The Latest Update (Feb. '11)

Dancing Frog Farm is currently home to 2.5 humans, 3 cats, 3 dogs, 6 chickens, 8 goats, 3 llamas, and 2 miniature horses. Click here for some snapshots of the residents and general life around the "farm."

Meet our two newest members of the family, Danny and Molly!  Here is a video of life around the farm taken inbetween the many snow storms we've been having lately. Warm and cozy inside, the pups are a playful crew! They're so cute running around, I couldn't resist! (Plus, I got a new toy... a video camera I was eager to try out!)

Barnyard Birds

Check out photos of our Laying Ladies here.

In Spring 2010 I placed my first order with My Pet Chicken for an assortment of 15 total chickens. What attracted me to them was that they are local, have a low minimum order, the wide variety of breeds available, and that they not only allowed but encouraged ordering several different breeds to find what I liked. I waited a little longer for my order than most people would, but I did order SIX different varieties! The postal service deliver my little bundles of fluff with one casualty, which My Pet Chicken refunded.

Murray McMurray Hatchery sells quite an assortment of birds, including chickens, ducks, and guineas. They not only carry a huge variety, but also have great information about different breeds, so their website was very helpful in identifying the "Assorted Pullets" I got from Tractor Supply once they got a little bigger. Even though they are one of the more popular hatcheries, I have not personally ordered from them because they have a 25 chick minimum to keep the chicks warm during shipping.

New and experienced chicken keepers alike will find helpful information at Backyard Chickens. Sign up for the newsletter and you'll enjoy a monthly e-mail treat filled with stories, Q & As, and LOTS of readers' coop photos.

The Guinea Fowl Breeders Association website will provide you with information on guinea hens, a cool bird that will work double time on controlling the tick population. Another site with a good general overview to Guineas (along with great information on ticks and Lyme Disease) is Lyme Disease in Pennsylvania. I have tried (unsuccessfully, unfortunately) to raise Guineas twice, but they are birds I would love to add to the menagerie in the future.

Coming Soon... Bees!

Beekeeping is something I have been interested in for several years, and I am finally taking steps towards setting up my own hive(s). I am taking a class at UCONN this month through the Eastern Connecticut Beekeepers Association. Through my online research, I have found Backyard Hive to be a wealth of information. Looking forward to having my own honey in the near future!