...my true love and I are the proud caretakers of 45 animals! Unfortunately, we don't have 12 of this, 11 of that, 10 of that, and so on. Otherwise, that would make for a very nice song. (We'll have to plan accordingly for next year.) But it's still (in my opinion) quite an impressive batch of critters! all of whom we are enjoying very much.
16 baby bunnies...
This is Mirabelle's second batch of six, and Gilly is raising three babies. Including Daisy (Rosie's little one), we have a total of sixteen second-generation rabbits! Once they start, they really do multiply like rabbits.
...11 birds a-roaming...
Our three flocks of birds get along quite well.
...7 ducks a-quacking...
They love any excuse to be out and about!
The drake takes good care of his six girls.
The two Khaki Campbell ducks show that ducks can swim in the smallest bits of water!
...5 squealing pigs!...
Our three original pigs have grown large fast!
hams, pork loins...
They do a great job of tilling!
The squealing stops long enough for them to inhale their food.
Our guinea hogs are roughly the same age as the larger pigs, but a much more modest size and growth rate!
Our sow is quite true to type for a guinea hog.
Mickey selected our boar (background) because he has more hair (that felt warmer) and is longer and leaner than the more typical stout guinea hog.
Like the larger pigs, they love their food!
And once they associate you with food, they will follow you anywhere!
They make the funniest grunting noises too.
Mickey's taken up grunting, inspired by the guineas' eloquent communication.
"Papa, feed us! or at least pay attention to us." Their squealing generally turns to grunting (much quieter) once they realize you haven't forgotten about them.
They love to eat pasture, and will root it up as well, though not as much as the larger pigs.
Roscoe is a source of fascination for most of our animals.
In addition to breeding the guineas, we are also looking to cross the guinea with the larger breed, to see what sorts of hybrids result.
...4 pregnant ewes...
Lublin and Lady, Fuggles and Fearful (from front to back)
Roscoe discovered that sheep are fun to play with! Not much sheep-dog instinct, as far as we can tell.
Fearful is just a ball of wooly fluff!
Fuggles is a spitting image of her mother. I can't believe how similar their faces are!
...3 hungry goats...
Avelanna - ready for her second go-around at motherhood
Corylus - a bit more curious than Avelanna and also quite bipedal
Chestnut - the proud (and also very curious) father.
He almost can't fit his head through the fence panels anymore because his horns have grown so impressively!
...2 laying hens...
Mama Hen and her daughter love exploring the great outdoors, when they are not laying eggs.
One night Mama Hen didn't make it back to the coop before dark, so she settled down at the most convenient roosting place she could find -- our basement window.
Mickey tried to push her out, but she wasn't budging, even when he slid the window shut. I don't think she voluntarily moved a muscle! Eventually I picked her up and carried her back to the coop, without the slightest protest from her. Chickens (at least ours) are truly useless after dark!
...2 grazing geese...
Geese are our most tireless eaters! Any chance they get, they don't take much of a break from looking for food.
We frequently notice the geese and chickens going off on their own together, apart from those crazy ducks.
...and a cat who thinks it all belongs to him!
I'm pretty sure he owns the place.
Rather opinionated too, for as little work as he accomplishes.
His new favorite napping spot: my box of sweaters (under the bed). So much for trying to avoid pulls in knit sweaters!
...and a dog who really isn't bright at all.
He loves running around outside, snow or no!
The inevitable crash after the running around.
But his favorite thing is company!
Make Roscoe (and everybody else) happy, come visit! :)
