Smiles Sensory & Family Farm

Dave really is the Greatest Of All Time.

She is a Golden Guernsey which  is a rare breed of dairy goat from Guernsey, where they have been known for more than two hundred years. In 2024 the breed received a Royal title from King Charles III and is officially the Royal Golden Guernsey Goat.

It is an endangered breed, with fewer than 2000 living animals.

Dave is approximately 16 years old (the lifespan of goats is 10 to 15 years although they can live up to 20), she came to Smiles in 2020. 

She was Initially kept with our main herd, but they were mean to her so she became our first free roaming goat.. She got her name because of her impressive long goatee beard. She loves food and eats her 5 a day. 

Dave was nominated for an award as a therapy animal however she did not win which is a travesty.

Goats have rectangular pupils which allows them very good peripheral vision. Goats only have teeth on their lower jaw and upper back jaw, they have a hard pallet to help chew on the upper front jaw.  

Goats can read human expressions and Dave is particularly good at this, responding to calm kind people with a smile and face rub.

Dave was de budded as a kid goat, a practice that is frowned on nowadays, however it makes her ace for cuddles. 

Pygmy Goat

Stevie-she is free roaming.

Found by our wonderful volunteer Steve Peerless tied up at the gates of the farm, hence her name. Initially we thought she was male so was named Steve. However when she was flipped over she was found to be female so renamed Stevie-she. 

Her vocal cords have been cut or damaged which is why she does not bleat. 

Her coat was very matted and it took a long time and much patience but eventually she allowed us to groom her. Now she loves to her her sides rubbed.  

Stevie-she is not very fond of fruit and vegetables and usually turns her nose up when offered a small treat.

She loves Dave but sometimes becomes jealous of the attention Dave receives (headbutting) which sadly means we have to separate them to keep goats and people safe  

She is a Pygmy goat and approximately 8 years old.

Stevie-she has an impressive set of wattles also known as goat jewellery.  

The Pygmy is a British breed of dwarf goat.  It is small, compact and generally stockily built. It was established  in the 1980s by fusion of the various miniature goat populations of the  United Kingdom into a single breed. 

Small goats were brought from Africa to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century to be exhibited in zoos. Some of these came into the hands of private breeders, who kept and bred them as companion animals. 

Pygmy Goat

Steve is free roaming

Steve was donated to the farm on 5th April 2023, as he lost his friend and became very sad. His lovely family thought he’d be happier with us and very reluctantly dropped him off to be looked after at Smiles.  

He’s a lovely lad and very affectionate (Just like our Dave)!

Steve is old and has arthritic   legs, don't be fooled, he can move fast when he wants food. He is very clever and can open the gate to the safe zone. We regularly spot him trying to break into various animal enclosures to steal food. 

Steve can often be found in the same hut chilling with Pip the pig and a couple of chickens.

He has a favourite sunbathing spot.

Steve has been de budded (horns removed)   

The Pygmy is a British breed of dwarf goat.  It is small, compact and generally stockily built. It was established  in the 1980s by fusion of the various miniature goat populations of the  United Kingdom into a single breed. 

Small goats were brought from Africa to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century to be exhibited in zoos. Some of these came into the hands of private breeders, who kept and bred them as companion animals. 

Pygmy Goat

Henry was rescued when the farm was set up.   

Unfortunately he had a history of maltreatment. 

Henry appears to be naughty and has been taught to butt people as well as goats. He is actually insecure and needs to be told gently that this is not acceptable behaviour. He can be very sweet and loves to have his sides rubbed.

Henry is very definitely the boss of the three pygmies and chases the others away when food is around. 

He has a notch in one horn where he is always rubbing it on the fence, perhaps in an attempt to file down the wire to affect an escape. 

The Pygmy is a British breed of dwarf goat.  It is small, compact and generally stockily built. It was established  in the 1980s by fusion of the various miniature goat populations of the  United Kingdom into a single breed. 

Small goats were brought from Africa to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century to be exhibited in zoos. Some of these came into the hands of private breeders, who kept and bred them as companion animals. 

Pygmy Goat 

Rescued when the farm was set up. As with Henry and Tilly there is a history of maltreatment. 

Despite the name Kevin is a girl, too pretty to be called Kevin, but that's her name!

Kevin is very sweet and wants to interact with people but she just is not sure. This is a work in progress. She can be hand fed. 

Kevin has an impressive set of wattles also known as goat jewellery.

The Pygmy is a British breed of dwarf goat.  It is small, compact and generally stockily built. It was established  in the 1980s by fusion of the various miniature goat populations of the  United Kingdom into a single breed. 

Small goats were brought from Africa to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century to be exhibited in zoos. Some of these came into the hands of private breeders, who kept and bred them as companion animals. 

Pygmy Goat

Rescued when the farm was set up. History of severe maltreatment. 

