We have a pony who eats everything in site! Did you know ponies are not far from trash compactors? Now that she's trampled and eaten the grass completely, so only the moss is left, she's moved on to eating ALL my ferns and the only vegetables I had left in my raised beds. Which by the way were 5 huge full grown tomato plants of different varieties! Ouch. But she's a lot of fun for the kids to ride, take for a walk and just spend time grooming and stealing hugs and kisses from. She does leave a lot of large piles which is great compost, so if you need garden fertilizer, just ask.
You can also see our 5 ducks swimming in their toddler pool, laying on my empty garden beds and harassing the chickens for food or status in the pecking order! We have 2 different breeds. The Muscovie's are a large breed of duck that don't quack...my favorite by the way. They have great personalities and don't mind being pet if your offering food. The males name is Donald 2 (the original Donald had a run in with the dog) the females are Sunny and Vanessa (named both by Gavin). The other two ducks are a pair of Magpies. They do quack, very loud, and are a breeding pair named Duke and Daisy.
Our chickens are my favorite of our poultry pets in which now 6 of the 8 hens are laying! Yeah, go chickens. There's nothing like retrieving fresh warm eggs from their nesting boxes every morning. Yes every morning we get between 5 and 6 eggs. The other 2 chickens have yet to start laying. One chicken actually lays blueish colored eggs, their known as easter-eggers because their eggs look like dyed easter eggs.
The only chicken we've actually named is the solid red one which we collectively call Big Red. I know, how original, she runs the roost in place of a rooster and is very sweet. If anyone would like to help name the others, we'd love the input.
And last but not least our beloved dogs. They actually get along quite well with the birds and the pony! Every once in a while Stella gets under the feet of Cocoa or Stella gets after Cocoa for trying to steal her food. I sometimes think ponies and bull dogs have the same demeanor! The other day I did catch the dogs licking a chicken, who was just sitting there allowing it to happen! Needless to say I broke that up quickly before the chicken got in over her head (no pun intended). Stella is getting some much needed training right now, she is quite a handful I'll tell you. I highly recommend "The Dog Whisperer" with Cesar Millan on the Natural Geographic channel. His simple tips to understanding dogs is very effective.
I have to say I absolutely love our animals and the joy and entertainment they bring. Anyones welcome to come play on the farm anytime. Who knows, maybe next year we'll have goats :) (don't tell my husband I said that)
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