Festival of Spring 2012

Spring comes to life at the farm. New and old alike enjoy the warmer sunny days. All the Mulberry Lane Farm "Farmers"  and our animal friends look forward to your visit. Some of the many you'll be seeing at the farm...

One of two born 4/27/12

Norma - 4 years old

Kitties born 4/28/12

Baby chicks born 4/31/12

Charlie & Mr. Turken

Piglets born 4/23/12

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Sure Signs of Spring

It appears Farmer Pat and Farmer Bonnie aren't the only ones getting ready for our May 2nd opening. While walking through the farm today I was amazed by all the signs of spring. Thought I'd share a few...

Sure sign #1- BIG Bellies on our Ewes.

Lightening is famous. She has been on NBC26, WGBA twice this winter. Although you may not recognize her without her wooly coat on!

Sure sign #2 - BIG Bellies on our Nanny Goats

Half&Half has always had triplets and one time even quads! By looking at her belly bulge, I'd say this spring will be no different.

Sure sign #3 - BIG Udders. 

Once the udders start to fill with milk you know the nanny is getting ready to deliver.

 Sure sign #4 - BIG Belly on Sis

Sis is usually the first Queen (female cat) on the farm to have her litter. She's a wonderful momma cat.

Sure sign #5 - Hair in the Rabbit's Box

Right before the Doe (female rabbit) gives birth she pulls the hair from under her chin to line her nest. It makes a comfy warm place for her kits (baby bunnies) to live until their hair grows long enough to keep them warm.

Sure sign #6 - Harmony in the Barnyard

As they say "birds of a feather flock together."  But wait! A drake (male duck), a rooster (male chicken) and a tom (male turkey) all hanging out??!??

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Sheep Shearing on Bonnie's Barnyard

Today on Bonnie's Barnyard (NBC26 - WGBA) Farmer Pat shows us how he shears Mulberry Lane Petting Farm's sheep taking them from this...

 

to this...

 

 

(Not sure of the title selection by the station. The ewes were actually very, very well behaved! Not baaad at all.)

• Shearing is usually done in the spring, so sheep don't get overheated in the summer.

• Preferably, sheep are sheared prior to lambing (giving birth). It is easier for lambs (baby sheep) to nurse sheared ewes (adult female sheep).

• Before electric shears (up until about the 1880's), sheep were sheared with hand shears or blades. In some parts of the world where electricity is limited or not available, sheep are still blade sheared.

• Shearing is a specialized skill. Professional sheep shearers can shear sheep in under a minute. The world record is 38 seconds. However, the average time it takes to shear a sheep is 3 minutes.

• Electric shears have three basic parts: the handpiece, the comb and the cutters.

• At Mulberry Lane Farm we use a shear made by Andis, a Wisconsin based company in Racine County. (Andis Website) 

• One sheep produces anywhere from 2 to 30 pounds of wool annually. Mulberry’s Shetland sheep produce 2-4 lbs. of wool.

• The average price paid for wool sold in the United States is $1.15 per pound.

• Sheep are the only producers of lanolin. It is an oily/greasy by-product of their wool. Lanolin's waterproofing property aids sheep in shedding water from their coats.

• Extraction of lanolin from the wool can be performed by squeezing the sheep's harvested wool between rollers or by a boiling process.

• Common use of lanolin is in shampoos, lotions, skin burns, and baby products.

• Mulberry Lane Petting Farm spring season begins May 2^nd. We’ll have baby chicks, baby ducklings, baby calves, baby bunnies, baby lambs, baby kid goats, baby kittens….baby, baby will we have babies! 
•  

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Spring Field Trip Days Filling Fast

Don't wait! Schedule your spring field trip now. Some days are full to new reservations but I'm sure we can still fit you in. One option is to arrive late morning and enjoy your picnic lunches before taking an afternoon tour. Arrive back in school just in time for dismissal.

Picnic in the Hay Mow - OR - Picnic Outside

 

But whatever you decide...you'll be sure to have FUN!

And you haven't even see all the baby animals yet!!

OH MY!

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Barney and a Donkey's Blessing

Today on Bonnie's Barnyard at NBC26 in Green Bay, Barney made his debut. What a well behaved chap! News anchor Jenny Evans wanted to take him home with her! Sorry Jenny. Barney may be a miniature donkey but still too big for the house. :)

Mulberry Lane Farm brings you Barney at Bonnie's Barnyard.

Fun donkey facts:

·       A male donkey is called a Jack. A female donkey is called a Jenny. Their offspring are foals.

·       A mule is a cross between a male donkey and a female horse.

·       A hinny is a cross between a male horse and a female donkey.

·       Miniature donkeys are less than 36” tall. The large standard donkey is 48” – 56”.

·       Donkeys are often a lifeline to families in many regions of the world and their most prized possession. They help with water and wood fuel collection (truck), used to cultivate land (tractor), transportation to market (car), and loyal affectionate companion (the family dog).

·       Donkeys are very affectionate animals and enjoy the companionship of people. Donkeys need companions or they will become very depressed.

·       The donkey does not have natural ‘waterproof’ coats like horses and so need access to shelter.

