If you’ve ever spent time on our farm, you’ll know there’s one goat who always steals the show: Matilda, or as we lovingly call her, “Tilly”. She’s the sweetest, most affectionate little goat, always the first to come running to great us. And today (February 26th) is her first birthday!
Tilly had a rough start. She was one of three kids from our doe, Willow. Unfortunately, within the first 24 hours of life, Willow rejected her. And when I say “rejected,” I mean Willow was actively bucking Tilly across the pen. It wasn’t just neglect—it was unsafe for her to stay with Willow. Goats can sometimes do this for reasons that are a bit of a mystery. My personal theory? Willow probably didn’t think she had enough milk for all three kids and made the harsh decision to reject one so she could care for the other two.
I snatched her up, brought her inside the house, and placed her in a basket while I researched and decided how to handle the situation. At this point, I was left in a bit of a bind. I was home alone and didn’t have the supplies or setup to care for an orphaned goat. Willow couldn’t be trusted, and I had no space in my house to take Tilly in. So what did I do? I took her with me to Tractor Supply. Yes, you read that right—this tiny, newborn goat came along for a trip to the store! She was so small that I tucked her into my purse. I got a small bottle, goat milk replacer, a baby pen, and some puppy pads for the mess that was sure to follow.
When I got home, I set up her little “nursery,” and our cat, in a true act of kindness, finished licking Tilly clean like she was one of her own. It was the most heartwarming thing to witness!
Getting Tilly the right nutrition was crucial. A newborn goat needs to drink colostrum within the first 24 hours of life—it’s packed with the antibodies and nutrients she’d need to survive. So, we had to get a little creative. To keep Willow distracted, I put her on the milking stand with some sweet grain. While Willow munched away, Tilly was able to nurse a few times. It was a small victory, but it made a world of difference for Tilly’s health.
Once that was taken care of, we moved to bottle feeding. I’m not going to sugar coat it, it was obnoxious to warm up a bottle to the right temperature every 4 hours, and stress about how much she was eating and if her poop was the right consistency. It felt like we had completely uprooted our routine to become spontaneous foster parents for this tiny orphan. But looking back, I think those milk drunk snuggles were my favorite part of the whole experience. Tilly would finish her bottle and then snuggle on my chest and fall asleep. Hearing her little snores and knowing that she felt safe enough to sleep in my arms made my heart melt!
For a few weeks, Tilly stayed in the house with us. Some nights were tough, though, as she suffered from separation anxiety. Without any goat friends around, she was lonely. In an attempt to soothe her, I got her a cute lambchop toy, the size of a baby goat, to keep her company. It wasn’t the best solution, but hey, it was something. (I think this is the moment when Tilly officially transitioned from a farm animal to a pet!)
As time passed, Tilly grew more curious and adventurous. She quickly learned how to hop up and down the stairs, entertaining herself with endless rounds of goat parkour. It was adorable, but just like when a baby suddenly learns to crawl, our home and valuables were no longer safe. Soon enough, she was jumping on furniture and escaping her baby pen. At that point, I knew it was time to introduce her back to the herd. But there was one last hurdle…
The solar eclipse was approaching, and I had booked a cabin a year in advance to watch this event of a lifetime. But Tilly still wasn’t ready to be left alone with the other goats and we hadn’t established a safe relationship between her and Willow yet. So, we packed her up and took her along with us! We even got her doggy diapers and bright pink suspenders to keep them up. Tilly was our little shadow, exploring the cabin and even curling up in a chair to go to sleep when the sun darkened during the eclipse. She was the cutest eclipse-viewing companion ever!
After we returned home, it was time for Tilly to rejoin the herd. Goats need to learn social behavior from each other, and up until that point, Tilly had only socialized with humans. The transition had its challenges. Willow wasn’t thrilled with her return and would still try to headbutt Tilly away whenever she could. But by then, Tilly had grown bigger and more agile, and could get out of Willow’s way. They’re still not the best of friends, but Tilly has learned to hold her own.
Despite their rocky relationship, Tilly has stayed true to her friendly, affectionate nature. She’s still the first one to come running to greet us when we step outside, and continues to follow us everywhere. I’m convinced she’ll always be our baby.
Happy birthday Tilly! We love you to pieces! <3
