Farmer Mary is trying out hosting a camp this week. The campers are having a great time!
When someone donated a turtle we researched what kind it was and built a ramp into the pond for it to use.
We have held newly donated guinea pigs to get them used to loving children.We have fed, held, brushed and cared for animals. We have been awaiting the birth of a goat, a lamb and baby bunnies. We have helped farm visitors and learned alot about running a petting zoo.
Farmer Mary may try another camp with a weekly and a daily rate in August.
Farmer Mary and her family are hosting 13 year old Vlad (wearing glasses) from Belarus for the summer. He arrived tonight along with other Belarusian children through a program called ABRO.
This is Vlad’s third summer at Winterpast farm. He especially loves the ducks and pigs.Vlad speaks some English, so feel free to greet him when you visit.
Farmer Mary was surprised this evening by MOLLY the goat appearing with a baby boy! After a very busy day and a run to the feed store Farmer Mary was getting ready to unload the feed into the barn when she noticed MOLLY had a baby boy by her side. Thinking back on the day, she had missed MOLLY while helping visitors feed the animals, but then was too busy to look for her.
Farmer Mary led MOLLY to a maternity pen and made her comfortable with fresh hay in a dog house where the baby can sleep, lots of water, some hay and a variety of food.
Visitors can bring MOLLY treats like bananas, apples, carrots, kale, grapes…
In photos MOLLY is the large goat without horns. Her sister, DOLLY, (with horns) is due any day now. Farmer Mary had noticed both MOLLY and DOLLY’s udders had filled and their teats were sticking out for the past few days. This is a strong sign of impending labor.
UPDATE: The beautiful baby boy has been named BENJAMIN. This year Farmer Mary is honoring the children involved in the Newtown incident by naming all the babies born at Winterpast Farm after them.
Farmer Mary has put some fancy lizards along the forest path for you to discover. One is on a downed tree where many groups like to stop and take a photo.
There are more by the new pond.
And a new pig and chicks along the front fence by the parking lot.
When you visit, see if you can find them all!
One of Farmer Mary’s visiting dogs was barking non-stop last night and when she went to investigate she found the dog near the incubator. A peacock had hatched and was making noise.
A close up, a few hours old. Peacocks aren’t particularly attractive for the first two years. They are brown striped very tall chicks with huge eyes and feet. The males gorgeous long “eye” feathers aren’t fully developed for three years. the females are never as pretty as the males. This helps protect their nest and babies from predators since the female can blend into nature more easily without the long, flashy tail.
A bit better view in more light. Note the “egg tooth” adhered to the end of the beak which enables the chick to peck it’s way out of the egg. This will fall off naturally at day 3 or 4 .
Watch for more updates.
Meanwhile, outside, one peahen is setting on eggs and one is laying eggs but not setting, yet.
DAY TWO
The baby is named FRANCES (gender hard to determine in peachicks for quite a while). his or her feathers are developing at an amazing rate.
