Martha's Barnyard

For the chickens, Martha fashioned outdoor roosts from rustic logs. The various breeds are pretty, and they also lay plenty of delicious, nutritious eggs.

The chickens are free to range in yards that are fenced and netted to protect them from hawks and climbing predators.

Half the coop is covered with rough stones, half with dirt for bathing and digging.

The Pomeranian geese are beautiful, protective, and noisy characters.

The cutting garden adjoins the coops; all weeds are fed to the birds, as are all grass cuttings.

Martha's turkeys include two Royal Palms, two Bourbon Reds, and two Black Spanish.

Colorful eggs are a result of many different breeds of chickens.

Black Welsh mountain sheep were adored in the Middle Ages for their rich, flavorful meat.

The breed was imported to the United States from Wales in 1973 and has become quite popular in the Northeast. Today, flocks are raised here for both wool and meat.

The sturdy breed makes for good field sheep and displays resistance to many diseases. The sheep are relatively small and have no wool on their evocative faces. The rams have beautiful horns.

Sicilian donkeys are like no other equines -- affectionate, tame, attention-seeking, and loyal. They are born miniature, so they're especially cute as foals (baby jacks or jennies, depending).

They thrive on grass alone and come in a variety of colors, primarily gray dun (like Clive). Nearly all Sicilians have dorsal stripes, with a dark stripe across their withers. According to folklore, the markings symbolize the baby Jesus being carried on the donkey's back.