The Goats
We are home to two miniature goat breeds, Nigerian dwarfs, a milking breed, and pygoras, a fiber breed. We currently have twenty, but we may have some babies on the way this summer so that number is flexible. There is nothing cuter than baby goats! The goats are a family favorite and they each have their own personality. Contrary to every children’s book, they do not eat tin cans!
Solomon, the Guardian Dog
Solomon, our livestock guardian dog, is “the keeper of the barn.” He is a working dog with a big heart for his livestock and his people. He has been a huge asset to our farm, protecting our animals from predators. His nights are spent on watch duty, and most afternoons he is found napping in the sun with all four feet in the air, sleeping in what we affectionately call his “superman” pose.
The Peacocks
The barnyard has one pea hen named Tilly. She was hatched in our house incubator, and she is one of our farm favorites! She has free run of the farm but is often found near the house hoping someone will throw her a handful of bird seed. Being the only one of her kind here, she has made fast friends with a handful of chickens. Her nights are spent high in the treetop above the chicken coop. Hoping to add a male for her soon!
The Mini Horses
Marty and Maisey are our two miniature horses. You rarely see one without the other close behind. Don’t let Maisey’s smaller size fool you, she rules the roost (or stall) as far as Marty is concerned. They are both always looking for a treat! They are set to go get some schooling this summer, and they will be put to work when we hope to offer lead pony rides.
The Ducks
Quack, quack, waddle, waddle… not sure if our ducks are more quack or more waddle. We have two breeds at the present time, but looking to add more. Their favorite snack is frozen peas followed by a dip in their pool. We gather duck eggs each morning which are great for baking.
The Rabbits
We currently house three rabbits in our hutch. Smeckle, Smee and Smoke. Are you picking up on the Sm…. names? We have two Flemish giant, one of the largest rabbit breeds known. Probably weighing close to ten pounds each! We are on the list for a doe this spring, and we are hoping to start breeding rabbits! We also have Smeckle, a very cute speckled little doe, who we just had to bring home!
The Turkeys
Benjamin Franklin wanted the national bird to be the turkey rather than the bald eagle, so in his honor we have two turkeys named Ben and Frank. They are royal palm gobblers and are very impressive when their tail feathers are all fanned out. Ritz crackers are their favorite treat. They are a little demanding if they feel we are late to head down for morning chores and will come up on the back porch and let us know that they are waiting for breakfast.
The Chickens
Roughly thirty chicken free range on our farm, currently guarded by four roosters. We have quite a variety of breeds, including Rhode Island reds, barred rocks, Jersey giants, frizzles, silkies and more. The chickens take being “free range” very seriously, and you will find them all over the property. We gather eggs daily, so they are trying to earn their keep.
The Barn Cats
Our mother daughter pair of barn cats, Charlotte and Fern, are living their best life. The life of a barn cat has to be the best. They definitely have their own agenda whether it’s hunting in the pasture, napping in the hayloft, or keeping an eye on the barnyard from atop the rabbit hutches. They do what they want when the want in everyway possible.
The Geese
We have three sebastapol geese who have been with us for about a year now. Hoping to hatch some eggs this spring. They are a stately looking geese, probably best described as a goose who is having a bad hair day! Or maybe a cross between a goose and a mop! Their feathers are crazy (but I love them) and they are LOUD honkers. They best watch dogs on the farm!
Arriving Soon…
We are adding a miniature donkey and a Valais blacknose sheep to our farm in the near future! We can’t wait to share pictures as soon as they get here. They’re on their way!