Our Old Friend Huey

This is our old friend, Knee-High Nibblers Lil' Huey, born March 7th, 2003. This was the night he came home to live with us on May 27, 2007. It is hard to believe it was that long ago.

He came to us as one of our first herd bucks, along with this sweet guy, Steely. While our does can be a bit fussy, the bucks were always sweet and glad for a back scratch and a little one on one attention. Wyatt Clay turned five that summer, and was glad to help see to the friendly boys, so when it came to them showing at shows, Bailey let Wyatt show them.

Here he was with April Seiler, his first time in showmanship.  We are pretty sure that all he said was that he was a sweet buck and his name was Huey and he had a rumen...

Huey, aka Hubert, as everyone around here has at least one nickname, settled in well to life here at Patriot's Dream, and enjoyed his life as a herd sire, seeing to the does and helping to raise the baby kids.

 Huey and Wyatt continued to show together, and even attended the National pygmy goat convention in Cottonwood. Each showmanship class, there was Wyatt with his buddy Huey, Bailey rooting him on from the gate, people shaking their heads at the young child showing the big buck. About a year ago, I saw photos of the two of them from the convention pop up on another person's facebook page, laughing about the little boy with his buddy from way back at that convention in Arizona.

Even without a proper hold on the lead, there stood silly Huey, right at Wyatt's side. As the years went on, Huey sired sweet kids, and loved wandering the property. When the young silkies would squeeze out of their pen and into the buck area, we would find them riding around on his funky twisted scurs.

As he grew old, the arthritis began to set in, he still ambled around the property, He looked after the new young bucklings, and talked with them at the fence. When they got out of pen time for Bailey to clean their pen, he still wandered the hill on the east side of the house.  He was slowing down, and losing muscle tone, but still a happy old man.

We have known for some time that old Huey, was getting old. Bucks are generally expected to be around from eight to ten years. But despite stiffness, every time I would walk by worrying about him, Powerstroke would make sure he was standing up and eating, looking me in the eye to make sure I noticed that his buddy was just fine.

Then this week, Huey took a really hard turn. One of the hardest things to know is when it is time. We watched him carefully and did more work around the pens. Thursday he had had a bad spell, and the only reason he got up at all was because Bailey stood him up. We thought we would let him rest overnight. This morning he got up and moved around a little, but not well. Each time, Bailey moved his own bowls of food and water along with him.  Sweet old Huey passed away this afternoon, in his favorite spot,  on his own terms.  We will miss our sweet old Huey, a truly special guy. Rest in Peace, dear friend.