a 360-degree range of vision. They are red-green colorblind, but that doesn’t appear to cause them any problems apart from when they are deciding on what outfits to wear.
Don’t forget that we are in desperate need of donations so if you are able to help, please donate directly on our website or check out our wish lists for specific items we are in need of at the farm, that you might be able to purchase for us. Thank you for coming along on this wonderful journey with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT WILL I RECIEVE WHEN ADOPTING AND ANIMAL?
You’ll receive a digital certificate (and an optional printed certificate) featuring your animal friend. We like to send updated photos, and your special animal sends you a gift around the holidays.
HOW DO I MAKE MY ADOPTION SPONSORSHIP DONAIONS?
We ask that you sign up for an automatic payment program. Your sponsorship donations can come directly out of your checking or savings account, or be charged to a debit or credit card. Automatic contribution programs are a convenient way to ensure the ongoing daily care of our shelter animals. They also cut down on administrative costs, which means that your contribution goes that much further to help the animals!
DOES MY ANIMAL FRIEND HAVE MORE THAN ONE SPONSOR?
Because the animals at FarmHouse Rescuehave been rescued from situations of cruelty, abuse, and neglect, many of them have special care needs, including costly veterinary expenses. Since it is often too costly for one person to fund the care of a special needs animal, we must provide for many of these needy individuals with the help of multiple generous sponsors like you. The more sponsors we have, the more animals we can commit to caring for, and so on.
