Circle M Farm

This is Brindle being born. It’s a pretty fast and slippery process. continued »

As we were watching this take place – the first hour of Pigabella’s long labor toward 14 piglets – Shannon said, “How does anything survive?!” continued »

We got our baby meat chickens this past week – 100 of them mailed to us in a box! See the video here…. continued »

Our little mama corral is alive with running, jumping, exploring babies these days. Here are some sights and sounds from the Circle M barnyard:

Spot is about a week old here, and he and his mom, Cricket, have just been let out of the lambing jug (a 10-by-10-foot private pen) into the corral with the other moms and babies. He’s a bit nervous, but having fun getting to know all his fellows in the barnyard. Cricket will keep him close and safe. I like how you can hear so many of the farm’s sounds – spring peepers, chickens, dogs…

Now Spot is getting more comfortable with life on the outside. continued »

This is a short little dark video of Spot quietly nibbling on my feet last night. continued »

The barn is one of my favorite places to be. The smell of the sheep and their hay, the quiet murmur of chickens, the gentle nudge of goats nibbling on my clothes, the rub of cats around my ankles. Here is a first look at the new lambs in their cozy pen at the back of the little barn. You’ll notice how silent the barn is – the only sounds you hear are the tapping beaks of the chickens stealing grain out of June’s feed dish. Lambs are very quiet when they are near their mother and not hungry – that’s how you know day-old lambs have successfully established a nursing relationship. If you walk into a barnyard and hear a lamb bawling, it’s either lost its mom or she’s not feeding it. June is doing a wonderful job with Barbie and Bambi, and here we see them at three days old beginning to explore their world – chickens, cats, food, buckets, walls and fences. continued »

While there are obvious drawbacks to having a baby pig in your dining room – “Mom, are you going to feed that?!” cries my daughter as Napster squeals ever louder in the pen next to her bedroom – there are some wonderful advantages. Like pig play dates! continued »

Here are some adorable scenes in the life of the pigs these past few days. continued »

Pansy gets warm and Prissy gets pestered… continued »

Indy and Sophie, two days old and starting to explore. continued »