Having animals seems essential to a smallholding. This view is not shared by everyone, but for us they are incredibly important. In the Biodynamic method of farming and gardening good compost is crucial. Our woolies and chooks provide us with that compost from their manure and bedding. They also provide us with fibre, eggs, and meat. Not to mention their companionship. Having a group of sheep play chase with you is priceless!
Chantecler Chickens
Chantecler chickens outside enjoying the weather.
Canada has cold winters, and since this is where we live we wanted to make sure all our livestock could handle the winters without much effort from us. We looked into which breeds did well in winter and we found the Chantecler Chicken. This is a Canadian breed and is endangered. These large birds are hardy, self sufficient, and can withstand the cold. Development of the breed started in 1907 in Oka, Quebec by Brother Wilfred at the Cisterican Trappist Monastery. By the 1920’s they were a true breed. It has good production and can stand our climate. Their combs and wattles are very small to prevent frostbite. Fancy characteristics were not focused upon as the Chantecler was to be a functional bird.
It was thought the birds were extinct as chicken and egg producers focused on production and speed. This is not a strong point of the Chantecler so it fell by the wayside with the hatcheries. Luckily backyard breeders across Quebec and Ontario kept the breed alive. Today it is endangered with between 100 and 499 individuals.
We are lucky enough to have 14 white Chanteclers, 12 hens and 2 cockerels from Oakesmuir Farm. They are wonderful to watch and are very self sufficient. They are quite large and did not start laying until much later than anticipated.
Shetland Sheep
Itchy, our moorit Shetland sheep.
Originally we didn’t plan on getting sheep. We were thinking of going the goat route. But when a friend asked if we wanted to small sheep he had been given we couldn’t refuse. That is how we got Itchy and Scratchy. They are Shetland sheep and wonderful animals (well Scratchy is a tool, but that’s another story). Beign from the Shetland Isles originally, Shetland’s are small and weigh under 100 pounds full grown. they are of feral origin which makes them extremely hardy. Their tails are naturally short so they don’t have to be docked, they have no wool on their legs and face which makes shearing much easier.They are a multi-purpose breed and have been used for fleece, meat, and milk.
Scratchy, our black Shetland sheep.
Both ewes were pregnant when we got them so we have since had two lambs. These are cross breed (Shetland/Romney) and different from their Mum’s. We had one ewe lamb and one lamb ram who is now a whether.They are now all called woolies.
The woolies are very elaborate lawn mowers. As we are trying to create a closed system that relies on as little petroleum as possible we got sheep instead of a lawn tractor. They have a small barn that is closed nightly and a permanent paddock. During the summer they are rotated around the yard with an electric netting fence. This lets us have a “slow release” fertilizer. Needing good pasture for the woolies has forced us learn about pastures and the nutritional value of plants.
