Candi: the cheeky goat with a headbutt for every friend
Candi is always looking for the next interesting thing.
It might be a carer preparation area that surely contains something worth investigating, the back of a ute or truck that could be hiding food, or a fence that every other goat has accepted as a perfectly reasonable boundary. Clever, curious and deeply social, Candi approaches sanctuary life with mischief, purpose and a remarkable variety of headbutts.
Each one means something different.
She plays boldly with the goat boys, takes a more strategic approach with the goat girls and softens her style for sheep, young goats and older companions. Candi does not need words to show that she understands exactly who she is playing with.
A frightened little goat searching for company
Candi was born in October 2017 in a holding pen at a goat slaughterhouse.
The full circumstances of her rescue are not known. Sanctuary records say she was discarded, and it appears she spent a short time elsewhere before arriving at the sanctuary in December 2017, when she was around two months old.
An early sanctuary update, written when Candi was about six months old, described a very different goat from the confident character she is today. She had been lost and screaming when she was found, and during her first months in care, she would cry out whenever she was left alone.
Candi wanted someone beside her all the time.
Her distress showed just how uncertain and dependent she still felt. Volunteers stayed close while she adjusted, offering the steady presence she needed. Gradually, she began spending more time with the goat herd. As she discovered the security of other goats around her, the constant screaming eased—and the volunteers occasionally found themselves able to step away.
That growing connection with the herd was one of Candi’s first important steps towards feeling at home.
At sanctuary, she was given something every animal deserves: the chance to grow into herself.
Before long, that self began to emerge in unmistakable fashion. Candi became mischievous. She investigated everything, searched enthusiastically for food and discovered that fences were sometimes more of a suggestion than a rule.
The goat who invited herself to lunch
Even as a youngster, Candi was known for getting into absolutely everything.
One of her more notorious habits was joining the broiler chickens for lunch. Candi was the only goat able to jump their fence, and she used this special talent not for any noble purpose, but to investigate what the chickens were eating.
That combination of intelligence, athleticism and snack-related determination has stayed with her.
Today, a vehicle left within reach may still become the subject of a thorough inspection. Candi will climb into the back of a ute or truck to search for anything edible, and carer areas are always worth checking in case someone has carelessly left food where a clever goat might find it.
Her cheekiness is entertaining, but it also tells part of her recovery story. The little goat who once screamed whenever she was alone became confident enough to explore, make choices, test boundaries and involve herself in every corner of sanctuary life.
The art of the headbutt
One of the most memorable things about Candi is the way she adapts her play to each companion.
When Gidget arrived as a baby goat, Candi understood that the smaller, gentler youngster needed a softer invitation. Gidget had also been born at a slaughterhouse, and Candi met her with careful, gentle headbutts – welcoming her into play without overwhelming her.
Candi shows the same consideration with Sean, an older sheep. She rises up, gathers herself and charges towards him. For a moment, it looks as though Sean is about to receive the full force of an enthusiastic goat. Then, at the last instant, Candi gives him the gentlest little bump.
It is funny to watch, but it also reveals something important about her. Candi is not playing without thought. She pays attention. She knows when a companion is young, older, boisterous or cautious, and she adjusts herself accordingly.
Her headbutts are invitations, offered with surprising care.
Candi now spends her life surrounded by the companionship she once needed so desperately. She remains closely connected to her herd, but she also engages with newer baby goats as they settle into sanctuary life. She draws them into play and helps them become part of the group, just as she once had to find her own place.
She is always looking for someone ready for a headbutting game, whether that is a young goat, a familiar herd mate or a senior sheep who still enjoys being included.
Days of freedom, hay and good company
Each morning, Candi leaves the big red barn for breakfast. From there, she can wander around the sanctuary at her own pace, following whatever catches her attention.
She rests in sunny places when the weather is mild, finds shade on hot days, meets sanctuary visitors and seeks out companions. Hay is a particular favourite, especially during winter when the feed growing naturally around the sanctuary becomes scarce.
At night, Candi returns to the big red barn with the sanctuary’s goats and sheep. During the day, carers prepare clean, soft straw so the animals have a fresh place to sleep. Surrounded by the herd and flock, Candi can settle safely before another day of wandering, investigating, and carefully calibrated headbutts begins.
These routines may appear ordinary, but they represent the life Candi was rescued to have: companionship, comfort, choice and the freedom to grow older.
