Little Kid Lost

Our two goats are sisters. 

Twins. 

Gigi named them Tulip and Yogurt. 

We bought them from our local zoo when they were babies. 

We bought them to be companions for our pony. 

They were the first inhabitants in our newly renovated barn in 2011. 

When Buttercup arrived they were terrified of her. 

What was this giant beast that we were locking them up with?!

But in a short period of time, they came to trust her. 

Trust that she wouldn't run over them. 

That she would share fruit treats with them. 

But Yogurt and Buttercup have a special bond that we've noticed. 

Of course Tulip is her very, very best friend. 

If one goat is separated from the other by a gate or fence the screaming starts. 

The relationship that Yogurt has with the pony is very unique in my eyes, though. 

You see, Yogurt often loses her baby. 

Baby?

Yes. 

Her baby. 

Yogurt goes into a false pregnancy a few times a year. 

Where her udder fills with milk and she prepares for birth. 

The vet has seen this happen in Yogurt and has told us what is probably happening. 

Since of course she's not really pregnant, as all of the animals in the barn are female, she probably has a cyst on an ovary causing false pregnancy. 

Goats aren't normally spayed like our pet dogs and cats are. 

Goats are seen as working animals. 

Most people breed them, milk them, butcher them. 

But our goats are our pets. 

And Yogurt thinks she's pregnant too often and then becomes the saddest thing I have ever seen. 

She moans. 

She cries. 

She hides. 

Most interesting is that when she hides she hides under the horse.

She won't leave Buttercup's side. 

And those sounds she makes are so mournful. 

But here's the thing. 

I don't know if she's crying out because she's in pain, having contractions and trying to give birth. 

Or if she's already had her baby and now can't find it. 

I know I'm anthropomorphisizing things with her. 

But something is definitely happening. 

She cries and hides for usually two days. 

She let's me pet her, which isn't her thing. 

She likes to always act tough and will rear up on her back legs to hit you if you try to pet her. 

Which is really just very funny to see because she never does hit anyone. 

It's her tough-gal warning. 

Well, unless you're a cat. 

Or a chicken. 

Or Gigi holding a cat or chicken. 

Then she will make contact. 

I'm wondering if we should get her spayed. 

It will make her more comfortable I think. 

And she won't look for her baby. 

Or whatever she's doing. 

Anyway, it will make me feel better...