Photographing Goats | Chickens in the Road

Nov
1

I love photographing my goats. They’re beautiful animals. Smart, funny, gorgeous, and sometimes a little bit crazy, they’re always happy to see me.

They come running, all a-clamor, to the gate. They can’t wait to get their hooves on me.

And I mean that. Literally.

Which is why….

….I have a thousand photos that look like this:

Because they’re always right there.

In my face.

Or on my back.

Eating me.

Eating my clothes.

Eating my hair.

I have no idea why they do this. It’s not like my hair and my clothes can even taste that good.

If for some reason one day I faint in the goat pen, I will awake bald. And naked.

Occasionally I try to get Clover to wear a hat. I put her in the milkstand.

Then I tie a hat on her head and take pictures of her. She totally loves this whole process, and it is, in large part, the foundation of our close, close relationship. I am convinced it is her very favorite thing to do, trying on caps and hats and bonnets, and even the occasional pair of boots. Her favorite thing to do with her favorite person.

“Isn’t that right, Clover?”

Clover: “Babies…..

….I want you to eat her and this time I want you to do it right….

….I want her bald and naked. AND THEN PUT A HAT ON HER.”

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41 Responses
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11-1
2:35
am

Goats are so much fun! I have a picture of some goats we had where we used to board our horses. They are baby goats that my (then fouryear old) daughter was helping to bottle feed. She was buried in shavings and the goats were all over her. I wish I could scan it to the computer, cause it is cute!
Your goats are so very picturesque (sp???)

Claudia W. - Reply
11-1
3:41
am

Cute photos! Thanks for sharing. I have never had a goat, only dogs and cats, so now I feel like I am missing some good times.

Shari C - Reply
11-1
4:05
am

ack! the nubs! the horns! are they coming back or are those old photos???? or am i completely wrong?

shannon - Reply
11-1
5:54
am

You keep putting up pictures like that I’m not sure I’ll be able to wait till next summer (spring?) to get me some goats!!

My husband’s really going to strangle me. If he kicks me out, can I come and live with your goats? Or in the chicken coop?

beth - Reply
11-1
5:57
am

Great photos!

Minna - Reply
11-1
8:01
am

Love CLover the Hat Lady – I am sure she was a hit on Halloween too!!! they are so cute and loveable – even though you have to endure the pounding!!!

jane - Reply
11-1
8:02
am

I have some vintage pictures of some goats that a lady gave my daughter at one time…when she used to have/show goats. Now she is 17 and has moved on to other things. I should send you these pictures.

The Jillybean - Reply
11-1
8:17
am

Shannon, no, these are new photos, the horns are coming back! We are past feeling like it’s safe to keep fighting it, so I guess he’s gonna have horns.

Suzanne McMinn - Reply
11-1
8:28
am

That is so funny! Great post, Suzanne. You should put a red hat on her, take a picture and send it the the Red Hat Society. Think they would accept a red hatted goat into their society? tee hee

Becky - Reply
11-1
8:54
am

Clover is beautiful in her hat! She will get to where she sees you coming with a hat and start rolling her eyes. LOL Diva has gotten so use to my hat parties she just stands there patiently waiting for the crazy lady to finish and give her a cookie. Just love popping over to check on Clovers adventures!

peggy - Reply
11-1
9:17
am

Becky – I hope the red hat Society has a sense of humor or they might think you’re calling them a bunch of old Goats!
I would laugh but some, well…..

:flying:

wkf - Reply
11-1
9:20
am

LOL! That’s funny. I think your goats are great and now I wish I had some.

DeeBee - Reply
11-1
9:22
am

My neighbor’s horse and goats are kept together, and her beautiful black Tennessee Walking Horse with the long, gorgeous, ground-length tail now has a choppy, hacked-up, short and ugly tail thanks to the baby goats. Don’t let this happen to you! :rotfl:

Angie - Reply
11-1
9:25
am

I don’t know much about goats (and I sure could be wrong), Suzanne, but when most animals jump up on you, they are trying to be the dominant one, the pack, herd, flock leader. You might want to ask your friends who sold you the goats if there is a way to show them you are the leader with your body language.

Cathy J. - Reply
11-1
9:35
am

When I visited Suzanne, she demonstrated how she milks Clover. That wee goat loves her stand! She gets up there and poses. Nutmeg loves to be held – like you hold a huge cat – and Honey watches anyone that is holding Nutmeg – like he wants to be held, but is still a tad manly about it… Those goats act more like dogs – they just love Suzanne.

beeyourself - Reply
11-1
9:41
am

Clover does love her milkstand! It’s ironic, because she hates to be milked, but goats love to climb on things so maybe that’s why they all like the stand so much. It’s no trouble getting her to get on the milkstand!

Re showing dominance, I think that they just want to climb on me like they love to climb on everything! And they are, as beeyourself said, very pet-like. They like people and want to be with them, like a dog!

