Tom Turkey

Ready for my closeup

Punkin at Rader Family Farms

Our Animals

While some of the animals come and go from the farm, here’s a look at the ones you are likely to see and maybe touch and — ahem — likely smell during a visit to the farm.

Horses:

CHAIA (left) is an Arabian horse. Chaia (pronounced KY-a) is intelligent and sensitive and loves attention. She is very loyal so long as she is treated with respect. LITTLE BIT (right) is a Hackney pony. Little Bit is friendly, brave and always alert. Hackney ponies are adaptable and tough. Back in the day they were kept out all year with very little food and care to develop endurance for the cold and other types of weather.

Donkeys:

Our newest donkey is a girl born April 28, 2024. Minnie weighed about 25 pounds and stood and walked within about an hour.

Goats:

We have at least a couple dozen young goats on the farm, representing four breeds: Nigerian Dwarf, Nubian Toggenburgs and Boers. Purchase a cup of goat food and watch them get excited to see you!

Micro High-Park calf:

Don’t think there’s such a thing as a cute cow? Then you haven’t met PUNKIN. She was born April 8, 2023, and is a micro High-Park calf. A High-Park is a cross between a Scottish Highland (long ginger hair) and a White Park (a British breed, usually with white hair and that is known for its longevity). When she is fully grown she will be only about 36 inches tall and about 300 pounds. Both breeds are known to be gentle.

Angus cattle:

RUBY is a Black Angus cow who gave birth to Opal on May 27. Ruby herself was born April 1, 2021.

Hereford:

DARLA is a Hereford beef cow born in 2022. Herefords are a gentle breed that originated in England. They typically can produce calves until age 15 or so — older than many breeds.

Sheep:

RIVI and her buddy ROY were born in February (different moms).

Chickens:

There may be 25 billion chickens in the world, but we still think ours are pretty special. The neck and backbone of a chicken consists of 39 bones — more than a giraffe! Because of that, chickens can turn their head 180 degrees.

Chicks:

Baby chicks can go 72 hours without food or water after they hatch. But they grow fast! From the start of our fall season to the end the change is fun to watch.

Turkeys:

We have two turkeys: a Bronze and a Norfolk Black. Bronze turkeys are believed to be a cross between wild U.S. turkeys and imported British turkeys. Norfolk black turkeys are believed to be the oldest domesticated turkey breed.