Stopped at Grace Harbor Goat Farm today to buy some fresh farm eggs and goat cheese, and while there see if there were any baby goats which I know get born about this time of year. Here's the score card: they were out of goat cheese, I had to go into the hen house and find my own eggs laid since first thing this morning as all others had been sold (only 5, but that will get Bob through breakfast), and three baby goats born only two hours before I dropped in. It was soon after the fact that the mom was still eating the afterbirth which nature apparently compels her to do. Goats, I learned, typically have 2-3 in a litter, if the dog/cat word for same applies to goats. The mother goat's name was Buck, which probably means the grandchildren were in charge of the names. Another very pregnant goat named Swanee was in the next stall about to pop.
I've never seen a baby goat up close--they're CUTE! About the size of a small-to-medium adult cat, they're born ready to stand and deal with the world.
Anyway, while there I asked about the turkeys that have recently been acquired and if by any chance they were being raised for Thanksgiving. Yes indeed they are. They're a heritage breed called an "Unimproved Bronze" which isn't as romantic as Naragansett Red, the name of the last heritage turkey I tried, but chances are I'll like it better as I didn't like that other at all. Very gamey and tough, that bird was. I reserved one.
Oh, also while there I asked if they ever ate turkey eggs and if not, why not. The answer surprised me: no, because turkey hens only lay about 10 eggs per year. No wonder we don't see turkey eggs for sale at Farmers Markets!
