White Deer?

This is a little off-topic, but interesting... Years ago, around the time my grandfather was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he told us he'd seen a white deer. It was never to be seen again. All these years, I've watched the treeline and the back pasture, in the off chance that another white deer would appear. I'm sure my "wild goat" fooled a few folks before she decided to live with the cows at Momma and Daddy's. She had a love of random green patches in the surrounding hunting clubs.

From buckmanager.com

Anyway, was searching for examples of goat coloring and came across this post on Piebald Deer. Apparently, they are rare, but not unheard of. Piebalds are not completely white, like an albino would be. An albino has no pigment, while the piebalds can be spotted or frosted looking.

According to BuckManager.com, a piebald is an animal that has a spotting pattern of large white and black patches. The color of the horse’s skin underneath its coat may vary between black (under the black patches of hair) and pink (under the white patches). The coloring is generally asymmetrical.

A genetic variation (defect) produces the piebald condition in white-tailed deer, not parasites or diseases. Piebald deer are colored white and brown similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes they appear almost entirely white. In addition to this coloration, many have some of the following observable conditions: bowing of the nose (Roman nose), short legs, arching spine, and short lower jaws. This genetic condition is rare with typically less than one percent of white-tailed deer being affected.

Color and nose sound like a Nubian, don't they? LOL.

Welcoming new animals!

Here are better pics of Maybelle, Penelope and two of the bunnies...



Maybelle the Nubian







Penelope the Nubian





Sydney and Maybelle





Californian Mix bunnies



New on the Farm

This weekend, we welcome five new animals to our farm. Sorry these pics are so dark. I spent a couple of hours with Daddy, feeding the cows and horses. I guess the sunlight just got away from me.

Penelope and Maybelle came to us from Crestview.

Maybelle and Penelope, Nubians

 I bought three Californian bunnies at the feed store on Sunday. They are absolutely precious. Appears to be a male and two females.

Two of the three bunnies.

Oops! I forgot about the two splash hens and partridge silkie hen.  :)

Welcome Penelope and Maybelle!

We brought two new goats home yesterday. Penelope and Maybelle are two-year-old Nubian does. Many thanks to the Conroy family of Crestview. The girls have been nosing around and exploring this morning. Hope to get pics up this afternoon. Penelope is chocolate brown with moonspots. Maybelle is more of a piebald color in black and white.

Come on, Brownie!!!

Brownie is a first-time mother and we're all a little anxious.  She was bred when we bought. Not quite sure when she'll kid. Judging by her udder, soon.