Fainting Goats

There is a kind of goat that’s called a fainting goat because when something surprises or frightens them, their muscles go stiff for a short time, and they fall over. They’re also known as wooden-leg goats, stiff-leg goats, scare goats, and other funny nicknames.

The reaction doesn’t hurt, and it’s not really fainting. Usually the animal stays awake and just bounces back up once the stiffness goes away.

Fainting goats first appeared in the U.S. in the 1880’s, but no one is sure how the breed got started. Some people keep fainting goats for meat and milk, but some people keep them as pets. They’re less likely to escape than other goats, not necessarily because of the fainting, but because they aren’t good at jumping or climbing.

They are smaller and somewhat easier to care for and maintain than larger meat goat breeds, which makes the fainting goat desirable for smaller farms. They are also raised as pets or show animals as they can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and amusing.

The Herald

1) Fainting goats faint when

2) Fainting goats are

3) This fainting

4) These goats

5) They are