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Animals
At Church Farm we have a wide variety of Farm animals for everyone to
enjoy.
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Animal Encounters are held everyday at 11.15 & 2.15. A great
opportunity to get closer to our animals and to find out more about
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Sheep
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Boreray |
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Originally this sheep came from the island of Boreray
off the west coast of Scotland in the St Kilda group of the Hebrides.
They are a 19th century development from the Scottish Blackface and a
Hebridean variety of the Scottish Dunface. When the people of St Kilda
were evacuated in 1930 they left behind a small flock of these sheep
which are still to be found there living wild (feral). Six Boreray sheep
were removed from the island in the 1970's and there is now the odd tiny
flock on the mainland. These sheep of ours were really difficult to
find, and we hope to do our bit to improve the numbers.
Although our sheep are tan in colour they also come in
grey and cream with faces and legs clear of wool that is shed naturally
around July. There is no real commercial use for the wool except perhaps
as linings for hanging baskets. Both male and female Borerays have
horns. The male (ram) when fully grown has fantastically large open
spiraled horns which can be used to make show crooks and walking sticks.
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RBST Classification CRITICAL
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Hebridean |
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The Hebridean sheep originates from the islands off
the west coast of Scotland. It is a native breed, descended from Viking
stock, and at one time was common throughout Scotland. During the 19th
century the Blackface sheep replaced the Hebridean and by the 1970's
only a few flocks survived across the country in the occasional
parkland. These days they have increased in popularity because of their
ability to graze sensitive areas and are chosen by wildlife trusts
amongst others for preserving or re-establishing these ecosystems.
Hebrideans are of particular interest because of their
handsome horns and their black wool which may become grey with age, the
tips of which may also be bleached to brown by the sun, thus making this
naturally coloured wool very popular with hand spinners and weavers. Both
male and female sheep have two or more horns, a throw back to earlier
times. The breed is very hardy and on the whole remains problem free
(unusual for a sheep). They are good mothers and though the lambs are
small when born, they are energetic and covered in thick black wool.
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Manx Loaghtan |
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The Manx Loaghtan is a primitive breed of sheep that
has roots way back, probably to the Iron Age, and although it was once
found in many parts of Britain it only survived on the Isle of Man
because the island was relatively isolated. Before the 1700's the Manx
were a variety of colours and the wool was used in a number of ways. In
the 18th and 19th centuries the Manx population was displaced by the
gradual introduction of "improved" sheep to the Isle of Man, and at this
point all colours apart from the Loaghtan, which was favoured, were bred
out. However commercial dyeing grew in importance and the coloured sheep
lost their popularity. Until the 1970's there were only a handful of
Manx on the island, and it appears that their survival to this day has
largely rested with various private enthusiasts along the way.
This is a small breed of sheep with fine bone
structure and a half length tail. It is multi-horned, usually two or
four but sometimes six. The horns on the ram are strong and large, those
on the ewe small. The word Loaghtan means mouse brown and this has become
the established colour in the Isle of Man where many of the breed are to
be found. The wool is in demand for its natural colour and is used for
underclothing, socks and knitwear. The meat is lean and well flavoured.
The head of the Manx Loaghtan ram is to be found on the coins and stamps
of the island.
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RBST Classification AT RISK
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Norfolk Horn |
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RBST Classification VULNERABLE
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A hardy, active sheep, bred to graze the heathlands and the poorest soils. Lean and long-legged and often bare bellied.
In the 18th century the breed began to lose favour, and other more popular breeds started to replace them, such as the Southdown. Many Norfolk Horns were inter bred with Southdowns to improve them, the Suffolk being the result. In 1846 it was commented that a perfectly pure Norfolk was becomming rare and would soon cease to exist. By 1907 there were just 10 or 11 flocks in East Anglia, and by the end of the first world war only 1 flock remained of 6 ewes and 7 rams. The plight of the Norfolk horn was the catalyst needed for the foundation of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust ( or RBST)
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North Ronaldsay |
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The most northerly of the Orkney islands is North
Ronaldsay where this small and endearing sheep is found and from where
it gets its name. To provide a barrier between the cultivated land of
the crofts and the sea-shore, a high stone wall was built - the sheep
were kept on the shore side and adapted to a diet completely of seaweed!
Because of the way the "Ronnie" has evolved, when removed to the
mainland careful consideration must be paid to its feed - it is more
susceptible to copper poisoning than other sheep breeds.
A very small sheep, fine boned and a short tail. The
fleece is usually grey or white but can be black, brown or mixed. The
coloured fleeces are rather coarse in nature but the white and tan is
fine and is used for woollens and the variety in colour makes the
fleeces popular with spinners. The rams are always horned and have a
coarse hairy mane that runs down the underneck and chest. Ewes may
either be horned or more usually polled (hornless).
