There are new arrivals at Longleat with the birth of two pygmy goat kids at the estate’s Family Farmyard.
Petal and Poppy, born to mums Piglet and Phoebe, are five and six weeks old respectively and bring the herd to 11. The playful pair are already delighting keepers with their energetic hops and “zoomies”.
Lead keeper Gemma Short said:
“It’s always lovely having goat kids at the farm. They are happy, fun-loving animals that just make you smile.
“It feels particularly special as Piglet was born here at the park in 2020, so to see her become a first-time mum to Poppy is a joy.”
Pygmy goat kids weigh around 1.8kg at birth and will grow to approximately 30kg as adult females. They typically spend between eight and 12 weeks on milk, beginning to wean at around 10 to 12 weeks.
With winter temperatures still low, the team has installed heat lamps in the barn to help keep the youngsters warm and support their development.
Gemma added:
“We need to keep the kids warm, which isn’t the easiest at this time of year. We’ve installed heat lamps in their barn to keep them warm and support their growth.
“With their hops, skips and jumps, they’re starting to explore the world around them, and there is nothing better than seeing them having the zoomies. It’s a treat that we have two goat kids to grow up and play together.”
Visitors will be able to see the pygmy goats at Family Farmyard in the spring, alongside wallabies, reindeer, donkeys and emu.
