CHICKENS

• Most hens lay 3-6 eggs per week (1 per day, max) during their peak laying years, depending on breed.

• Egg color depends on the breed of the chicken, and they all taste the same.

• Sometimes we get eggs so large that they are known as a "double yolker", which means it has two yolks instead of one.  

• We haven't had a triple yolker yet!

• Hens occasionally lay wrinkled or oddly shaped eggs, especially during stress, weather changes, or as they get older.  The eggs are still usually perfectly fine to eat!

• Chickens can recognize faces and have social hierarchies, which is where the term "pecking order" comes from.

• It takes 21 days for eggs to hatch into chicks, and it takes constant warmth and humidty.  

• Most hens lay an egg and move on with their day, but a "broody" hen will continue sitting on eggs because she wants to hatch chicks!

• Our roosters roam the farm keeping an eye on the sky to sound the alarm if a predator comes near.  Hawks are plenty in these areas, and the roosters keep the hens safe!

• Chickens have a lifespan of 3 - 10 years.

GOATS

• Both male and femal goats can have horns and bears.  In the case of our goat Duke, he was born polled.  This means he doesn't have any horns.

• Goats are excellent climbers and love elevated surfaces, so we have several spots on the farm where they can get above ground level.

• Goats use different vocal sounds to communicate with each other.  We can tell our goats apart by their bleats, just like humans know different voices!

• We get asked about goat milk a lot, but our males are fixed and female goats only produce milk have having babies (called kids).

• The goats love to play with each other, often rearing up and knocking horns.  Even Duke, who has no horns, still participates in the action!

• The goats even like to play on the seesaw we built for them - sometimes our daughter joins in too!

• Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats have a lifespan of 10 - 15 years.

DONKEYS

• Donkeys form very strong bonds with companions.  This is why we got Jack to be friends with Jenny.

• A donkey's bray can be heard from miles away!

• Donkeys are often used as livestock guardians, so they are our guard donkeys!  

• Mini donkeys have a lifespan of 25 - 35 years.

LLAMAS & ALPACAS

• Both llamas and alpacas are part of the camelid family.  

• Llamas are larger and typically used as guard animals or pack animals.  Pretzel is a guard llama.

• Alpacas are smaller and primarily raised for fiber.

• Llama and alpaca hair grows continuously, and we have them shorn every spring so they don't overheat.

• Alpaca fiber is highly desirable, but llama hair is coarser and generally less sought after than alpaca fiber.

• Llamas hum to communicate with each other.  

• Llamas and alpacas both spit.  It is mainly at each other during feeding time, but we occasionally get caught in the crosshairs - and let me tell you, it's gross!

• When Scooby gets hot in the summer, he has been known to take a dunk in the water trough!

• Llamas have a lifespan of 15 - 25 years, and alpacas have a lifespan of 15 - 20 years.

PIGS

• Pigs are considered more intelligent than dogs by many researchers.

• Pigs love rooting and exploring with their noses.

• Pigs can learn routines and recognize people.  Both Molly and Lucy know their names.

• When we occasioanlly have cracked eggs, the pigs are happy to eat them for a treat!

• Potbelly pigs have a lifespan of 12 - 18 years.  Kunekune pigs have a lifespan of 15 - 20 years.