Lincoln SHEEP

The Lincoln Sheep is a heritage longwool breed that came to America in the early 1800’s. Today, the Lincoln is globally rare and facing an uncertian future. The breed originated from Lincolnshire England. They were used in Early America primarily to cross with other breeds for increasing ewe size, hardiness, and wool clip.

Lincoln sheep rams weigh 225-300 pounds and ewes average 210 pounds. Their wool is long and lustrous and grows about 12 inches per year. They can produce about 16 lbs of wool per year. They may be white or colored, including shades of grey, silver, black, and charcoal. They are sweet and curious in nature, and make nice farm pets. They are wonderful 4-H show animals.

Breeding season: Fall

Gestation: 144 to 152 days

FERRET

Ferrets are cute, active, playful and entertaining animals. Although very active, they do sleep a lot, as much as 16 hours a day. Males are larger than females and ferrets are usually 3 to 4 pounds but larger ones can be as heavy as 6 pounds. Many have dark brown fur but they can also be black, gray, tan, or even albino.

Ferrets make good pets and are happy living alone or with another ferret. They are social animals and often like meeting new people. They are fun, playful, and active. Much like dogs and cats, they will need annual visits to a veterinarian for vaccinations. They also require regular baths and grooming. Ferrets can even be taught to walk on a leash and can be litter trained.

FINN SHEEP

In the last 15 years, more research work and data has been compiled in the United States involving Finnsheep and their crosses than any other breed of sheep. A steady increase in registration numbers attest to the breed’s acceptance and viable place in the sheep industry.

Mature Finnsheep rams will range in weight from 150 to 200 pounds (68-90 kg), females are slightly lighter with a range of 120 to 190 pounds (55-86 kg).

The fleece from a mature ewe will range in weight from four to eight pounds (1.8 to 3.6 kg) with a high yield percentage. The fleeces have a numerical count of 50 to 60 or 23.5 to 31.0 microns with a staple length of three to six inches (7.5-15 cm). While white is the predominate fleece color on the breed in the North America, they are found in a number of natural colors in Finnland.

Flemish Giant RABBIT

The Flemish Giant Rabbit has its origin in Flanders, Belgium around the 16th century. They came to America in 1860. Flemish Giants are normally considered to be the largest breed of rabbit, weighing between 15 and 22 pounds on average. They grow to be about 2 1/2 feet long, but some have been known to reach 4 feet in length! Apart from being kept as pets, this rabbit is used for meat, fur, show, therapy, and education. Their fur is known to be shiny, soft and dense. They come in 7 official colors, Black, Blue, Fawn, Light Gray, Steal Gray, Sandy Red, and White. They have docile personalities and make good companions, though they can be hard for a child to pick up due to their size. They can be litter box trained and are often allowed free roam of the house, with supervision. They do need a lot of room to move about to stay healthy, a regular rabbit cage or hut is not advised for this breed of rabbit.

The Flemish Giant Rabbit typically only live 5 to 8 years. Gestation is about 30 days. They can have up to 3 litters per year and usually have between 5 and 12 in a litter.

Fresh timothy hay and low protein rabbit pellets prove sufficient for this rabbit. This hay, is rich in fiber and helps in smooth running of digestive system.

MAllard Duck

The mallard or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia. This duck belongs to the subfamily Anatinae of the waterfowl family Anatidae.

The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on wings and belly, while the females have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are gregarious. This species is the ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.

NUBIAN GOAT

Nubian Goats have long, bell-shaped ears that extend an inch beyond the face, and small upturned tails. Their fur is short and glossy and can come in a variety of colors including black, tan and red. They are immediately recognized for their long pendulous ears and roman (arched) noses.

Nubians were originally known as a dual purpose breed contributing to both milk and meat. Thus making them the perfect homestead livestock, requiring minimal hay and grain with an excellent return. Nubians are a very social breed and desire individual acknowledgment from their caregivers.

Todays nubian is recognized greatly for the dairy production, and not as much a meat goat. One of the main aspects which differentiates the nubian from other dairy breeds is the high fat content in the milk, measuring 5% or more. The doe with quality genetics can also milk 1,360 kgs (3000 lbs) during a lactation period. 6-8 liters a day is not unheard of in a well bred doe.

cayuga DUCK

The Pekin duck is a domesticated duck used primarily for egg and meat production. It was bred from the Mallard in China, it was brought to the United States about 1873, where it is the most popular commercial duck breed.

Due to its friendly nature, more and more people are enjoying this breed as pets. Their average lifespan (if not used for meat production) is about 9 to 12 years.

It is widely believed that Donald Duck is modeled after a Pekin duck.

The mascot of the insurance company Aflac is a Pekin duck.

PONY

The ancestors of most modern ponies developed small stature due to living on the margins of livable horse habitat. These smaller animals were domesticated and bred for various purposes all over the northern hemisphere. Ponies were historically used for driving and freight transport, as children’s mounts, for recreational riding, and later as competitors and performers in their own right. During the Industrial Revolution, particularly in Great Britain, a significant number were used as pit ponies, hauling loads of coal in the mines.

Ponies are generally considered intelligent and friendly, though sometimes they also are described as stubborn or cunning. Properly trained ponies are appropriate mounts for children who are learning to ride. Larger ponies can be ridden by adults, as ponies are usually strong for their size. In modern use, many organizations define a pony as a mature horse that measures less than 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm) at the withers, but there are a number of exceptions. Different organizations that use a strict measurement model vary from 14 hands (56 inches, 142 cm) to nearly 14.3 hands (59 inches, 150 cm). Many breeds classify an animal as either horse or pony based on pedigree and phenotype, no matter its height. Some full-sized horses may be called “ponies” for various reasons of tradition or as a term of endearment.

ROOSTER

A rooster also known as a cockerel or cock, is a male gallinaceous bird, usually a male chicken. Mature male chickens less than one year old are called cockerels. Roosters are larger, usually more brightly colored, and have larger combs on top of their heads compared to hens (female chickens). Chickens can fly but because they are heavy, they can only go about 60 meters .

They have bad senses of smell and taste, but good hearing. They scratch and claw at the ground, looking for food. Baby chicks can eat and walk without help soon after hatching but they still need help keeping warm.