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RBST Classification VULNERABLE
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Southdown |
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The Southdown is one of the oldest Downland breeds and
enjoyed its heyday from the late 1700s up to the Second World War when
farm after farm changed over to dairying. In the 1800s Southdown rams
were used on local sheep in the different areas of the South of England,
which improved stock, and gave rise to other Downland breeds such as the
Oxford, Hampshire, Shropshire and Dorset Downs. When crossed with
Norfolk Horn ewes it produced the now popular Suffolk Sheep breed. It
was reported that one area in Sussex was known as "mutton barracks"
because of the number of sheep, but by 1930 it was noted that the grass
was "up to the knees where once it had been as a billiard table".
The Southdown has a mouse coloured face (under all
that wool) no horns and tiny ears covered in short wool - a nightmare
for the shearer if requested to clear the head! Of all the sheep breeds
it grows one of the finest wools and although very short is used for
high quality fabrics and is exceptionally useful in making lightweight
underwear! The wool covers almost the entire sheep giving its classic
"teddy bear" look. A placid breed, it is said it can be held in a field
merely by a shadow across the gateway - but ours have tiptoes across a
cattle grid! This sheep can be used as a "cross" to give an early
maturing lamb and was the first of the meat breeds to be established and
improved, producing quality meat.
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Wensleydale Black and White |
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Mainly found in the North of England, the Wensleydale
is the result of a cross between the now extinct Teeswater Muggs and a
Dishley Leicester ram, this produced "Bluecap" the foundation ram of the Wensleydale breed (1839). For some time there was debate as to what the
"proper" breed type should look like and although this feud in the end
was resolved, the popularity of the Wensleydale began to decline. By
1973 there were only 226 ewes put to the ram and the breed was placed on
the critical list, but from this point the numbers slowly began to
increase until they were upgraded in 1995 to "at risk".
The Wensleydale is a large sheep with a blue face and
forelock, no horns (polled), and is noted for its very fine, long,
curly fleece valued by hand spinners and the woolen industry alike. It
is used to blend with shorter wool when a stronger yarn is needed, also
for spinning fine lightweight material. The fleece can weigh up to 9kg
and the length up to 30cm (1ft)! Imagine its weight on a really wet day! As well as excellent wool the breed had been developed to provide rams
for crossing with ewes of the Black-faced mountain types, which are then
mated with a lowland ram to produce either breeding stock or lambs for
the market.
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RBST Classification AT RISK
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Pigs
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Berkshire |
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Chinese Pigs were imported in the 17th century to
improve the "Old English" hog, speeding up the rate of growth and making
our small English breeds larger - they also affected the shape and
colours of our pigs. The Berkshire is the oldest pedigree recorded pig
in Britain and originally came from around the Wantage area in
Wiltshire.
The Berkshire is a medium sized breed of pig covered
in black hair - the skin is not coloured. It has white socks and some
white on its rather concave face, pricked ears and an engaging cheeky
and affectionate nature. They are a hardy pig and do well in outdoor
systems. They mature early producing specialist pork. Their favourite
occupation seems to be digging massive craters in which they love to
wallow when filled with water. They are also excellent escapologists.
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RBST Classification - VULNERABLE
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Gloucestershire Old Spot |
RBST Classification - AT RISK
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The Gloucestershire Old Spot or Orchard Pig has been
around for about 200 years. It originally came from the Severn Valley
where they were kept in orchards and raised on windfall apples. It used
to be said that the dark marks on the pigs were bruises where the apples
fell on to them. The Gloucester was a popular pig during the 1920's and
1930's but then it fell from favour as the more modern, faster maturing
breeds took over. A 1994 survey stated that there were only 158 sows
and 60 boars left in Britain.
The Gloucester is a white pig with some black spots
(it is not as spotty as it used to be). It is large with lop ears and
very hard coarse hair. This pig does not dig as much as other breeds
like the Berkshire, hence it's use in grazing orchards. The Gloucester
can adapt to extremes of weather from high humidity to very cold;
ideally suitable for the British climate.
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Kune Kune |
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Kune Kune pigs (pronounced Kooney Kooney) were
probably brought from Southern Asia to New Zealand by whalers who traded
them with the Maori people. It is a Maori name and means fat and round.
They were allowed to roam freely, including in and out of the Maori
homes, and so became domesticated. They make excellent pets and if you
can bear it, good meat. The Kune Kune was introduced into Britain in
1992.
