Around 10 in the morning on New Years Day Farmer Mary found MOCHA starting to birth in the barn. Farm volunteers helped get her to a nice clean maternity pen just in time to have twin boys-BENJAMIN and THOMAS.
Then, around noon when there were lots of farm visitors, SAMI started to birth. Most visitors of all ages gathered around to watch.
She had twin boys as well,but one was normal sized and we named him WILLIAM. The other was much much smaller, named WESLEY. WESLEY is a runt and is being bottle fed and lives in Farmer Mary’s warm bathroom in a crate.
He likes to travel in the front of Farmer Mary’s overalls and is doing well.
Please read “your visit” which details admission, lists food to bring to feed animals, explains parking and how to schedule your visit during these hours.
FARM OPEN:
Sunday Jan 4 OPEN 1-5
Mon Jan 5 OPEN 10-5
Tues Jan 6 OPEN 10-5
Wed Jan 7 OPEN 10-5
Thurs Jan 8 CLOSED
Fri Jan 9 OPEN 10-5
Sat Jan 10 OPEN 10-5
Sun Jan 11 CLOSED
Mon Jan 12 OPEN 10-5
Tues Jan 13 CLOSED
Wed Jan 14 OPEN 10-5
Thurs Jan 15 CLOSED
Fri Jan 16 OPEN 10-4
Sat Jan 17 OPEN 10-5
Sun Jan 18 CLOSED
Mon Jan 19 OPEN 10-5
Did you know you can rent a pet from Winterpast Farm? For $35 you get the animal, cage, feed and everything you need for a week. Farmer Mary mostly rents guinea pigs and bunnies. She has also rented baby goat on a bottle to a girls slumber birthday party, a variety of farm animals to a country style event, a piglet to a family who was considering buying a pig (that family learned alot, had fun, and did not buy a pig pet!) She has rented a goat to be jokingly exchanged for a bride at a wedding, a baby goat, ducklings, chicks, a hen…just ask!
PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE POST INSTEAD OF CALLING WITH QUESTIONS THAT ARE ALL ANSWERED HERE.
Families and individuals rent for a wide variety of reasons:
Considering adding a furry friend to your household? Rent first and try it out instead of buying!
Dad out of town on a business trip? Miss him a bit less with a new furry friend to take care of.
Grandkids coming for a weekend or for a holiday? Rent a nice bunny and be their very favorite Grandparent!!
Stepkids coming for a stay? Rent a pet to help ease the transition.
Homeschool family studying animals…check with Farmer Mary and rent something interesting to watch develop!
TEMPORARY CLASSROOM PET option works like this. You rent a pet and then ask your child’s classroom teacher if s/he would like a temporary classroom pet; it might be one day, two..or all week. Meanwhile the child is “king of the classroom”, the parents who provided the animal are considered great, and the entire class enjoys a temporary furry or feathered friend. And, the family probably learns they don’t need to buy a pet..why buy when you can take it back to Winterpast Farm and, later on, rent something else?
This rental all helps pay to feed and house all the many many former pets who now live at Winterpast Farm. Large families may want to rent a pair of bunnies or guinea pigs. This is only $20 more (price has recently gone up from $10 for an additional animal) and only when available. Shorter term rental (for a photo shoot or event at your home, for example) is still $35.
Even if you don’t rent a pet, pass on the news to friends and let’s help recycle existing pets instead of creating more!
When you rent a bunny you get:
1. a bunny (sometimes you get to pick from a few;sometimes Farmer Mary picks. If you pick please be aware you will only spend a few moments doing this. A bunny pick up (or drop off) is NOT a farm tour. A farm tour can be arranged at that time, but is a separate event with $10 per person admission.)
2. A “bunny bag” which holds food, hay, water and food bowls, newspaper for bedding (some choose to buy their own shredded bedding-feel free), and book about bunnies so your child can read more. Sometimes a folding pet pen goes along (Farmer Mary loves when these are donated!) so your child and bunny can safely spend some time outdoors .
Pics are from a very happy recent bunny rental of MARSHMALLOW, a sweet former 4-H bunny.