There
are currently two dogs at the HART farm. Webster (born 2003) is a shaggy
black and tan dog who thinks he most closely resembles a working bearded
collie. Although he barks to protect everyone, he is actually very soft and
loves nothing more than to have his tummy tickled. His friend, Major,
thinks he’s a flat-eared German Shepherd. He loves to chase balls but is
reluctant to give it back!
There are now two young cats, rescued from Manchester in 2013: Copa is tortoiseshell and white while Connie is a tabby with orange streaks. They adore the dogs (Copa is in love with Major) and are good hunters bringing in several voles a day!
We have 3 rabbits at Hart Farm who all live in the large rabbits’ retreat
house during the night but run freely within the confines of a small copse
during the daylight hours.
Ducks
At Hart Farm we currently have 6 runner ducks Delia, Daisy, Dora and
Donna (born in 2012): Daley one of our own ducklings hatched in 2014 and
Digby (drake) who joined us in 2015 to improve our gene pool.
Call Duck are a bantam breed of domesticated duck with a distinctive call
which was originally used to lure other ducks towards the hunters’ gun. We
currently have 4 call ducks and one mallard
At the HART farm, we currently have 5 pygmy goats: Gulliver (white and
black) the leader born in 2012; two black half Alpine girls: Gemma and
Gertrude born in 2013 and young Gideon (predominately white) born in
2014. We also have two angora goats, Annie and Alice, both born in April
2015. They were bottle fed them initially which means they are very tame and
already make a great contribution to our work
At the HART farm, we have two Polish frizzle hens (feathers curling outwards
rather than lying flat): sisters Fizz (white) and Fran (black and white like
lace), born in 2012, who are full of character and happy to be picked up and
stroked. A Pekin (Polly, born in 2013); a small bantam of Chinese origin
with feathered feet and legs who lays tiny eggs.
3 Indian Game hens: Isadora
(white) and the cockerel, Indiana, who wakes everyone up every morning. 1
Hamburg hen (hectic Hannah) who led us a merry dance around the village due
to her speed or foot and flight before she had her wing trimmed. Poppy
(black) who is a mix of Indian game and pecan
We now have four male Huacayas and one Suri: Alfonso (brown) and Alberto
(white) both born in 2010, Almigo (also white) was born in 2011 and the two
youngsters (born in 2013): Alfredo (known as Alfi who is black) and Alpasta,
the only Suri with long white dreadlocks and amazing eyes. Alpacas were not
bred as beasts of burden but for their special soft and luxurious fibres
which are used to make all sorts of bedding and clothing including,
sweaters, socks, coats, hats, scarves and ponchos.
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Miniature Mediterranean donkeys are a unique and separate breed of donkey originating from the islands of Sardinia and Sicily where they were used to turn grinding stones for grain inside the peasants’ houses. They are generally between 30-34” to the shoulder. Here at the HART farm we have three, all born in 2011: Murphy is a white gelding from Devon, Martha (chocolate brown) and Milly (grey with a brown cross across her back) are step sisters from Henley-in-Arden. Our latest addition is Monty born in 2015 and arrived at Hart Farm in 2016.