Small, fat and round, the Kune Kune usually have Piri
Piri (tassels) under their chins (their function is not known), and are
multi-coloured and very hairy with coloured skin that protects them from
sunburn. They have prick ears and a slightly dished face. Boars will
grow tusks as they get older. Theses pigs are quick to learn and are
extremely friendly, thriving on human company. They are intelligent and
can be trained to sit for their food or even on occasions be house
trained. The Kune Kune is ideally suited for outdoor production during
the summer because it is a natural grazer and can survive on grass.
However in wet weather it has a tendency to root for grubs.
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Tamworth |
RBST Classification - ENDANGERED
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Originating in the Midlands, the Tamworth is the
closest to the traditional pig that would have roamed the woods of
Britain in medieval times and whose ancestor would have been the wild
boar. It has not been influenced like some breeds, by the Chinese pigs
that were imported to improve our own native species. The Tamworth is an
ancient British breed.
The Tamworth is a large, red or ginger pig with a
snout inherited from the wild boar. The red colouring was influenced by
the Red Barbadan or Axford pig from the West Indies. This accounts for
it's resistance to sunburn (unlike people with red hair!). It has large
pricked ears and is a hardy outdoor pig.
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British Lop Pig |
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The British Lop Pig is currently the rarest of all
British pigs, and is classified on the RBST list as “Endangered” meaning
there are less than 200 registered breeding sows.
They used to be called the National Long White
Lop-eared pig, which described them very well but was a bit wordy. They
originated from the Devon/Cornwall border centred around Tavistock, and
they didn’t seem to gain popularity elsewhere, despite their many good
characteristics.
The British Lop is a large, plain white, conventional
looking pig with very large, trade mark lop ears. The length and deep
bodied shape gives an excellent carcase to finished stock. They do not
easily run to fat and therefore produce excellent pork, ham and bacon.
The British Lop boar crossed on other breeds gives a good quality animal
too.
The dams make good mothers, milk well and have good
sized litters of piglets. The British Lop is also docile in character
and therefore easy to manage.
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RBST Classification - ENDANGERED
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Cattle
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White Park Cattle |
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The White Park is one of our oldest breeds of cattle. As
long ago as the 5th Century BC, animals of a similar type were found in
Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Northern England. It was a time when
Britain was covered in dense forest that the Celts slashed and burnt to
develop farming land. By the 13th Century there were also accounts of
“wild white beasts” enclosed within manorial parklands; amazingly some
of these herds still exist today. White Park cattle are known to be
hardy, long lived and adaptable to a variety of conditions, with the
bonus of being noted for their ease of calving and good growth rates.
They are stunning to look at with their medium length horns and the
contrast of mainly black pointings i.e. muzzle, ears, eyelids, feet and
teats against a white coat. These markings can also be red in some
herds. At present, they are in the “Minority” category of the RBST
watchlist which means that there are only between 750 and 1500
registered adult breeding females left countrywide, so their main value
still remains that of a decorative parkland breed. |
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Goats
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Bagot |
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There appear to be two theories as to the origins of
the Bagot goat. They could be from feral (wild) stock already native to
Britain, or they could have been brought to Britain during the crusades
by Richard the Lionheart, who gave them to Lord Bagot of Staffordshire. Whatever the origin they made a very attractive parkland breed, and the
ability to survive on rough grazing made them easy to keep.
Unfortunately over time they could not compete with the more productive
goats and of course sheep. They are choosy animals which do not accept
outsiders easily hence the difficulty in breeding. The Bagot is known
for being "of nervous disposition", its reproduction is low and there is
no real commercial value to this breed - but it is very striking to look
at as you can see.
This small-medium skittish goat has the most beautiful
set of swept back, incredibly pointy horns (spare a thought for the
person who has to work with them). The main body is white and the hair
is long. They have a black head with a white blaze, black neck and
shoulders and some have dark markings on the hindquarters.
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RBST Classification -
ENDANGERED
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Golden Guernsey |
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As its name suggests this breed of goat evolved on
Guernsey in the Channel Islands and was brought to the mainland for
breeding when numbers had become low in 1965. The Guernsey is the result
of breeding Anglo-Nubian goats with Swiss breeds. The Golden Guernsey
had a close shave during World War II when the order was given to kill
all livestock to feed the hungry invaders. To prevent those remaining
few Guernseys from being killed an islander hid them in caves. It is
from these survivors that all the present Golden goats are descended.
The Golden Guernsey is a small, fine boned goat with
varying shades of gold coloured hair and golden skin. The hair can be
short or long (particularly on the quarters and along the spine). It has
a very friendly nature and is often used by smallholders as they are
easily handled. The ears are erect and pointing slightly forward.
