Gardienne Farm, LLC: t/a Gardienne Wings & Gardienne Myotonic Goats

Gardienne Goats: Registered Myotonic Goats (Fainting Goats)

Our biggest honor is our large number of repeat goat buyers. Thank you for trusting us again and again to provide your new 4-legged family members!

We maintain a small herd of Myontonic Goats. Though the larger boned Myotonics are often raised as meat goats, most of ours are the smaller type that make great pets and show animals, especially for children. Our does average 21" - 24" tall and 60-100 lbs and our bucks are 23-25" tall and about 80-120 lbs. Our herd is tested every other year and tested Negative on 4/14/2021 for Johne's and CAE.

We specialize in several specific coat colors and patterns, but often produce other colors as well. We also strive to produce Blue or Marbled Blue eyes as often as possible.

Blue, Blue and White, and Tri-colored are our favorite coat colors and we produce many patterns but especially white banded Blue and Peacock patterned Blue, or tri-colored kids.

Here are a few examples showing marbled Blue eyes, White banded Blue and peacock patterened individuals:

Sally's Blue Marbled eyes

A 2 wk old Blue buckling

A tri-colored AND peacock patterned kid.

A stunning peacock-patterned kid!

And a tri-colored, peacock patterened kid!

Fainting goats are considered an endangered breed by the Livestock Conservancy and there are several distinct types (Texas, Tennessee, Mini, Silky, etc) as well as several registries for Fainting Goats including MGR - Myotonic Goat Registry, IFGA - International Fainting Goat Association, and for the long-hairs, MSFGA - Miniature Silky Fainting Goat Association. All of our goats are either MGR, MSFGA, or Dual registered)

Why do Fainting Goats Faint?

Fainting is caused by a genetic condition call Myotonia congenita. The degree to which a goat exhibits myotonia is rated on a scale from 1-6, though the guidelines are general, they are as follows:

1. Never observed to stiffen, but other type traits are consistent as is pedigree.

2. Very rarely stiffens, never falls.

3. Stiffens only occasionally, and rarely falls.

4. Walks normally with no swivel. The rear limbs lock up readily, the forelimbs less so, and goats with this degree of stiffness rarely fall to the ground.

5. Animal walks relatively normally, although somewhat stiff in rear and with a swivel at the hip. Readily stiffens when startled or stepping over a barrier.

6. Animal always moves stiffly to some degree, and readily becomes “locked up” when startled or stepping over a low barrier.

for more info on Myotonia or Myotonic Goats please visit: http://www.myotonicgoatregistry.net/MGRbreeddescription/MGRBreeddescription.html

Fainting is seen most often in younger animals because, as they age, they learn coping behaviors to help prevent falling over. In an adult that is startled, you will often see them start to lock up and then freeze in a saw horse type stance rather than falling onto their side. This is their way of "preventing" the fall they know is coming when they feel their muscles tightening. Does the locking of the muscles "hurt"? There is no way to know for certain, but humans afflicted with myotonia congenita report that is does hurt, like a severe muscle cramp that is uncontrolable. For this reason we try not to cause our goats to lock-up, but it still happens often for uncontrolable reasons like the Livestock Guardian Dogs taking off barking, or a feed can lid being dropped.

Where to Find Us:

Gardienne Wings

Heritage & Exotic Fowl
Gardienne Myotonic Goats

Sumerduck, VA 22742

Visitors welcome by appointment only!

Email: GardienWings@aol.com

Accepted payment methods

Weblinks:

Myotonic Goat Registry (MGR)

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