Do you have an interest in joining the Youth Group at Stearns Farm? Now is the time to start planning for this year! Open enrollment for Homestead Hoofers Youth Group begins now and will continue until April 30, 2012 or until we reach 30 members. Orientation is scheduled for Thurs. Feb. 16, 2012 at 7pm [...]
Two goats eating ice cream. © 2009, Diana Cornielle
We have many different kinds of animals at the Homestead.
All of our animals are fed a diet of purina and nutrena foods and hay. Even our hogs are fed Purina Pig chow. Our potbellied pigs enjoy a meal of cheerios, lettuce, piggy pellets and apples twice daily and love grapes as training treats. Pigs are very smart and can be trained to do many things that dogs can- their motto is we work for food. We hope you will come visit all of the residents here at the Homestead. They are always happy to entertain and meet you.
We ask that the animals are fed with only the food that we sell – many are on strict diets because of their age. Also, the funds that we make on the sale of the food insures that we can purchase more feed for our animals so they are able to remain on the farm. Feed is sold in front of the Yankee barn.
In the spring we purchase hogs and Bronze turkeys to raise and as on a farm they will be sold at market to support the farm.
Here are some of the animals you might meet on a visit to the farm.
We have a rabbit house with 13 rabbits of many different breeds, including one from France – a Champagne DeArgent’, a Jersy Wooly, Lionhead rabbits, and Dutch and Lop ears.
We have raised many breeds of domestic ducks – pekins, blue swedish, and one that everyone loves: the White Crested – they look like they have wigs on the top of their heads. Also see our newest breeds: The Muscovy Duck and the Silver Harlequin
We have a chicken coop with 27 hens and 2 roosters. One breed we feature is the Buckeye chicken, so named because they are the color of the Buckeye nut. This is the only breed developed by a woman and in the state of Ohio. We also have a pair of Chinese Silkie Chickens. stop by and see our new pair of Polish chickens.
We have recently began to breed turkeys at the homestead. We have a pair of heritage birds -Kentucky Red Burbon turkeys and two of their offspring born in July of 2009. In addition we seasonally have 16 Bronze Market Turkeys
Cats
Our three sheep are shorn each year on opening day in May. We also now have lambs born in April 2011
We are the home of two Vietnamese pot bellied pigs. Chubbs appeared on the Robin Swoboda show “Thats Life” last year when they visited the farm.
We have pygmy and Toggenburg goats. Toggenburgs are Swiss dairy goats, the largest goat breed.
We have a miniature steer weighing in at half the size of a black angus or longhorn steer. The breed is originally from Ireland.
We have two miniature horses, four ponies, and a Saddlebred and our newest addtion a miniature donkey
The Honorable Sir Loin© 2009 Michelle Mihalek
Sunny the Saddlebred. 2009, Michelle Mihalek
Blonde pony at fence © 2009, Diana Cornielle
Rabbit Cages. ©2009, Diana Cornielle
Ducks sitting on grass. © 2009, Diana Cornielle
Turkeys standing by cage fence. ©2009, Diana Cornielle