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Pygmy |
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Pygmy Goats have developed from the interbreeding of
wild goats found in Africa and were originally called the Cameroon Dwarf
Goat. It is thought that they were first domesticated in 7,000 B.C. They
were brought to Britain in the 19th century as an exotic zoo animal.
Although not rare, the numbers are low, particularly since the foot and
mouth crisis. Pygmy Goats have a natural ability to climb and they are
sometimes called African Tree Goats.
Pygmys are a small breed of goat that come in a
variety of colours and are horned. They have a barrel shaped body and
short neck and legs. They are an intelligent and friendly little goat
that is easily handled. Their normal height is 16" - 23". A Pygmy nanny
can produce 1 - 4 kids.
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Toggenburg |
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This goat originates from Switzerland in the valley of
Toggenburg from which it takes its name. Toggenburgs are the oldest
known breed of dairy goats. The first imports to England were in 1884
where they proved to be popular and more goats were imported. It is a
misconception that goats will "eat anything". They are browsers not
grazers and will pick and choose what they want to eat.
The Toggenburg is a small goat. The breed in England
tends to have the hair colouring of weak cocoa and milk and there can be
some white or light fawn markings either side of the face and on the
legs, and white around the tail area. They have small pricked ears and
their hair is soft and fine. The British Toggenburg has been developed
from this breed and he is happiest in cooler climates.
FUDGE is a castrated male, extremely mischievous and
likes to be "lord of all he surveys". He also has an inquisitive and
friendly nature.
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Rabbits, Guinea
Pigs
and Ferrets
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Giant Flemish |
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It is thought that the Flemish Giant Rabbit is a cross
between large rabbits from Flanders and giant Patagonian rabbits. Dutch
traders travelled to Argentina in the 16th and 17th century bringing
back the giant wild rabbits. The first record of Flemish Giant Rabbits
is in 1860. Travellers returning to England from Flanders told stories
of the giant rabbits they had seen. Rabbit was a very popular source of
meat and the English rabbit breeders decided to import the Flemish Giant
to help satisfy the market. A typical English rabbit weighed 7 - 8 lbs,
whilst the Flemish Giant weighed in at 14lbs!
These giant rabbits are very strong physically and
also have very strong characters. They have a reputation for not being
easy to breed, the mothering instinct is not renowned and the mortality
rate amongst the babies can be high. They also have enormous appetites!
There are 7 distinct colours in the modern Flemish Giant; black, blue,
fawn, light grey, steel grey, white and sandy/natural. The female may
have a dewlap (a fold of loose skin hanging from the throat) the fur of
which she uses for lining her nest and keeping her young warm.
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Rabbits |
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Rabbits have existed for millions of years and
were originally bred from the wild for their fur and meat. The Romans
kept them in special enclosures called "leporarium". They were so highly
thought of that their image was engraved on to the coins of the Emperor
Hadrian. Rabbits were introduced by the Normans to Britain and were kept
in warrens and killed for their meat and fur. Every now and then a few
would escape and settle in the nearby countryside. Mutations have
occurred over the years producing a range of very different animals
which has given breeders a range of features to work with.
The rabbits at Church Farm are largely RSPCA rescue
rabbits. These are a complete mixture of breeds and cross breeds and go
to show how many different rabbits can be produced accidentally or by
design.
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| Guinea Pigs |
Originally the wild guinea pig came from the coast of
South America, where the Incas (16th century) kept them for food. They
were then brought by Spanish sailors to Europe where they became
domesticated. In their native environment these little animals would
live in colonies on grassland, their natural food.
This small rodent has a thickset body and a very small
tail. The smooth haired breeds are like the wild guinea pigs (or cavy)
of South America, though they have a slightly more pointed face and are
speckled grey brown in colour. The little animals we are used to seeing
have been bred for colour, length of hair, curly hair and so on - many
breeds have been created. What you see here is a small example of the
range that it is now possible to have.
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Ferrets |
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The ferret is a member of the marten family, which
includes the polecat. It's origins are unclear, but ferrets were known
of by the ancient Greeks in North Africa, and they were already tame and
lived in peoples houses. An important part of the ferrets history is
ferreting - the Romans certainly did this. In the 14th century it was
the law in England that no-one with an income of less than 40 shillings
a year should be allowed to keep ferrets - this was to prevent the
hunting of rabbits which was a highly prized meat. The ferret is not
found in the wild and it would not survive even though it is a predator
by nature. It may kill, but it would not know how to devour it's prey.
