Casalinho

Category: Animals

  • In the Doghouse

    Blue needed a home. Pete needed a project. Blue reminded us that volunteering at Casalinho isn’t just about goats! Blue’s new house is based on an old pallet and uses leftover planks and greenwood for the structure. Coloured offcuts from other projects create the lovely shingles effect. Finally, it’s roofed with broom over some old more »

  • Kidding About

    I’m very pleased to report that Branquinha has now had her kid, so that’s three out of six of our lady goats who have now birthed. This time it’s a healthy little girl, delivered without any problems. After my adventures at the weekend I must admit to being very relieved about that!       more »

  • Pass the rubber gloves …

    Many times over the past years I’ve marvelled at how much life has changed since coming to Casalinho. Sitting at my office desk ten years ago, the idea of pulling on the rubber gloves and sticking my hand up a goat to assist her giving birth would have been pretty alien, but that’s what I found more »

  • Ronaldo, our Billy

    We’ve had a new arrival this week, Ronaldo. He’s unbelievably stinky, and he’s our new Billy goat. When a friend mentioned that she knew of a male goat seeking a new home, having been abandoned once and now unwanted, I grabbed the opportunity. Until now we’ve been borrowing the services of a Billy from goat more »

  • Save me from the Tyranny of Goats!

    In this part of the world every village, large and small, has it’s annual festa. It’s an excuse for some music, perhaps some dancing, certainly some drinking, and an opportunity for the community to celebrate together. The festa of Aradas, organised by the Comissão de Melhoramentos de Aradas, will be held this year on the 30th more »

  • Terrorists, Feline Style

    We’ve been so caught up with other things over the past weeks that I’ve failed to tell you about the newest members of the Casalinho team. They’ve terrified the dogs and the cat is so horrified that she won’t come in the house.  They keep us awake half the night playing tag on our bed more »

  • Cabrito Assado: In the Kitchen with Your Goat

    Those of you who have been following the blog will know that we recently killed our young goat for the table. If not, check out Goat Butchery for Beginners. So now that you have goat meat, what’s the best way to deal with it? Chop it into chunks. Pop it in a dish with a lid more »

  • Cabrito Assado: Goat Butchery for Beginners

    The deed has been done and Assado, our young male goat, is no more. Those who would prefer not to learn about how to butcher a goat should probably not read further. From experience though, I know that many of our volunteers are really interested in learning more about the process. I salute them, because more »

  • Mix and Match Goats

    We’ve done a trade with a neighbour. Branchina, our lovely older goat, has gone off to pastures new and we’ve just welcomed Bonita to our little flock. Bonita is a much younger goat but we decided it was a good idea to introduce some different blood as all our goats have been one family group to more »

  • The Nursery Wing!

    There’s a nasty disease that I’ve been unable to name which kills rabbits around here. Unfortunately a case of it hit here last week and we lost most of our rabbits with no warning 🙁 It was particularly upsetting as three of the adults who died were fairly new mothers with litters still tucked up more »