·       Legend has it that a donkey has been marked with a cross (dark hair across its shoulder and down its back forming a cross) because the donkey carried Mother Mary into Bethlehem and later Jesus into Jerusalem.

·       Donkeys are unfairly thought to be stubborn and stupid. But actually, they are so intelligent they are cautious and no amount of human probing can make a donkey think a situation is safe if a donkey has decided it is dangerous.

·       The donkey’s characteristic ‘Eee awe’ sound is made by an intake of breadth followed instantly by exhaling.

·       If well cared for, donkeys can live for more than 40 years.

Peafowl on TV26's Bonnie's Barnyard

Oops...they almost got away. Certainly brought excitement to the set!

Farmer Bonnie and Farmer Pat brought Mulberry Lane Farm's peafowl to the set of NBC TV26, Green Bay.

You can see the full segment of Bonnie's Barnyard here:

  

Interesting peafowl facts:

• Male peafowl are called peacocks. Female peafowl are called peahens. Offspring under the age of one year are called peachicks.
• The most common breed of peafowl is the Indian Blue.
• Besides their colorful tail feathers, peacocks are distinguished by their blue neck feathers. Peahens have green neck feathers and lack the decorative tail feathers.
• Males raise their feathers into a fan and quiver them as part of courtship display.
• The peacock will molt (shed) its tail in late summer at the end of the breeding season.
• The tail feathers grow back about an additional foot each year extending as long as 6 feet when fully grown around age six.
• An adult peacock has an average of 200 tail feathers. Of the 200 or so feathers, about 170 are "eye" feathers and 30 are '"T" feathers.
• Peafowl are very hardy birds and with proper care, can live forty to fifty years.

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Sheep Shears by Andis

It's that time of year...spring is just around the corner. The bellies of our nannie goats and ewe sheep are getting bigger and bigger as they draw closer to kidding and lambing. (giving birth)  That means we need to start planning to shear our sheep soon. Farmer Pat is tickled pink about trying out his brand new Andis Sheep Shear. We have had the privilege of acquiring the heavy duty Model LGS.

Note: It is best to do the shearing before the mother ewe lambs, but not to close to lambing as to risk the stress of the "wool cut" causing premature labor. That is why plans are in the making to get the job done right.

Although the shears themselves are made in Switzerland ("Shearing Capital of the World" From Wikipedia), the Andis Corporation is based right here in WI! (Racine County)

 

Before we use the shears we wanted to share how similar the sheep shear is to the shears used by professional barbers and stylist. (Although theirs is on a much smaller scale.)

This shears is heavy!  Perhaps that's why they call it heavy-duty.  Good thing Farmer Pat has muscles. :)

But, in all seriousness, sheep shears have to be of good quality to do a clean accurate job.  Have you seen the wool on an unshorn ewe or ram?

On Wednesday, March 21st, watch WGBA NBC26 at 6:50 AM to see a short sheep shearing demo on Bonnie's Barnyard.  Don't worry if you don't get Green Bay stations in your area or you're not an early riser. I'll be sure to post a link to the program here.  Stay tuned...

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A Wedding at Mulberry Lane Farm

Oh My! Grab a kleenex before sitting down to enjoy this awesome video of a couple deeply in love captured by a very talented team of professionals at Kim Thiel Photography. Must admit, the backdrop certainly enhances this masterpiece.

Weddings at Mulberry Lane Farm are something new. Being a children's petting farm first and foremost, hosting weddings wasn't something really on our radar. However, after watching the video of one of the weddings held at the farm (10/1/11), I now understand why couples who do want something "out of the box" fall in love with the farm for a unique setting.  

Thank you Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Ort for allowing us the pleasure of hosting your special day.  And to the team of professionals at Kim Thiel Photography...thank you for capturing this blessed event. Godspeed.

Click on link to watch video:
http://www.kimthielphotography.com/blog/weddings/a-mulberry-lane-wedding-film-christina-jerry/

 

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Shetland Ewe Stops By the Morning Show on TV26

Today's segment of Bonnie's Barnyard brings Lightening to the studio.  Baaaahhh...

Click on link to watch.

Bonnie's Barnyard on TV 26

Wisconsin winters can be harsh. One farm animal we envy is the sheep.  They have a thick wool coat that is perfect for staying dry & warm in any climate.

• Lightening is a Shetland ewe (female). Male sheep are called rams.
• Shetlands are small and slow-growing. It can take two to three years to reach their adult weight.
• Rams usually weigh approximately 105 lbs and ewes about 85 lbs. Lambs (baby sheep) are born weighing around 5 lbs.
• Shetlands live 10 to 12 years. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the oldest sheep lived to be 23.
• The breed is noted for its very fine, soft wool and the high quality of its meat.
• Wool is one of the best insulating fibers known to man. It is moisture wicking.
• Their wool repels water, but humidity is absorbed. That's why sheep do well in both winter and summer.
• Sheep have excellent peripheral vision and can see behind themselves without turning their heads.

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Up, Up & Away.

In the dead of winter it warms the soul to view the farm on warmer days.  This aerial was taken this past October. 

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