CLOSED until May 1, 2015

Hope to see all our farm friends when we open again next season on May 1, 2015. Until then...stay safe & warm!!

Remember to visit our blog throughout the winter as we post exciting farm news and pics of new birth.

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CLOSED - Oct 31, 2014

Trick or Treat??!?

Weather tricked us for sure. Because of the high sustained winds we aren't able to open our final day of the season? Now that's no treat. But seeing you in May 2015 WILL BE!!

T

Open Fri/Sat/Sun - Sept 12/13/14, 2014

Closed for farm maintenance Monday through Thursday this week. Open again on Friday morning at 10AM. Visit our website for detailed operating hours at www.MulberryLaneFarmWI.com.

Thank you Debbie Daanen Photography for the beautiful Black Smith Shop photo taken at the farm fall 2013.

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FREE Admission on Sunday Sept. 7th...

for Grandparents on National Grandparents Day at Mulberry Lane Farm! 

Preserving special memories…that is what Grandparents Day is all about. At Mulberry Lane Farm you’ll have the opportunity to share your childhood memories of milking cows, driving tractors, morning chores and more as you tour the farm and interact with the farm animals.

Memories of growing up on the family farm will come to life once again. Share those special memories while creating memories your grandchild will carry for a lifetime.

One Grandparent FREE per full paid general admission.  No other offers apply.

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OpEN LaBoR DaY!

"A staycation is a period in which an individual or family stays home and participates in leisure activities within driving distance from home."

Plan to visit Mulberry Lane Farm during your staycation! 

Open Labor Day Weekend. Fri.-Mon.

Tours begin at 10AM. 

Last admission into the farm and last tour departure at 3PM.

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Pumpkin Patch Opens 9/19/2014

Countdown to opening of the Pumpkin Patch. With over 12 varieties to pick from we have something for everyone!

Big ones, little ones, orange ones, white ones, greenish ones, warty ones too.

DETOUR Warning!!!

Allow extra time if traveling to the farm south on Hwy 57. 
Or west on Hwy 10.

A round-about is being installed at the intersection of Hwy 57 & Hwy 10 and there is NO going through that intersection.
Either follow detour signs to the farm or change your route and visit us via Hwy 41 out of Green Bay.

Those coming west on Hwy 10 from Brillion take HR in front of Brillion high school to avoid the round about detour. Take HR to Hwy 57 to get back on track to the farm.

Country Breeze Summer Farm Tours

Located on the Niagara Escarpment you'll enjoy cool summer breezes at the farm. Whether you purchase your lunch in the Granary or bring a picnic you can enjoy after your tour in our outdoor picnic area or in our massive Hay Mow.

• Ride a Pony
• Milk a Cow
• Catch a Chicken
• Kiss a Pig
• Cuddle a Kitten
• Enjoy a Hayride
• and More! 

Visit our website for operating dates & times. www.MulberryLaneFarmWI.com

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CLOSED 6.18.2014

Due to rain we are closed today, 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014.

Hope to see you tomorrow!!

Baby Farm Animals

As the saying goes, "April showers brings May flowers." But at Mulberry Lane Farm it brought May babies! Literally!

May 1st a foal was born...much to our surprise. We knew our stud got into the "girls" pasture last year but we thought we had caught him in time. Apparently not. Pictures to come.

But in the meantime, here are some of the other babies you'll be visiting at the farm.

 

Be sure to visit our website for seasonal operating dates & times. http://mulberrylanefarmwi.com/rates.html

 

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Spring Showers Brings Wet Grounds!

Please call or visit our fb page (click for weather update) for up to the minute updates on whether we are open or not.


We have had a lot of rains lately and the grounds are soaked. IF we are able to open be sure to wear your galoshes.

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OPeN MAY 1st!

Spring is always a precious time around the farm with the birth of all the baby farm animals.

Our spring season begins May 1st.

Be sure to visit our website's Rates & Times page for our May operating schedule.

 

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Did You Know?

If you haven't "liked" us on fb, do so today. You don't want to miss out on up to the minute farm happenings, interesting farm facts, contest for free farm visits and more. https://www.facebook.com/MulberryLanePettingFarm

Here is a sampling of some recent post that I think you'll find interesting.

Turkeys have great hearing with no external ears but rather holes on the side of their head.

Rabbits are born hairless and blind. Their eyes do not open until they are 10-14 days old.

  
Since ducklings are not born with a functional oil gland the mother duck will spread her own oil on her ducklings so that they can safely swim right away without getting waterlogged.

 
The average cow produces 6-7 gallons of milk per day! A cow that is milking eats about 100 pounds each day of feed. -Midwest Dairy Association

 
Pigs are some of the cleanest animals refusing to excrete anywhere near their living or eating areas when given a choice.

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Eating for heating!

Having so many farm animals at the farm winter can be tough. Not only hard on Farmer Pat who does all the chores but on the animals too. Calf coats are placed on the calves in the barn. The sheep...well, they are covered in a wool coat that anyone would envy. But I often wondered and was concerned for the goats. What kept them warm? You can see a winter coat of hair that looks thicker than what you see during the summer, but it never looked thick enough to keep them warm during the harsh WI winters....until I read
Meghan Leonard blog.

