The Herd That Found Us...

Stan is a buck boer goat and the patriarch of the herd. He has a personality as big as Texas. He's a talker, always sounding off about something, and carries himself with the kind of confidence that only comes from years of being in charge. Stan has found an unlikely best friend in Bully the kid — the two butt heads, carry on conversations only they understand, and generally entertain anyone lucky enough to be watching. Ten goats are plenty, and we keep Stan separated from the does, because Stan takes his job very seriously and the herd would simply multiply faster than we could keep up. Stan has recently developed arthritis in his front knees, and we've adjusted his care accordingly — special diet, medications, and a little extra attention to try and keep him comfortable. He is a little clown, but he's OUR little clown and we love him.

Bucky is a wether buck Boer goat and has a remarkable story. On the day he was born, a feeder accidentally tipped over on him and he was barely clinging to life. Holly revived him on the spot, and we rushed him to the vet, and learned that both back legs had been dislodged from the hip — he couldn't stand, couldn't walk. To make matters worse, his mama Rose rejected him, so we started him on colostrum and baby bottles. We built a custom stand fitted with a sling to suspend him upright, giving his little body the support it needed to begin healing and rehabilitating. He even wore diapers. During all of this, Bucky lived right inside the house with us. It all worked. Today, at two years old, Bucky is thriving, living outside with his friends, and no one would ever know the battle this little guy fought on his very first day of life and afterward. 

Blanche is a petite tan doe Boer mix with a personality that punches well above her weight — which is fitting, since she was named after one of television's most beloved Golden Girls, and just like her namesake, she carries herself with a quiet confidence that commands attention the moment she enters a pasture. Don't let her small frame fool you — this little gal has one of the biggest hearts on the ranch, and when the herd moves, Blanche often leads the way. When feeding time comes, she's first in line. Sweet and gentle to the core, never mean, never sassy, just steady and sure, she's also a proven mother who raised Fred and Wilma with the same calm, nurturing spirit she brings to everything she does. She may be one of the smaller members of our herd, but Butterfly Ranch wouldn't be the same without her. 

Wilma is a doe Boer goat with a one-track mind that has gotten her into more than a little trouble over the years — she is, without question, our little troublemaker. Born to Blanche, Wilma decided one day that the grass on the other side of the fence is greener. Every single day, without fail, she finds a way to stick her head through the fence somewhere and get stuck, and more than once that has nearly cost her dearly as dogs have found her in that vulnerable position. The scars on her ears tell the story better than words. But she keeps right on going, undeterred and unrepentant, tempting fate every single day. She's the reason we moved the entire herd closer to the house into a dedicated pen — not to punish her, but to make sure someone is always close enough to find her before trouble does. Wilma may test our patience, but she has our whole hearts.  

Fred is a wether Boer goat and son to the ever-graceful Blanche, which goes a long way toward explaining his calm, gentle disposition — he clearly took after his mother. As Wilma's brother, he has had a front-row seat to more fence-related drama than any goat should have to witness, and unlike his adventurous sister, Fred has taken careful notes. You will never find his head stuck in the fence. He watches, he observes, he considers — and then he makes the sensible choice, which in Fred's world usually means staying exactly where he is and letting Wilma have all the excitement. Even-tempered and gentle to his core, Fred is the steady, quiet presence that every herd needs — the one who keeps things grounded while the chaos swirls around him. He is living proof that good raising leaves a mark, and Blanche couldn't be prouder.  

Mork is a wether Boer goat with a personality as big as he is — and he has grown into quite a big guy. Born right here on Butterfly Ranch to "Mama", who has since gone on to a loving new home with a family friend after making sure Mork and his sister Mindy were well weaned and ready for the world, Mork has settled into ranch life like he was born for it — which, of course, he was. He is gentle to his core, the kind of goat who will walk right up to you looking for a scratch behind the horns or a good pat on the side, and he has absolutely no shame about it. Mork loves attention and is not the least bit shy about letting you know when he feels he hasn't gotten enough of it. Named after the beloved character from the classic TV show, Mork brings his own brand of charm and personality to Butterfly Ranch every single day, and life here is a little more entertaining because of him. 

Mindy is a doe Boer goat and the sister of our beloved Mork, both of them born here on Butterfly Ranch to "Mama". Named for the sweet and patient Mindy from the classic television series Mork & Mindy — a show near and dear to our hearts — she lives up to her namesake in every way. Just like the character who spent her days trying to make sense of the lovable, unpredictable Mork, our Mindy is sweet, energetic, and perpetually right on her brother's heels, doing her level best to figure out whatever it is he's up to at any given moment. Whether that's a full-time job or just an entertaining hobby, we're not entirely sure — but she takes it seriously either way. Together, Mork and Mindy are a pair that would have made even Robin Williams smile, and they bring that same kind of joy and laughter to Butterfly Ranch every single day. 

Nanu is a wether Boer goat and the son of our sweet Mindy, which makes him the grandson of the ranch's original mama and a proud member of Butterfly Ranch's most entertainingly named family. He came into the world as a runt — smaller than the other goats his age — but what he lacks in size he more than makes up for in personality and charm. On Mork & Mindy, Mork's beloved catchphrase "Nanu, nanu" served as both a greeting and a farewell, depending entirely on which direction he happened to be heading. And honestly, that description fits our little Nanu perfectly — half the time we can't quite tell if he's coming or going, or whether he's made up his mind at all. But one thing is always certain: wherever Mindy is, Nanu isn't far behind, staying close to his mama the way only a truly devoted little goat can.  

Rose is a doe Boer goat and one of Butterfly Ranch's most quietly compelling characters — named, naturally, after one of television's beloved Golden Girls, and like her namesake, she carries a warmth and sweetness entirely her own. Rose is the mama of Bucky and Tucker, who couldn't have turned out more differently, and whose stories say a lot about this ranch. When Bucky was injured, we had to use store-bought colostrum to keep him alive — and while that decision saved him, it also cost Rose the scent bond that tells a mama goat this is mine. She simply couldn't recognize him anymore. Rose went on raising Tucker in the meantime, never knowing quite what a handful he would turn out to be. She is a sweet girl and a true mother, doing what mothers do — giving everything she has, even when the outcome surprises her. 

Tucker is a buck Boer goat, son of our sweet Rose, and when his brother Bucky was fighting for his life and learning to walk again, Tucker was busy becoming the fastest thing on four legs at Butterfly Ranch — and he didn't slow down. When the time came to have the boys castrated, Bucky was easy to catch, Tucker was not. This boy is wily and quick. So Tucker remains an intact buck, living in the bachelor quarters alongside our patriarch Stan, where the two of them have formed their own unlikely companionship. As it turns out, the two have more in common than we realized — Tucker has developed arthritis in his front knees, the same condition Stan carries. Like Stan, he's now on medications to manage the pain and keep him comfortable. Neither one is lonely, and Tucker, for his part, seems perfectly content with the arrangement. 

 At Butterfly Ranch, you never quite know who might show up next — it's become our way of life here. 

 At Butterfly Ranch, you never quite know who might show up next — it's become our way of life here.