Our Animals
Hamilton
Hamilton is a small breed of domestic pig. The breed originally came from New Zealand. They are very sociable and have a very good memory. They learn words by repetition. Hamilton has a long coat of hair. His snout is slightly upturned and black. Ears are semi lopped, or half up and halfway down. He has short legs and two wattles. Wattles are loose folds of skin hanging from the neck. Their eyesight is not great but their sense of smell is excellent. Hamilton will sit for apples. Hamilton is fed his grain twice a day and some Timothy alfalfa hay, but always ready to have some apples from visitors. He is also trained to walk with a halter on and a leash. Kune Kunes can live to 15-20 years.
Newman and Lucy
Our donkeys are miniature Sicilian donkeys. The breed is originally from Italy. Their names are Newman and Lucy. Donkeys have been used as work animals, such as in agriculture, pack animas, guardians in the pastures over livestock, and even to transport people. The diet consists of grain twice a day and free choice hay. The domesticated miniature donkeys can live to 35-40 years. Our donkeys are here to meet and greet our visitors. Legend of the Cross - The donkey received the cross after witnessing the trials Jesus was facing and the suffering that followed. The Legend states that the cross was given by God as a reward for their love of Jesus. Another legend says that the shadow of the cross fell upon the back of a donkey leaving them forever marked with the cross. The donkeys are born with, the cross on their backs.
Shamrock
Shamrock is our Quarter Horse. The Quarter Horse breed can excel at sprinting short distances. They have the ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less. The development of the Quarter Horse traces to the 1600's. The Quarter Horse is the first breed of horse native to the United States. They have a refined head and well- muscled body. Their height can be 55.9-64.2 inches. An adult hand is considered 4" and you measure at the withers. They are well known as a racehorse but also for their "cow sense". This means they are good for moving cattle, rodeos, horse shows and working as a ranch horse. Shamrock loves humans and always looks forward to having people out for a visit. We lead children as well as adults around for a ride on Shamrock. He eats grain twice a day as well as free choice hay. Quarter Horses can live between 25-35 years. Thoroughbred Horse - Rico is our Thoroughbred Horse. We purchased Rico from Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation where responsible owners and trainers send their retired horses after racing. Rico is our gentle giant of a horse. The Thoroughbred was developed for horse racing, flat racing, steeple chasing but also as saddle horses. They are considered one of the fastest animals in the world. They are called hot-blooded horses that are known for their agility, speed and spirit. They are originally from the Middle East and imported to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. They are a tall, slim, athletic horse. Their height ranges from 62-68 inches. Rico is considered a dark bay or brown for his color. Rico eats grain twice a day and free choice of hay. He would love to eat more but we don't want any of our animals to become too heavy because it is hard on them. A Thoroughbred Horse can live between 25-30 years.
Creek
Creek is our Indian Runner Duck. We named her Creek because we live in Creek County. Indian Runner Ducks are a breed of the domestic duck. They stand erect like penguins and they have a fast walk or run. The females lay about 300 eggs a year. Creek just recently started laying eggs for us. We did not know if she was a boy or girl until she laid her first egg. They have a very hard shell and their yolk is very dark. They are great for baking and also eating as part of a meal. They were found originally on Indonesian Islands where they were 'walked' to market and sold as egg-layers or for meat. Creek doesn't fly, just does her fast walk. We put Creek in a crate with her feed and water every night because they are known for dropping their eggs wherever they happen to be. The females can weigh between 3.1-4.4 pounds. They can be 20 inches tall. Their egg color is greenish blue. The bill blends into the head smoothly and their head is more shallow than other breeds of ducks. The eyes are high on the head and they have long, slender necks. We have a kiddie pool for her to enjoy swimming and cleaning herself. She has a special duck food and we also put dried grub worms in her bowl. I don't know how long Indian Runner ducks can live but I want it to be a very long time. She and Hamilton are very good friends, staying in the same area. They have been called the Odd Couple.
Dorito
Our llama's name is Dorito. The llama is a large, furry mammal that was domesticated in South America for meat, fur, and as a pack animal. They can also be used as guardians in the pastures over livestock. Although related to camels, llamas don't have humps. Their adult size is approximately 5'7" -5'11". Their diet can consist of flowers, leaves, fruits and roots. Llamas re-chew their food and have a three-compartment stomach with a very long, large intestine. This allows them to digest rich plants and can also survive on much less water than most mammals. Dorito eats a grain twice a day and free choice hay. Llamas have cloven feet, short tail and long necks. Llamas are herd animals and only spit for dominance disputes. Because Dorito was born on our place in Beggs, he has grown up with all the other animals. He does get irritated with Shamrock, our Quarter Horse, periodically but he does not get irritated with humans. Dorito is intelligent and he was easily halter trained. He enjoys being sheared once a year. Llamas can live between 15-25 years.
Rico
Rico is our Thoroughbred Horse. We purchased Rico from Horse and Hound Rescue Foundation where responsible owners and trainers send their retired horses after racing. Rico is our gentle giant of a horse. The Thoroughbred was developed for horse racing, flat racing, steeple chasing but also as saddle horses. They are considered one of the fastest animals in the world. They are called hot-blooded horses that are known for their agility, speed and spirit. They are originally from the Middle East and imported to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. They are a tall, slim, athletic horse. Their height ranges from 62-68 inches. Rico is considered a dark bay or brown for his color. Rico eats grain twice a day and free choice of hay. He would love to eat more but we don't want any of our animals to become too heavy because it is hard on them. A Thoroughbred Horse can live between 25-30 years.
Hank & Henry
Nigerian Dwarf Goat - Hank and Herv are littermates even though they look differently in their size, colors of their eyes as well as their coat. The Nigerian Dwarf Goat originated from west Africa. They were imported to the Americas in the 18th century. They can be 16.9-23.6 inches tall. They can weigh up to 75 pounds. A benefit of the Nigerian Dwarf Goat is their manure can be used as a natural compost for gardens. They have been used as small scale dairy production and for companionship. Hank and Henry are generally gentle and calm. They do act like brothers by playing hard with each other. They are very sociable. They are becoming more common to be seen in nursing homes, veteran facilities, and hospitals to help raise the spirits of the patients or residents. Hank and Henry eat alfalfa pellets and free choice of hay during the winter season. They will be corralled in areas during the spring, summer and fall to clear out the roughage. Hank likes to get out of the electric fencing to explore but stays close to his brother Henry. We will use fence panels to keep them in. Nigerian Dwarf goats can live between 15-20 years.