I found her story so interesting I reposted here for you to learn as I did, that goats eat for heating! Enjoy.

As the nighttime temperatures remain low throughout much of the country, I have to pause and compare my winter wardrobe to my goats’.  I go all-out for morning chores: insulated coat, thermal underclothes, denim jeans, t-shirt, sweatshirt, long scarf, open-finger gloves and knit hat. My goats meet me at the gate dressed in their fluffiest hair, and…wait… just fluffy hair! And I still have the nerve to complain about the cold!

Goats are able to generate amazing amounts of heat to withstand the cold, due to the amazing design of their digestive system.  They have four stomachs, which is not exactly breaking news. But the process in the rumen, the largest of the stomachs, is fascinating and understanding the process can help us to keep our caprine friends warm all winter.

It is a basic tenet of goat nutrition that they need plenty of roughage – mostly hay in cold weather.  The hay has cell walls made of cellulose, and it’s the fermentation and breakdown of that cellulose that provides the fuel for the goat’s internal furnace.  When hay is put into the manger, the goats eat the hay quickly, but don’t really chew it well enough to turn it into heat.  This is where the amazing adult goat rumen comes into play, since as the goat finishes eating; the real “hot” work begins.

As hay enters the goat’s rumen, it settles in layers.  The bottom layer is the softened hay from yesterday (and the grain from today).  The middle layer is today’s hay, and at the top is gas.  The gas is created by fermentation from tiny microbes that live in the goat’s rumen.  These microbes start anaerobically digesting the cellulose from hay in the bottom and middle layers, which releases gas, plus begins generating heat for the goat to stay warm.

Now, we all know the goat can’t keep the gas, or it will bloat.  Nature handles this with the contractions of the rumen, which causes a bolus of softened hay (cud) to come back up the goat’s esophagus via a burp, and into the mouth for re-chewing.  When the “cud chewing” begins, the gas is also released.  According to a study by Colorado State University, up to 5 liters of gas are released by a goat in an hour of cud chewing!

Once the goat chews the cud and re-swallows it, the microbes continue working on the cellulose again.  These microbes are delicately balanced in the rumen, which is why all feed changes need to be done slowly, so microbe development can keep pace.  Most of the work is actually completed by the microbes, and without them the goat can’t keep warm.  The heat from the rumen’s fermentation can actually be compared to the breakdown in a compost pile and the high heat generated from it!  This is why many goat keepers advocate an endless supply of hay in the winter, since without adequate roughage the goat’s internal furnace will not function correctly.

Once again, this noble creature shows us humans a thing or two about efficiency.  Now if only I could get all the comfort food I eat in the winter to work as an internal furnace!

Meghan Leonard

Meghan Leonard is a veterinary medical technology student, leading to vet school. She lives and learns at her barnyard in southcentral PA, where books and practical goat experience combine.


Visit Meghan's blog at:
https://hoeggerfarmyard.com/eating-for-heating-how-a-goats-rumen-works/

Keep Your Pets Safe in the Cold

Winter on the farm can be beautiful. As well as in your own back yard.  That is, when we are on the inside looking out. Outside it's brrrrr....

So remember your pets when sending them outdoors with the helpful reminders below.

·       Just because your dog has fur, it does not mean they can withstand the cold.

·       LadyBug, Mulberry Lane Farm’s 3 year old Springer Spaniel is bred to be an outdoor dog and can handle the cold weather much better than say a Yorkshire Terrier. A doggie sweater is an excellent idea for small dogs or dogs with little to no hair.

·       Just because your dog has a sweater on doesn’t mean they can be outside for extended periods of time. Dogs lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract.

·       Watch those feet! Your pet can get salt, ice, and chemical ice treatments caught in their footpads. To minimize damage to their paws, wipe them with a warm cloth when they come inside.

·       Cats too need extra care in the winter. Wind chill affects our pets just as it does people. Provide an enclosed area lined with straw or blankets for your outdoor pet.

·       Heated dog beds can be used to keep your outdoor dog warm. For both dogs and cats, heated bowls keep water and food from freezing.

·       Exercising your pet in winter is very important. In the cold, it is best to walk your dog more often for shorter periods of time. OR, consider a day per week at your local doggie day care. There they have an indoor play area and great socialization.

CAUTION!

·       Beware of antifreeze - It is highly toxic! Antifreeze tastes good to pets, but even a small amount can kill your pet.

·       Do not allow your dog to run across frozen bodies of water. Just as it’s not wise for you to walk onto iced over bodies of water. It too is dangerous for your dog.

·       During the winter, cats sometimes sleep under the hood of your car or in the garage where it is warm and comfortable. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or rapping on the hood.

Fun Fact.

·       Did you know that your dog and cat's normal temperature (100.5-102.5) is a few degrees higher than yours? (97.8-99.1) Winter is the perfect time of year to snuggle up – so have fun and stay warm!

·       Be a responsible pet owner. Be sure to have your pet spayed or neutered!  

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