Dollie Llama Enjoys Hiking in the Snow

Annette Johnston — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:47:45 +0000

Dollie Llama with family, including Mom, Kandi, and Skipper

I can’t wait for spring, and neither can the critters!

Annette Johnston — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 22:06:42 +0000

The winters sure seem long here in Michigan. The frozen water buckets, trudging through snow and ice to feed everyone, doing chores in the dark, what fun we have! Then when we get a warmer day or two, we sure enjoy that. The critters are all fine. The sheep’s fleeces are huge, and Lambchop feels his is a prize-winner for sure. I’m not sure if we’ll show at the Armada Fair this year, since the Michigan State Fair has been canceled. I have ordered my vegetable seeds, and am looking forward to spring planting of the garden. Dollie Llama wants me to plant lots of carrots for her this year.

Happy New Year from All the Critters at Frolic Farm

Annette Johnston — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 20:20:05 +0000

The holidays were very busy on the farm. Dollie Llama, Hershey, Robin, and all the others hope this year will be much better than last! With this cold weather, they are glad for their nice stalls in the barn, so they can sleep in comfort. During the day, they go outside, but still have a run-in shed where they can get out of the elements. They don’t spend much time in there, however. Dollie and company can be seen foraging in the pastures most of the day.
On Sunday, I brought out my deworming medications for Dollie, Hershey, and Robin. The de-worming went well, except Dollie ended up wearing some of the dewormer.

Hens are Laying Lots of Eggs

Annette Johnston — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:19:27 +0000

I am busy gathering many eggs every day. The new young hens grew up, and they are laying their little hearts out for me. I have a hard time keeping up with washing the eggs. I sell them once a week at my Chamber of Commerce meetings. These hens are unusual in that while I have several boxes they can use to lay their eggs, but they seem to prefer just one. The ladies line up to use one box, and the other boxes stay pretty much empty. I have lights on so they get 14 hours of light each day. This is so they will keep laying this winter. With the high price of chicken feed, they'd better keep laying!



Turkeys Fly the Coop, Literally
Annette Johnston — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:13:53 +0000
Yesterday, I came home from work and all 7 of my beautiful turkeys were gone, and no sign of them anywhere on my property.  The gate was still closed, so either they were turkey-napped, or they flew up over the gate.  It was dark by then, so I had to search for them by flashlight.  I walked up and down the road, searching ditches and neighbors’ yards, after I determined they were not in my yard.  No luck.
This morning, I searched again by truck this time, with my trusty broom and their feed rattling in a large container.  Sure enough, those Houdinis were in a nearby soybean field, clustered together, waiting for me to show up with food.  I called to them and they actually started toward me, but then they scattered.  I had all kinds of fun, herding them back to my house.  I just hope they are still there when I get home tonight!  



Victories at the Michigan State Fair
Annette Johnston — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:11:42 +0000
I had great success this year at our state fair.  It is particularly nice, because this may be the last year for the state fair here in Michigan, due to budget problems.  Lambchop’s fleece won the handspinning competition, and he took Reserve Champion of the whole show!  Liam’s fleece won 2nd place in the coarse wool category, and Lassie took 3rd in her medium wool class.  Her twin Lucky got 4th place.  I talked to the judge and he really liked Lambchop’s and Liam’s fleeces.

Also, my basket of 10 dried gourds won first place, as did my dill, mini Indian corn, and mini pumpkins.  My peck basket of veggies took 2nd place.  So it was a very successful fair.  Although there were lots of sheep fleeces entered, there were very few vegetable entries.  Many people thought the fair was canceled for this year, so maybe that explains the low turnout.

Come see my exhibits at the Michigan State Fair!  They are all located in the building near the Coliseum, near the Circle of Life exhibit.



Young Hens Have Started Laying Eggs Already!
Annette Johnston — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 19:16:10 +0000
My new chickens are starting to lay eggs.  They are small now, which is common, but will soon become normal-sized.  Some of these hens are so beautiful, especially the Silver-Laced Wyandottes.  They will lay a brown egg, when they start.  The Leghorns are busy already, and will be my most-reliable layers.  Next month, I will have to remember to set up a light and timer so they get enough hours of daylight to keep laying this winter.



I’m Back!!  All is Still Well on Frolic Farm
Annette Johnston — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:28:03 +0000
I was seriously ill this summer, but am now back in the saddle, so to speak.  The critters are all fine.  Smokey Bunny is on a program of diet and exercise.  His coat looks great, even though it has been neglected.  Hershey the mini donkey is fat too.  

I received 6 young hens from a neighbor, and when they start laying this fall, I will be getting a ton of eggs every day.  I have also been raising 7 hens to replace my aging flock.



New Turkey Chicks Arrive
Annette Johnston — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:31:14 +0000
I just received 8 adorable, tiny turkey chicks, and am raising them in my garage.  They sure are cute.  Soon Frolic Farm will be visited by two fourth grade classes, and I’m sure they’ll enjoy seeing the turkey chicks too.  I have two classes from Lakeport Elementary School out to the farm every year.  The kids do reports on the different types of critters, and then get to visit them in person.  It’s a lot of fun for the kids and me too.  I always have a few surprises in store for them.
All the critters are fine.  They love the green grass after a winter of eating hay.  The new cat, Sylvester, has adjusted well and is catching mice in the barn.
Happy Memorial Day to you all!



Liam Jr. Enjoying Springtime a Little Bit Too Much
Annette Johnston — Wed, 06 May 2009 15:57:57 +0000
After having his huge coat shorn last week, little Liam the Icelandic sheep is feeling his oats with the nice spring weather.  He is small enough now to crawl under the fence, and get into the horse pasture.  He isn’t smart enough to crawl back in at night, though.  He was upset that he was separated from his good buddy, Lambchop.  I retrieved him, then set about making repairs to keep him in his own paddock with Lambchop.  I have a solid farm fence, and  one strand of electric fence that was apparently set too high to keep Liam in.  So I moved it lower to keep them both away from the fence.  Little Liam then got an unpleasant surprise when his nose touched the wire!  I won’t have to worry about any more escapes now.