Monday, March 30, 2009

Thunder Storm


When farmer Pat came to do chores this morning he found an extra body in Thunders stall! You could say we had a Thunder Storm during the night...at least that is what we are tentatively calling Thunder's new foal (name of a baby horse or pony). You can see Thunder is still cleaning the new arrival. Storm is a colt (boy).





Being so young Storm still has wobbly legs.








This is the proud pappa (stud). Prince had been rolling in the muddy pasture so wasn't so happy I took his picture. He's very handsome once he's brushed. You can see where Storm get's his good looks from.




This is Farmer Pat spending time with the new arrival. It's called imprinting. This way at a very young age the pony learns to trust and like being around humans. I know Farmer Pat really likes being around Storm!

Friday, March 27, 2009

Ducks?!?!?


Nope..they are geese. Arrived this morning and again needed to be picked up from the post office. 8 white emden (the light colored ones) and 8 african (dark feathered) Now we have 40 chicks and 16 geese in the basement...oh music to the ears. :0)

Ever hear the saying what's good for the goose is good for the gander? That's how I remember that the goose is the female and the gander is the male.



This is what the african geese will look like by the time you visit in May. Maybe not quite as big but certainly well on their way.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Chick-a-dee-dee


40 chicks arrived early this morning via the US postal service. Farmer Pat made a trip to the post office to pick up the new arrivals.

Included in the shipment were cochins, japanese, frizzles and white crested black polish. They are all bantams. We were disappointed to hear that the araucana's we ordered could not be shipped. The araucana's are also known as Easter Chickens because they lay colored eggs.



They arrive cuddled together to keep each other warm. Baby chicks can survive 3 days without food or water because of the nutrition they receive while still in the egg. They are thirsty and ready to eat but we need to help them get started by dipping their beak into the water.



The chicks will live in our basement until they are big enough to live in the chicken coop at the farm. The basement floor is heated but they still need the heat lamp from above to keep them warm.



Did you notice the chicks with the caps on their heads? These are white crested black polish bantams. They will grow up to look like this funny guy with the big hair-do.

Catherine is holding a frizzle. By the time we open in May our frizzle chicks will look like the one she is holding.