Suzanne McMinn - Reply
11-1
9:42
am

Beeyourself….I was thinking about dogs! I don’t imagine Clover would take too kindly to being told to “Sit, Clover, sit!!!”!!! Suzanne, I’m especially glad you gave us the photos of the goats up in your face, hair, clothes, etc. – it really helped put their love (of cookies) up for us to see. My daughter is visiting from Iowa now but is off to take photos of friends’ kids now – I’ll make sure she sees this when she gets back. She wants a goat (or 2) in the Spring. :catmeow:

Nancy in Atlanta - Reply
11-1
9:51
am

This is one of the funniest posts I have ever read. I burst into laughter when I read it, and even when I re-read it, and then again when I read it to my wife.

I just love Clover, the goat with an attitude!

Matthew

Matthew Burns - Reply
11-1
10:25
am

Your Clover looks so sweet in her hats. And otherwise. My dogs go crazy when I try to put anything on them.
Brenda

Brenda Kula - Reply
11-1
11:39
am

Y’know, you should take a dozen pictures of Clover in 12 different hats and try to sell it as a calendar.

Tori Lennox - Reply
11-1
12:11
pm

That was very cute.

Blessings from Ohio…

Kim W - Reply
11-1
12:17
pm

Watch out Suzanne! Not only did she tell them to eat your clothes and hair, you may wake up with your head poking thru the milking stand wearing a hat and nothing else! And the 3 goats standing over you chanting “no milk no cookies”

TeresaH - Reply
11-1
12:30
pm

She really does look fetching in her hats!

hayseed - Reply
11-1
12:48
pm

I love your sense of humor and your goats. We had BIG goats when I was growing up – they weren’t much fun to be around.

Peggy - Reply
11-1
1:13
pm

LOL I want to see you put a hat on her when she isn’t on her milkstand

catslady - Reply
11-1
1:17
pm

Dominance in goats is usually shown by serious head butting. like rearing up and pile driving each other into the ground. If they start rearing and head butting or charging and butting you the you may have a problem. :fryingpan:

wkf - Reply
11-1
1:44
pm

I heard goats are playful..I was around them ONE TIME..at college…and they are like that – jumping on you…
That is soooo cute…they LOVE YOU MAMA SUZANNE!!!! LOL

I wonder if you hide cookies in your socks or pockets..if they’ll sniff them out…LOL

Donna - Reply
11-1
2:26
pm

I put hats on my cats for special occasions like Christmas and Saint Patricks Day, but Clover has them all beat! *G*

Brandy - Reply
11-1
2:58
pm

How adorable your goats are! And what a wonderful blog you have here. I wandered over here through your LJ community post on burnt-sugar cake, but I’ll definitely be back. I have always been fascinated with country living, animals, and so forth and you bring it to life splendidly! Just thought I’d say.

:mrgreen:

Shannon - Reply
11-1
3:29
pm

Uh-oh horns! Sometimes they get a little agressive with the horns. Be careful.
Love the pics of Clover in her hat.

Estella - Reply
11-1
4:35
pm

Clover looks very ladylike wearing her hat.

Susan - Reply
11-1
7:56
pm

I heart your goats! They are soooo cute…..Some day, if I’m lucky enough to live on a farm, I too will have a goat! Thanks for sharing Suzanne.

Cindy - Reply
11-1
9:48
pm

Clover in a hat is too cute! Love the goat photo stories.

Jodie - Reply
11-2
5:16
am

“I want her bald and naked, and then put a hat on her”.Are you sure that wasn’t 52 saying that line?

Nancy - Reply
11-2
2:52
pm

I love the hats on Clover!

Janet - Reply
11-2
4:02
pm

They are so cute! And funny!

Darlene - Reply
11-3
1:56
am

Love the goat pictures! Too funny.

Is it just me, or was that goat smiling???

Duckabush Blog

Kathy in WA - Reply
11-6
7:16
pm

Very cute post! My cousin has goats, but for some reason I don’t feel like I want to have them…I think being mauled doesn’t appeal to me. I want sheep, so I can shear them and use the wool. And lambs are so precious. Not to say kids aren’t because they are, but I don’t know about the grown ones!

The Tile Lady-Marie - Reply
11-6
7:17
pm

Very cute post! My cousin has goats, but for some reason I don’t feel like I want to have them…I think being mauled doesn’t appeal to me. I want sheep, so I can shear them and use the wool. And lambs are so precious. Not to say kids aren’t because they are, but I don’t know about the grown ones! Great photos though–especially the first one!

The Tile Lady-Marie - Reply
6-4
6:26
pm

I DEARLY LOVE GOATS AND THIS IS ALL SO CUTE.. ESPECIALLY THE ONE WITH THE HAT!

Paula Prater - Reply
8-21
7:18
am

Well, here I thought you might have some ideas -all my pics of twister and tornado look just like yours-they are RIGHT THERE!! but they are great fun and wonderful nigerian dwarfs-5 mos old twins!

rainss61 - Reply