"Ice Storm"

Checking the fences after an ice storm often presents scenes like this.

                                                                                                                                                                                           



"Yikes !"



 



The "H" girls are curious about what the boss is doing and follow along.






"Mr. Bill to the rescue"








"One more big limb"

 



"Done"

 

One hour of chainsawing and limb dragging has the fence back in business. The electric net fencing is very forgiving..."takes a licking and keeps on ticking."











"Snow Days"

Winter has been kind in the gentle hills of Tennessee...until Thursday when a fast moving storm dumped several inches of very wet snow on our ridge and the surrounding valleys. The goats have access to rounds bales but when snow covers the pasture square bales are popped open and spread around.







" I think square bales taste better"



"Don't talk with your mouth full"





"Might you have a biscuit in your pocket?"



"Erma and Emily Ann share a patty"

Makin' Do

Winter chores have to get done even if the transmission goes out in the farm truck. Square bales need to be delivered to the doelings by what ever method works. Sometimes folks do a double take as they see this go by but it gets the job done.

Happy Girls Enjoy Their Hay

"Holiday Wishes and Goat Kisses"

      Merry Christmas from High Meadows Kikos



Bill, Lynda, Theresa, Luke and the "kids"



" Goat Kisses"

"Someone To Watch Over Me"



Sally keeping a look out

High Meadows Kikos currently employs the services of seven large guard dogs. They are deployed in several different fields with goats of varying ages. Our dogs are Anatolian and Anatolian/Pyrenees cross and are a vital part of our meatgoat operation. It takes pounds of dog food and a pretty good vet bill to support these guys but they really earn their keep. A hard working mature large guard dog is a joy to watch and worth all the anxious moments of puppyhood. 

Sally and Freya Looking Both Ways



Heidi Checks Out New Kid



Sparky Surveys His Kingdom

"Ahhh...Romance !"

HMK Farragut

Fall breeding season is in full swing at High Meadows. Senior buck HMK Farragut is busy courting the gals and by this time most of the does are bred. It is much quieter now and we are looking forward to the arrival of March kids.

"Emily Ann and Farragut"

"Checking"

"Just Checking"

Farragut visits with his does

"Shuffle"

"Large guard dogs Sally, Heidi and Freya waiting"

"Loading young doelings"

"2012 doelings arrive at their temporary home"

It is time to bring the breeding bucks and does home to High Meadows. First the dogs are loaded to await transfer to their next work assignment. Then the does to young for breeding are loaded to be moved far from the "action." Now to go get the "big boys"!

"Going Once...."




"Going once...."

 

"Going Twice........."

High Meadows recently consigned eight of our does at the Appalachian Kiko Invitational sale. The event was well attended with buyers from ten states. Our does sold well and went to farms in Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.


"Sold!....HMK Hilda....high selling doe"



"Boys Will Be Boys"



Sam Watching

 High Meadows has had several large guardian dogs over the years and they are  essential to our operation. The Anatolian cross puppy litters have produced several very fine stock dogs and a few that just did not make the grade. Sam and Badger are pups in training. They are working about ten acres with twenty six older does. Early in their training the does will teach them manners, correct ways to approach and how to move with the goats as they forage. Dogs are usually over a year old before they really begin to bond with and guard their goats.



Badger Watching



Sam and Badger Not Watching



More not watching

 Sometimes the warm summer days can stretch on forever and the guarding becomes boring. The urge to wrestle and play becomes overpowering and the goats are temporarily forgotten. The boys have learned it is ok to chew on each other and not the goats and so...boys will be boys...until they hear another dog or a hawk flys over and then it's back to work.

Girls! Girls! Girls!



2012 Doeling Crop

All of Highmeadows girls are now dispersed to other farms doing vegetative management. Rounds are made every day to check on welfare of does, feed guard dogs and fill water pans.

2011 Does


Several of our yearling does will be going soon to the Appalachian Kiko Invitational sale in September. Highmeadows is very pleased to offer a few of our "Champagne Ladies" for sale. They are primed and ready for their first dance!



"Working Moms"



"Goat Train  Passes By"

Our older does are working very hard to recoup after weaning off some very nice kids. The farm where they are working was overgrown with blackberries and honeysucke. This is the third year of rotation to this property and it is beginning to look like a hay field once again.