Goat house

This is Robert Wethersby, a male Angora goat. It’s a very dignified name for a goat and he doesn’t deserve it, but his name has a secret meaning. A “wether” is a male goat or sheep that has been castrated. That’s right, Robert can never have kids. In my mind there is really only one word to describe Robert, “nasty.” He is mean in his soul. When we work with him (for example, trimming his hooves) he often speaks to us in tongues. Maureen swears that she heard him once say “I am possessed by the Devil!”

This is the house that Robert lives in, along with his ancient aunt, Felicity, who bullies him. I built it a few years ago – lots of work. It is “cord-wood” construction with cedar shingles. Each of those logs is about five inches thick, so they are really like bricks in mortar.

Angora goats are like sheep - you can shear their wool and spin it. Actually, there are few steps missing there. Wool must be sheared, washed, carded, often made into roving, and then you can spin it.