Tidewater Farm

Welcome to Nova Scotia's Tennessee Fainting Goat herd at Tidewater Farm!

Fainting goats are of medium size, alert, friendly and basically easy going. They are considered resistant to disease and easy keepers thus they make excellent pets. They come in an array of colours with black and white quite common. The fainters have a very distinctive look; they are sturdy with good bone density and a well muscled body. They have long ears which usually stick out from the sides of their heads and they have prominent eyes that are referred to as pop-eyed. And of course they display the unique and interesting trait to fall over or faint when startled.

Kids love kids!

A myotonic goat will faint as they have the genetic muscle condition called myotonia congeita. This condition causes their muscles to stiffen in a prolonged contraction when the animal is startled. The goats become stiff legged and can fall over. The goat is not in a true faint as they are fully conscious and not in pain. The episode lasts for about 10 to 15 seconds then they get up and walk away with stiff legs for a few steps before they fully recover. The level of myotonia varies from goat to goat and in some cases, as the goat ages and becomes more conditioned to its environment; they can learn to have more control over their faints. The main benefit of the myotonia condition is that the goat produces extra muscle mass and they usually can not climb very well which makes for easy containment. For more information on myotonic goats please visit the website of the MGR and the other excellent links found on our links page.

The history of fainting goats is very interesting and has a Nova Scotia connection. The first fainters showed up in Tennessee around 1880 when a strange and taciturn man named John Tinsley brought four goats (one buck and three does) to the farm of a Dr. Mayberry. From the early accounts of Dr. Mayberry it was thought that the stranger John Tinsley hailed from Nova Scotia by the way that he dressed. After a year Mr. Tinsley vanished and the goats remained in Tennessee where Dr. Mayberry continued to breed them. Today it is believed that most of the modern fainting goats can trace back to Dr. Mayberry's herd. The breed numbers became critically low 20 years ago but through the effort of two registries (American Tennessee Fainting Goat Association - ATFGA and the IFGA) the numbers have increased in the USA to over 6000 registered goats. In Canada fainting goat numbers are very low (less than 50 registered) and the breed has been recently placed on Rare Breeds Canada critical list. A small but dedicated group of Canadian breeders are working hard to produce fainters that meet the breed criteria. Here at Tidewater Farm we aim to breed quality registered fainting goats to help increase the popularity of these goats in Nova Scotia and across Canada.

We were first introduced to fainting goats in 2000 when we met Debra Zong of Whitecliff Farms and her wonderful herd of fainters. In 1999 Debra was the first to bring these goats back to Nova Scotia (thought to be their native land) when she imported a small herd of fainting goats from Deborah Lipsky of Sabbath Day Farm in Maine USA. Within minutes of meeting Debra Zong's herd we were hooked. A few years later we were very pleased to purchase a pregnant doe, Whitecliff Farm Bonnie. Soon we were in the kid business; we kept the doe Tidewater Farm Sabrina and the young buck Tidewater Farm Rhett went to Crockers Critters in Nova Scotia. In 2004 we were very fortunate to purchase Sabbath Day Farm Roderick (imported from Maine in 1999) to complete our breeding herd. Please scroll down to meet our herd and our newest arrivals. All of our new kids will be registered with the MGR and most of our breeding stock are double registered with the MGR and IFGA.

 

All our goats are up to date on vaccinations, worming and hoof care

 

Sabbath Day Farm Roderick  a.k.a. Lucky IFGA Registered Premium MGR Registered Lucky is a 1999 ATFGA registered buck that was imported from Maine USA. Sire: Sabbath Day Farm Wolfgang  Dam: Sabbath Day Farm Esther  Lucky is a proud but gentle buck and a pleasure to own.

Whitecliff Farm Bonnie IFGA registered Premium MGR Registered Bonnie is a 2001 doe, both of her parents were imported from Maine and ATFGA registered. Sire: Sabbath Day Farm Bernard Dam: Sabbath Day Farm Miriam Bonnie is an excellent mother and a very friendly doe.

Tidewater Farm Sabrina IFGA Registered Premium MGR Registered Sire: Whitecliff Farm Buck Dam: Whitecliff Farm Bonnie Sabrina is a 2003 doe. Sabrina was our first baby and was handled since birth, she is very affectionate. She grows a gorgeous cashmere coat in the winter.

Tidewater Farm Barnacle Bill  IFGA Registered Premium Sire: Sabbath Day Farm Roderick  Dam: Whitecliff Farm Bonnie.  Barnacle is a 2005 wether. Barnacle is a real pet and charmer! Due to his friendly, laid back nature he has the esteemed job of PR mascot for Tidewater Farm.

Tumbleweeds Broken Arrow IFGA Registered Premium MGR Registered Sire: Tumbleweeds Patches Dam: Tumbleweeds Chloe Arrow is a 2005 doe, she is smaller-type fainter and a little shy but friendly once she gets to know you. Arrow has a long silky over coat and in the winter grows a lovely cashmere coat over her shoulders.

Tumbleweeds Prairie Lily IFGA Registered Premium MGR Registered Sire: Tumbleweeds Patches Dam: Tumbleweeds Silver Dollar Lily is a 2005 doe that is tiny in stature but big in spirit. She has a short dense coat and hilarious "Hey look at me" markings and attitude. She is a farm favourite of many!

Tidewater Farm Topaz MGR Registered Sire: Tidewater Farm Quartz Dam: Tumbleweeds Broken Arrow This 2007 tri-coloured doe is a real charmer! She has her dad's outgoing personality and her mom's beautiful coat. We are very pleased with this super combination!

Tidewater Farm Granite MGR Registered Sire: Sabbath Day Farm Roderick Dam: Tidewater Farm Sabrina Granite is an adorable 2007 buck. He has his dad's laid-back nature and has partial blue eyes! Granite also appears to have a longer coat.  He has been bred to Broken Arrow for 2008 kids.

2008 Kids Introducing Tidewater Farm Polaris and Tidewater Farm Apollo These mini twins were born on March 19 to TWR Broken Arrow by TWF Granite. Apollo is a tri-colour and Polaris is the mirror image of his father. Both boys are very friendly. Both are SOLD Polaris (left) Apollo Introducing Tidewater Farm Jupiter This active little black and white fella was born March 20 to TWF Sabrina by SDF Roderick Jupiter is super friendly and very curious. He is SOLD. Introducing Tidewater Farm Neptune and Tidewater Farm Saturn This set of twins were born March 25 to WCF Bonnie by SDF Roderick. These cute boys are friendly and more laid-back than their brothers. They both are FOR SALE and can be wethered on request. Please contact Karen at seahorse6602@yahoo.ca for price and more information All kids will be vaccinated, de-wormed and registered with the Myotonic Goat Registry prior to sale.

 

For more information on any of our goats please contact Karen of Tidewater Farm at seahorse6602@yahoo.ca. We will be expanding our herd and are always looking to buy or trade MGR and IFGA registered goats.