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Poultry
The flock is free range and fed a diet of locally sourced whole grains. The chickens are Certified Animal Welfare Approved along with their brown eggs. All poultry are part of the National Poultry Improvement Plan and are tested annually for Pullorum and Avian Influenza.
Dominique Chickens
Dominique chickens are considered America's oldest breed of chicken, having traveled with the Colonists when they settled in New England. They're an excellent homesteading bird, being both for egg and meat production. Dominiques lay a medium to large brown egg and have flavorful meat. They're incredibly hardy, excellent mothers, protective though docile roosters, great foragers, and extremely clever. Their rose comb provides frostbite resistance with their black and grey cuckoo feather pattern offering a unique disguise against predators. Dominiques are on the watch list for The Livestock Conservancy.
I started my flock of exhibition quality Dominiques in 2018, joined the Dominique Club of America in 2020, and have been the secretary for the board from 2021-2025. I've enjoyed showing the breed and meeting many other wonderful Dominique enthusiasts over the years. The community has been supportive and welcoming! The Dominique has been the perfect bird for the farm and have a great personality and disposition too.
Dominique Rooster
Marie the Guinea Hen
Guinea Fowl
Most noted for their alarm calls, Guinea fowl make excellent watch dogs providing a warning for their fellow flock members to seek protection. This African bird offers excellent pest control, lining up in army-fashion, marching the fields to pick up ticks, fleas, and other small insects. They come in a variety of colors, with Pearl and Lavendar being the most popular. Guineas lay a medium egg, but good luck finding them as they are very secretive with their nests. They will lay a clutch of around 30 eggs with multiple females incubating and rearing the offspring, known as keets. They're incredibly predator savvy and enjoy roosting in trees or on rooves. They don't much prefer roosting in coops and will wander away from home if not trained.
I brought home my first guinea keets in 2018, with Marie being my absolute favorite. She considered herself a chicken and would be the last to go to bed at night, making sure all her feathered friends were home safe. I have enjoyed the silly antics that come with these goofy birds. They can be loud, but only when something is amiss or there is a stranger in their presence.
Pilgrim Geese
There are many theories to the history of Pilgrim geese, from being brought to the states by colonists to be exported by the pilgrims, though the first official documentation of this breed is from 1935. Pilgrim geese are unique as they are auto-sexing, where males are white and females are grey. They are a medium-sized goose, generally quiet, friendly, and docile. They are excellent parents to their young, but can be highly protective of them too. Geese make great guard animals, often chasing predators away. Pilgrim geese are on the threatened list for The Livestock Conservancy.
I added Pilgrims to my farm in 2022 after having several Toulouse geese. I appreciated their history and auto-sexing trait. The geese make amazing guards for the flock, chasing off foxes, mink, and racoons. I find them to be a fun bunch and they do as they please around the farm.
Pilgrim Geese