Tilly is very timid but she will now tolerate being hand fed by people who are quiet and kind. She still does not like to be stroked, we are working on this. 

Poor Tilly is bullied by Henry and Kevin especially at feeding time. We have tried to let her free roam but she is hyper-vigilant and prefers the smaller space of the pygmy enclosure.

Tilly has been de budded

The Pygmy is a British breed of dwarf goat.  It is small, compact and generally stockily built. It was established  in the 1980s by fusion of the various miniature goat populations of the  United Kingdom into a single breed. 

Small goats were brought from Africa to the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century to be exhibited in zoos. Some of these came into the hands of private breeders, who kept and bred them as companion animals. 

Anglo-Nubian Goat

Rescued when the farm was set up. We have an incomplete history but Hugh was probably not socialised to people as a kid goat

Hugh is our male (neutered) goat and shares an enclosure with our 3 female goats, hence the name.

Unlike our other very well-behaved goat friends, Hugh absolutely will not let us anywhere near him with the clippers. The moment they  come out, he turns into the Incredible Hulk — breaking collars and snapping leads like it’s nothing.

Despite his size Hugh is very anxious, he will tolerate hand feeding but he will not allow anyone to stroke him. 

He is top goat and keeps an eye on food distribution and tries to hog all the food for himself.

He is an Anglo-Nubian breed which originated in the British Isles in the nineteenth century from cross-breeding between traditional native prick-eared British goats and a mixed population of large lop-eared goats imported from India, the Middle East and North Africa.

Many of these were brought to British shores by steamers of the P & O Steamship Company,  which routinely loaded goats on board before starting a homeward voyage  from the Orient, so as to have milk and fresh meat available during the  voyage. Some of these goats were commonly off-loaded and sold when the  ships docked; regardless of their actual place or port of origin, they  were often referred to as "Nubians" in the later nineteenth century.

 Anglo-Nubian Goat

Rescued when the farm was set up. We have an incomplete history but Izzy was probably not socialised to people as a kid goat

Izzy is Hugh’s best friend and they are always together.

She is top female goat and buts Fee and Betty Boo away from the fence buckets at feeding time.

She will tolerate hand feeding and a very brief pet.

She is an Anglo-Nubian breed which originated in the British Isles in the nineteenth century from cross-breeding between traditional native prick-eared British goats and a mixed population of large lop-eared goats imported from India, the Middle East and North Africa.

Many of these were brought to British shores by steamers of the P & O Steamship Company,  which routinely loaded goats on board before starting a homeward voyage  from the Orient, so as to have milk and fresh meat available during the  voyage. Some of these goats were commonly off-loaded and sold when the  ships docked; regardless of their actual place or port of origin, they  were often referred to as "Nubians" in the later nineteenth century. 

Anglo-Nubian Goat

Rescued when the farm was set up. We have an incomplete history but Fee was probably not socialised to people as a kid goat

Fee is Betty Boo's friend and where Betty goes, Fee is sure to follow.

Fee doesn't mind being hand fed and she will tolerate some petting.

She is an Anglo-Nubian breed which originated in the British Isles in the nineteenth century from cross-breeding between traditional native prick-eared British goats and a mixed population of large lop-eared goats imported from India, the Middle East and North Africa.

Many of these were brought to British shores by steamers of the P & O Steamship Company,  which routinely loaded goats on board before starting a homeward voyage  from the Orient, so as to have milk and fresh meat available during the  voyage. Some of these goats were commonly off-loaded and sold when the  ships docked; regardless of their actual place or port of origin, they  were often referred to as "Nubians" in the later nineteenth century. 

Anglo-Nubian Goat

Rescued when the farm was set up. We have an incomplete history but Betty Boo was probably not socialised to people as a kid goat

Betty Boo is the great escape artist. Sometimes when the volunteers arrive in the morning they are greeted by an extra free roaming goat (or two, Fee).

Betty Boo is so clever she can spot a weakness in their fence and either jump over it or squeeze through and enjoy a nibble on grass, brambles or leaves. Getting her back into the goat enclosure takes a long time and involves lots of food bribes and a dog lead. 

Betty Boo appears to be lowest on the pecking order despite her intelligence, maybe the others are just jealous.

She likes being hand fed and doesn't mind being stroked.

She is an Anglo-Nubian breed which originated in the British Isles in the nineteenth century from cross-breeding between traditional native prick-eared British goats and a mixed population of large lop-eared goats imported from India, the Middle East and North Africa.

Many of these were brought to British shores by steamers of the P & O Steamship Company,  which routinely loaded goats on board before starting a homeward voyage  from the Orient, so as to have milk and fresh meat available during the  voyage. Some of these goats were commonly off-loaded and sold when the  ships docked; regardless of their actual place or port of origin, they  were often referred to as "Nubians" in the later nineteenth century.