Hits and Misses

It's been a long winter, hasn't it? For us in western Oregon, winter means that if it's not dark and raining, it's gloomy and pouring (except for the day or two where it's freezing and snowing). I find myself desperately trying to find things to keep our imaginations and spirits alive until spring, and hopefully drier weather, returns.

Therefore, I've recently started a project I call E.W.G. or Experimenting with Goats. Now, before anyone freaks out and thinks I'm doing evil medical experiments on my goat boys, let me just say this is not the case. Not yet anyway. (kidding!!)

Instead, I'm experimenting with food. You know, goat-y likes and dislikes. Rumor has it that goats will eat anything and *everything*...tin cans, paper, ivy, wood, garbage - but in my experience, this is not true. I have, however, found myself to be quite surprised by some of the things they will, and won't, eat.

And so, without further ado, here are...
Pete and Reggie's Food Hits and Misses of February 2011

FOOD ITEM: Asparagus
Hit or Miss?: A resolute MISS

While some attention was paid initially to the scent:

The majority of the action was around the dish rather than eating from the dish. They stood over it:

Head-butted next to it:

And turned their backs on it:

Pretty clear message there.

FOOD ITEM: Bananas
Hit or Miss?: A resounding HIT!

Well, at least for Pete. Reggie did the whole sniff and taste thing, but Pete ultimately was the one to gobble that whole blasted banana (including the peel) down:

Reggie: Sniff, sniff:

Pete: Nom, nom, nom:

Reggie: sniff, sniff, sniff:

Reggie: A dainty and noncommittal taste:

Pete: "Must.get.more.in.my.mouth!"
Reggie: "I wonder if I could scratch my head on this.":

The banana had a 50/50 rating with my taste testers. Half of them loved it, the other half wanted to just play with it.

FOOD ITEM: Cauliflower
Hit or Miss?: A crunchy HIT

Ever wondered what to do with the greenery and stalky ends of your cauliflower? Feed it to your goats!:

Despite this picture making it appear otherwise, both boys loved this tasty treat. Nice tongue, Pete:

It was good to see Reggie finally enjoying something as much as Pete:


FOOD ITEM: Douglas Fir Tree Branches
Hit or Miss?: A seasonal HIT

Since there are very few bushes or blackberries for them to chew on right now, and also since we just felled that 50' Douglas Fir tree a few weekends ago, fir branches have been big on the menu lately. Fortunately, they love it.
And it makes their breath smell "Piney Fresh"!:


FOOD ITEM: Leek tops
Hit or Miss: A definite MISS!

While Pete and Reggie both tried to be polite, and did significant and energetic amounts of sniffing and mouthing, very little of this made it down either of their throats:

Reggie did the whole "lipping" thing again:

...followed by more of his trademark "sniff, sniff":

And then the leeks went into the compost bucket.

FOOD ITEM: Raisins
Hit or Miss?: A HIT that made me laugh and laugh (Thanks for the idea, Chai Chai at Homestead from Scratch!)

Who knew raisins could be such fun?!:

Both boys wanted to eat them before I could even get them out of the box:

They sucked them out of my hand so fast:

I poured some out then onto the stump and Reggie took great care in closely examining each one:

...before inhaling them all:

Leaving Pete to wonder what they should do next:

So, they head-butted:


FOOD ITEM: Sunflower Seeds
Hit or Miss?: OHMYGOSH- CRAZY HIT!!!

The lure of black-oil sunflower seeds is almost impossible for anyone to resist, apparently. The wild birds love it, my chickens love it and now...:

I couldn't get a non-blurry photo of them eating because they were so frantic to slurp these babies out of my hand:

This treat had a 100% success rate, no question about it:

My husband thinks I spoil my animals. I tell him he's nuts.