Baby Lambs!
This little critter is from Underhill Farm.
Reference Links
Underhill Fiber Farm - 50 Wilson Rd, Gorham, Me 04038 | 207-892-2617 | underhillfiber@yahoo.com | Facebook
Sanford Butcher Shop - 578 Lebanon St, Sanford, ME 04073 | 207-324-2800 | Facebook
Granite State Poultry and Processing - 95 Spaulding St, Milford, NH 03055 | 603-554-5856
Dover Agway - 25 Central Ave, Dover, NH 03820 | 603-742-7113 | Facebook
Lambs
Lambs are not an "every Year" project. They are staggered by years to minimize parasite issues.
They are relatively easy to manage.
Lamb Bumms
Like our cats, these guys live for their chow time. Their grain is somewhat limited so that they can feed on grass
Pasture
Like all of our livestock, their pasture is rotated every couple weeks. They feed on the grass and tend to eat their favorite stuff first. They are very excited when they rotate to new pasture.
Lambs
Baby Lamb face
Hanging out in the cool
They look for cool shade under bushes and trees.
Lamb
Lamb
Lamb
Lamb
Lamb
Lamb
Lamb
Chickens
We keep between 10 and 15 laying hens year round with a heat lamp in the coop, which is mucked out maybe every six weeks.
The coop is also winterized with insulation, plastic to cut the wind, and bags of leaves stacked at the base.
We have several different breeds in our coop.
Americana lay green eggs, but there are any number of breed selections that have come and gone over the years.
We also raise 10 to 15 meat birds, twice per summer season, on off years staggered against lamb years.
Meat chickens' duration is approximately 90 days. These are Cornish/Broiler cross breed, or "broiler hens" and are not sexed.
Chickies!!!
These adorable little puff balls grow quickly. They start with medicated chick starter and scratch more of it out on the floor than they get in themselves. But, they're cute.
Chickies!!!
These little gals stay indoors where they are warm and safe for several weeks before they are released into the coop, where competitive behavior is fierce. As chicks, we order them sexed, which means the majority of them should be female. We do not keep roosters in our current residence.
The Agway supplies their transport
We love our local Agway. They keep us in supply of everything farm/pet related.
Inside the coop
The coop gets mucked out every six weeks or so and the gals get fresh bedding.
Our Little Hen House
Originally, our coop was on wheels. It has since sunken into the ground and is no longer mobile. A new coop is in the planning phase.
The Brooder Box
We start our babies out in the basement, in their brooder box with a heat lamp where it is safe and warm.
The Brooder Box
We start our babies out in the basement, in their brooder box with a heat lamp where it is safe and warm.
Teenaged chickens
The chicks quickly grow to shed their baby fur and sprout feathers. The in-between stage leaves them awkward looking.
Beaker from the Muppets
Lol! How could I resist!?
In the yard
Our flock is fenced, and their run is rotated around the grounds based on what garden needs scratching and natural fertilizer.
In the yard
They return to the coop at dusk on their own and we close and lock them in to avoid predation by skunks, raptors and foxes.
Egggggggs
This is what it's all about.
Breakfast!
Breakfast!
Meat Birds
These chickens are bred for meat processing. They are docile, grow very fast and eat a lot. They are also infertile and will never make eggs.
Meat Birds
Meat Birds
Ducks
The duck hatchlings were mail ordered from Cackle Hatchery.
They arrived in the first week of March and are not sexed - They are a natural mix of male/female.
* These are Cayuga ducks and are raised for meat and egg production.
* Noted feature is the iridescent beetle green color coming from the black feathers in the correct light.
* They are very active foragers and love to eat snails, slugs and other destructive insects.
* The Cayuga duck is calm and does not fly.
Be sure to check back in for baby ducks in kiddie pools!
Ducks!!
Ducks!!
Ducks!!
March 27
The ducks are outside with shelter and a heat lamp. It is a bit chilly, but they needed the space.
Ducks!!
They are pretty terrified of their new environment. We expect that it will take a couple days for them to acclimate.
Ducks!!
Ducks!!