Ferrets are active, playful animals who love to
explore and can be trained to do things if they consider it to be in
their best interests - that is if there is a reward! They are small
animals with a pointed nose (some might say rat like), small ears that
lay flat to their head, beady eyes, a slender body, a long tail and very
sharp teeth. They are not related to the rat, but in the same marten
family as the stoat, weasel, badger, polecat and otter. They are also
ground lovers that rely on their senses of hearing and smell and to a
limited extent their eyesight.
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Horses and Donkeys
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Suffolk Punch |
The Suffolk or Suffolk Punch is Britain's oldest breed
of heavy working horse and was named after the East Anglian county where
it has been bred since the sixteenth century. The Suffolk has been
traced back to a single stallion, Crisps Horse of Ufford, this means that
they breed true to colour - chesnut (traditionally spelt without the
first "t"), although the shades will vary. Quite apart from its colour
the Suffolk Punch has clean legs (no feathers), good for working on the
clay soils of East Anglia, and long and muscular shoulders with a deep
body, ideal for pulling farm machinery e.g. the plough. For such a
strong animal the horse fortunately has an exceptionally friendly
nature, a true gentle giant. Bernard, our Suffolk Punch, is a gelding
(castrated male) therefore quieter than a stallion, he is trained to
pull carts and farm machinery. He can be expected to live into his mid
20s.
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RBST Classification - CRITICAL
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Donkeys |
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Originally the donkey came from Africa and Asia, hot
dry countries where they roamed in their wild herds before they were
tamed and used by man. It is believed that the donkey was brought to
this country by the Romans, who used them as working animals.
Donkeys come in all shapes, sizes, colouring and
temperament. They have eyelashes to die for, long thick and dark, and
ears that tend to be hairy. They can have stiff upright manes or long
manes. Donkeys are naturally clean and generally appreciate being
groomed, but they also love a dust patch to roll in!
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Poultry
| Farmyard Hens and Cockerels |
A complete mixture of breeds which are much more
flighty than the docile pure breeds in the other pens. They are good
layers and very protective mothers often laying and hatching away from
home if they get the chance. We have found newly hatched chicks on high
walls, on the top of log piles and in forked branches of trees.
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Buff Orpington |
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The Orpington is a sweet tempered bird and because of
it's size does not need very high fences to stop it straying. They weigh
7 - 10 lbs and their eggs are cream/light brown.
The Buff Orpington was first bred in 1897 from Gold
Spangled Hamburgh, Buff Cochin and Dark Dorking chickens. These fluffy
docile birds were taken to Australia by the early settlers. They have a
strong tendency to go broody ad make excellent mothers. They are
becoming more popular to eat due to their recognition by the chef Hugh
Fearnley Whittingstall.
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Light Sussex |
The Sussex is one of the oldest breeds in the UK. The
Romans introduced hens from Ardennes in Belgium which were mated with
Old English Game birds. It was first recognised as a breed in the early
1900's when the Sussex Poultry Club was founded. The Sussex was much
sought after for the London meat market as it was a popular top class
table bird. The main breeding of these birds was therefore centred
around places like Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, allowing a supply of
eggs and meat to be delivered to London daily.
The Light Sussex is the most popular of all the Sussex
varieties. It is thought their colour comes from Asiatic imports, e.g.
Light Brahmas. The Light Sussex has a white body with black markings on
the neck and tail. The modern broiler is a product of the Sussex and
Indian Game. |
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Norfolk Grey |
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The Norfolk Grey originated from Norwich and
though it is known to have been created before World War 1 by Fred
Myhill, the breeding history was never disclosed. They are a dual
purpose bird, i.e. good as egg layers and for meat.
The hens should be mainly black apart from the throat
which is silver laced and the hackle which is silver, striped with
black. The cockerel has a single red comb, a similar but more
splendid hackle to the hen with silver striped back, neck, saddle
and wing feathers. |
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Marsh Daisy |
Originates from circa. 1880 by cross breeding different
breeds of chicken, with further cross breeding in 1913 to produce what we have
today. This breed of chicken was thought to be extinct, but in 1971 a flock was
found in Somerset, however the different colours had been interbred probably to
avoid in-breeding.
They come in several colours but they all should have
the rose comb, white earlobes and green legs. Present day colours are
brown, wheaten and buff. Black and white are quite rare, possibly
extinct. Good egg producers, hardy and long-lived.
RBST Classification -
ENDANGERED
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Quail |
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These small plump birds are from the pheasant
family. They nest and feed on the ground and are seed and insect
eaters. They can fly in short bursts straight up into the air but
tend to stay low, preferring to stay in the undergrowth where they
are well camouflaged. The male has an unusual repetitive call. |
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