The Many Gifts of Animals

These are Sebastopol geese.  These charming geese were indigenous to the area which is now considered Ukraine.  They are also known as Danubian geese because of their abundant number in the environs of the Danube River.  They were originally domestically bred for their down feathers for pillows and blankets.  A female produces about 35 eggs a year, which make fabulous family sized omelets when combined with cheese and chopped onion.

        

  We do a lot of discussion here on a lot of serious subjects.  Medical issues, social issues, hazards, preparedness issues all dominate here.   Once in awhile, I think we should sit back and appreciate some of the wonders we have on Earth that are available for us to enjoy as pets, and in terms of what they can bring to us in terms of eggs,  milk, cheese, fiber, and sometimes meat, as well.  Animals and particularly farm animals are incredibly diverse.  With challenges in the economy, a great many dealers of animals are making starter herds of various creatures available at prices which are a good deal more reasonable than they have been in the past.   If you reside in a rural area or one zoned to permit certain animals, this may be time to consider  Today, we will consider, and appreciate a wide variety of species of animals.  This is the first in a series of a couple of posts in appreciation of farm animals.

These are Dorset sheep.  This sheep is not only kept for its fleece, but because it has two lambing seasons per year, and this results in rather prolific lambing.

This is a small donkey.   A young donkey is actually considered a foal.  Donkeys come in a variety of sizes and types, and if treated well, can have a lifespan of as much as 50 years.  Donkeys can be convinced to do different types of work unless, of course, the donkey perceives what you are trying to do as dangerous.  They are cautious and loyal animals.

This is an Icelandic sheep.  This breed tolerates cold weather extremely well.  Some people use these for milk and cheese, though most commonly for wool and meat. Like goats, sheep can be used to keep down certain grasses and avoid mowing.

This is a barred rock rooster.   Roosters can be excellent defenders of your hens when you choose to free range them.

      

This is a beloved family dog.   Dogs are not only excellent companions and comforts for us, but they hear much better than we do. They know when something is wrong with one of our other species of animals.  They can hear changes which may lead them to warn us of an impending earthquake.  They can notify us of strangers.

Cats are intelligent companions.  Some of them are also excellent on a farm in limiting the number of mice which can find their way into feed stores for the other animals.

We are blessed to have so many types of animals available to us on Earth.