Meet the rest of our Gracemere animal family
The porky members, Sir, Cecil, Sierra and Saphira also live on pasture in portable electric netting. Despite popular opinion, pigs don’t smell (if moved regularly) and are actually quite clean animals choosing to expel their ‘waste’ in one corner of their paddock, well away from where they eat and drink. Sir and Cecil are about to go to Booyong Abattoir for their ‘one bad day’ after which we will enjoy delicious pasture-raised pork and even better ham and bacon for Christmas.
The noisy farm geese (Edmund, Peter, Corrin; the ganders) and (Avarice and Lilian; the geese) plus their one gosling free range around the homestead area. They strut around as a group eating mostly just grass. They are especially noisy during the breeding season when the males like to hiss and scare any potential threats (which does include any and all humans).
Everyone’s favourite animals are always the donkeys, Joseph (the jack), Jenna and Jasmine (the two jennies) plus their foals Jet and Jewel and also George the friendly gelding. They love to say hello to any visitors especially if they have a yummy treat for them (aka carrots or bananas or apples….) Jet, now 6 months old, loves a cuddle and can be quite annoying if not given one immediately from each and every visitor.
We initially purchased the donkeys for guardian duty but they were not particularly suited for guarding chickens so instead enjoy interacting with our visitors.
Our 50 grass eaters (aka cows) are a challenge to our fencing (which is in the process of being updated). The cows are moved to a fresh patch daily and move with the mineral shaw. They are mostly Angus with a few of our Jersey heifers in the mix. Bruce the 2nd is a Brahman bull and the 2nd bull we have had here at Gracemere. Bruce the 1st, a Limousin bull, went to different pastures after destroying one too many gates.
Jess, Kuji and Athena are our beautiful horses, all ex-racehorses. They are extremely bonded together which can be a challenge when riding separately. They live with the cows and donkeys and are the bosses of the herd.
Our layer chickens are raised on pasture, moved weekly, and have a secure space of a night in our chicken “caravans”. Fitted with a mesh floor the chickens fertilize the grass underneath. Often the chickens follow the cows, picking through the cow’s manure to eat any fly larvae (mmm…. Delicious!). 6 weeks ago, we received the latest lot of 150 layer chicks and they are being raised in a nice warm brooder with a soft bed of wood shavings. Then they are shifted to our brooding yard at 6 weeks of age and then finally into our chicken ‘caravans’ and out onto pasture when they are nearly ready to lay. The brooding yard has a deep mulch layer, and the chicks are fed a mixture of sprouted grains and organic feed from SOFT.
A recent addition to the farm is Pyro, a 12-week-old Maremma. Pyro is being trained as a guardian for the chickens. Sadly, we lost two of our adult Maremma’s (poppy + Puggles) to tick and snake bite. Two very sad days. Onwards and upwards….
Billy and Banjo (both Border Collies) enjoy life on the farm. Banjo, in particular, likes to round up the sheep (and the chickens). Billy’s exuberance means he is not quite as useful but very personable so at least that’s something.
The 4 cats, Molly, Tom, Tiger, and Smokey are often found sleeping during the day, at night on active duty keeping any scuttling intruders at bay. Tiger especially loves anyone staying as he will be the star of the show as long as food is on offer.
Well, that was quite the list, as you can see life here at Gracemere is busy and certainly never dull.
Well now you know all the family members we would love you to visit and meet them in person.
Farm tours are available daily @ 7:30am and 4pm. Prior notice essential.