The "My New Favorite Friends" Story

My new friends stretching to see what
I may have for them to eat.

It was an ordinary day. My new favorite friends can't wait to get a closer look at me as I stand along the fence at the Goat Flower Farm in Lancaster, PA, since I’m offering a full course menu of carrots and crackers to them. From the location name I just gave, you could surmise I am at a goat farm, and you would be correct, after all, Lancaster County is considered the Garden Spot of America with farm after farm on rolling hills where the Pennsylvania Amish call home. But, this farm is slightly different. A few weeks ago I was reading a story in the Lancaster newspaper written by staff writer Ad Crable titled "Enough to make you faint." Caught my eye when directly under the tittle was a photo of the cutest goat you ever want to see. Read the story then turned to my computer where I Googled the farm and was amazed at all the stories that had been recently written about it.

Young goat in the tub "fainted" after becoming
frightened (excited) as it tried to exit the tub. 

Stories about programs on ABC World News, Yahoo Travel, Phila- delphia Media Network, WJBF Channel 6 News from Georgia, MTV show titled Ridiculous- ness, BBC World's Weirdest Events and even a show from a local Harrisburg, PA TV station. Decided at that time I just had to take a trip to see these goats for myself. Called the owner, Carol Ellis, and introduced myself. Happens that the farm is about a mile from my home in Manheim Township.

Young goat attempting to nurse on my wife's finger.

As I talked with Carol I found out a few more facts about the breed of goat that she has been raising for almost 20 years. Called "fainting goats", but correctly named Myotonic goats, since when the goats are startled, excited or scared, they seem to faint and fall over. They never lose consciousness so they don't truly faint.  It is a hereditary trait that causes their muscles to tighten which in turn causes them to tip over and become as stiff as a board.

Another young goat as it opens it mouth to see what I
may have to feed it.  You can see the small teeth.

Carol told me that it doesn't hurt them and they recover from the fall in a few seconds. The breed is so special that they are listed on the priority list of the Livestock Conservancy Organization. Myotonic goats are considered meat goats and are raised in other parts of the country for the meat market, but Carol has been fortunate that all her kids (as she called her goats) find pet homes. I asked if I could make a visit and a few days later found myself standing along a fence at one of the couple of areas where Carol raises them.

My wife feeding some of the adult goats carrots and crackers.

I asked my wife if she cared to join me and although she was somewhat hesitant, since she wasn't sure she wanted to see the cute goats falling over, she came with me. I must tell you they are even cuter than I anticipated. I love all animals and I can see how someone would want a "fainting goat" as a pet. Shortly after our arrival we saw this one baby goat trying to exit a small plastic tub that it had been laying in before we arrived. It became frightened (excited) when it couldn't lift it's back legs from the tub. Eventually it escaped, but it suddenly froze, muscles tightened, and it fell over onto it's back.

This feeder is in an enclosure made for the young goats,
but this young goat feels its easier to stick its head
through the fence from the other side of the enclosure.

By the time I pointed it out to my wife, it had righted itself again and was walking with away. That was the only incident of "fainting" that we witnessed the entire hour we were visiting. These little goats are so much fun. They are so inquisitive and came to the fence as soon as we arrived. The real young ones like to take your finger in their mouth to suck on as if they are nursing.

Mother nursing her young.

All of them loved the treats of baby carrots and saltine crackers that Carol told me they enjoy. They do have sharp teeth, but are very gentle when taking food from you. They have plenty of grain and hay to munch upon which I assume constitutes the majority of their diet. A few of the older goats took a liking to me and stretched as far as they could over the fence for my offering of carrots and crackers. We left knowing we had to return again sometime soon to see our new favorite friends and treat them to a few more carrots and crackers. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. 

A few more of my new favorite friends saying Goodbye!