Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Riverslea Farm

Monday, one of my weaving buddies invited me to feed and play with baby goats and lambs at Riverslea Farm in Epping, NH.


I couldn't resist the lure of all that cuteness!!


We spent most of our time with 9 orphaned baby goats and lambs. For one reason or another, these babies could not nurse from their mothers. They live together in this stall, and are fed warm milk from a milk bucket.

Our job was to sit in the stall with them and pat them, or let them sit on our laps. They reminded me a lot of dogs - even down to little wagging tails.

Have you ever visited goats in a petting zoo where they climb all over you and eat your clothes??? These goats are not like that. They're interested in you and friendly, but they didn't try to eat any part of me! (I was happy about that!) If I wanted one to sit on my lap, I had to pick it up.

When they're old enough and strong enough, they'll rejoin the rest of the herd and their moms.

This little lamb was only 12 hours old when we visited.

Rio is the resident guard llama. He lives with the herd and will run off any coyotes that threaten the herd.

Because Rio, like most llamas, is naturally curious, if he sees a coyote, he'll gallop across the field toward it. Coyotes flee from a galloping llama, which is much bigger than a coyote.

If Rio had to, he could fight off a coyote with his hooves.


We toured all three barns on the property, stopping to pat Stella. I was surprised by how friendly all the animals were.

Since lambs and goats are being born daily at Riverslea, if you're local and you'd like to help socialize the little ones, like I did, contact the farm. They'd be glad to have help!!! (If you do go, wear old clothes that can get dirty.)

I heard exciting news at the farm.

Not only is the Winter Fuzz Fest already being planned for January 2011, but a summer event (Summer Fuzz Fest?) is being planned, probably in August 2010 at the farm.

I'll definitely keep you posted!!

17 comments:

Theresa said...

A day spent in the company of animals ( esp. baby ones!) is well spent. What a wonderful place it must be.

Sharon said...

I love to see Mim's baby lambs. They're like magic - so tiny, so innocent. Coyotes don't come one at a time. They're work in tandem. The llama's first line of defense is to sound an alarm. I can tell you that when I hear it, I run. The second is to make themselves obnoxious by hissing, followed by that dreaded spit. They will stomp to death a single predator. All that is very effective against coyotes.

Llamas are a feeble line of defense against marauding neighbor dogs in packs. You hear people talk about "shoot, shovel and shut up." It would never happen if dog owners were responsible. We don't owns guns. We own llamas and a good fence. That's the other line - good fences make good neighbors. I hope we're covered.

Restless Knitter said...

Oh my, the cuteness! Wish I lived close enough to visit that farm.

Synnøve. said...

So cute they were those little ones.
Lamb and goats are verry friendly normaly.

To sad that I live so far away from the farm that I dont havae posibility to visit.
But Im looking forward to your next post from the farm.

~ The Jolly Bee ~ said...

What wonderful pictures....I love the little babes. So adorable.

Delighted Hands said...

Love the farm day visit! Looks like a wonderful day. A summer FuzzFest would be just perfect!

ladyoftheloom said...

What a fun day!

LA said...

What a fun day. Yes, please keep us posted for the Summer FuzzFest.

Cindie said...

what a fun way to start the week!

Acorn to Oak said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I miss having goats, sheep and llamas. They're such wonderful creatures (especially the llamas...my favorite!).

charlotte said...

The lambs are so cute! It's very interresting to read about the llama: here farmers have big troubles with predators like lynx, wolverine and sometimes wolves. Perhaps keeping guard llamas could be a solution?

Lynnette said...

Oh what a great harbinger of spring! When you see the new generation of sheep, you just know that sunny warm weather is on it's way!

Chris Daly said...

Oh my goodness those little lambs are adorable. I bet you had a wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness - how cute!! I think I'm definitely going to need to contact Riverslea and see if we can go visit the babies too!!

:)Colleen

Leigh said...

So cute! What a prefect way to spend the day.

Julie said...

What a fun day, they are just so cute!

Benita said...

I love kids and have had the chance to have two-week old ones climb all over me like I was an obstacle course! It was so much fun.

Look at those sweet little faces!!! How did you keep them from knocking the bucket over?