Some of our residents enjoying a little break in the weather..... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need."

I absolutely love studying animal behavior and physiology. The more we understand about our furry, feathered and scaly family members and neighbors the easier it is to live in peace and harmony. Most birds and prey animals such as deer have eyes on the side of their head this is call monocular vision whereas most predators, owls and humans, eyes are positioned in front on their head and this is called binocular vision. In the case of monocular vision the eyes work independently of each other which can be very beneficial In detecting predators. Binocular vision overlaps the field of vision but provides greater depth perception. This morning I was watching a BBC film clip that explained about a chicken's eyesight which I found interesting. A chicken's right eye is used to find food or hunt for small prey - yes, chickens are fond of frogs and small mice along with insects. Sorry back to their eyesight, their left eye is used to watch for predators. This is just one more reason I absolutely adore our chickens..... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." ... See more

It is always good to have a friend especially when you are the new kid on the block. Will is hanging out with Belle as she settles in to her new surroundings. How cute are they♥️♥️?..... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." #hshartampa #specialneedsducks ... See more

Good Day, Facebook Friends! Although, we love to tell stories that both educate and entertain today's post is more educational as we invite you into our world - farm life. We focus on exotic parrots and farm birds: ducks, geese and chickens. Farm life is not easy, as it invites predators such as coyotes, bobcat, fox, raccoons, well you get the picture, to seek out an easy dinner. We do everything we can to protect our residents but again, danger lurks everywhere. How do we help combat predators? Well, we have night houses for our outside residents, we use predator lights and motion activated solar lights but our biggest deterrent is our dogs..... Dogs are broken down into many groups such as Sporting Dogs, Toy Dogs, Hunting/Hounds, Working Dogs, etc. Just because a dog belongs to a specific group doesn't mean he/she processes the strong genetics the group is known for. Some dogs are just plain couch potatoes, others like their down time but also demonstrate the behaviors that the group is known for and there are still others that process such strong genetics that these behavioral traits govern all that they do. Many farms keep Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD). These dogs such as Great Pyrenees, Anatolian Shepherds, Akbashs, etc actually live directly with their livestock, protecting them from danger. They work better in teams as one dog will alert to danger and be more of the aggressor towards that situation while the second dog will move the livestock to safety. Dogs that have strong LGD genetics do not typically do well in small living quarters with "no job". They prefer larger, open spaces such as large pastures.... Next, there is the Herding Group such as Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, German Shepherds, Australian Cattle Dogs, Corgis, etc. This group consists of some of my favorite breeds. They round everyone up and keep them in their designated areas. They are not well suited to live directly with livestock or farm birds because of their high prey drive but they are amazing at protecting their territory, fence lines and most definitely their humans. I personally find they are less likely to roam than the LGD, as long as they have a job..... Those of you that have followed our page for awhile, know of my amazing Aussie Shepherd, Jackson. Losing Jackson to hemangiosarcoma last year devastated my world. Jack, was a pet dog failure but farm dog extraordinaire. He was my right hand man and in less than a week was gone..... Two months later, a 6 month old, German Shepherd, was in need of a home. At this young age he had 5 previous homes, he was already 73 pounds, and manifesting signs of slight aggression which I felt was due to frustration, lack of consistency and lack of stability. His shear size made him less than desirable for a family with small children. He was anxious, suffered from separation anxiety and pushy. He did however, get along with my special needs Aussie, Kody, so his fate was sealed and he came here to live. We had our challenges at first as he tested me but I was determined not to fail him. Gunther's parents had strong genetics and both this father and mother were big dogs. I knew Gunther would be no average size German Shepherd. Gunther will turn 18 months old on the 26th, he weighs somewhere around 120 pounds. He is gorgeous, smart and protective. He is all the things I need him to be. On several occasions he has alerted to coyotes who take one look at him and run, he has alerted to bonfires in our neighbors yards - had the fire been a field fire, things could have gone south quickly. He is quick to alert and warn intruders to stay away but he has a sweet side which I adore. Finally, to the meat of my story😊. Yesterday, afternoon, I came home to find Gunther had a fly in mallard in his mouth. He had the mallard by both wings but the duck was very much alive. I ran and got some treats to entice him to drop the mallard which he did. I picked the duck up, Gunther never tried to grab the duck, he allowed me to take it. The duck was in shock so I put him in a cage away from noise and activity. Since it was Sunday night, and the mallard had no life threatening issues, my intention was to bring him to our veterinarian today if needed. Although, my big German Shepherd, carried this duck in his mouth, Gunther did not inflict any serious injuries, no broken bones just a little soft tissue damage which should resolve itself in a few days. Gunther, is still very young but possess all the traits that will make him an amazing farm dog.. Please do your research when adopting a pet. Make sure your new family member albeit furry, feathered or scaly is well suited for your family and your family's activity level. Please familiarize yourself about a breed or species behaviors and traits...... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." ... See more

Remember Leroy? He was about a year old upon arrival and weighed 1.3 pounds. He couldn't walk and his feather condition was horrible. Look at our boy 8 months later! After 3 months in a therapy chair, lots of hydrotherapy and a will to live, he shows us how it is done. Way to go Leroy...... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." #hshartampa #specialneedsducks #ducks ... See more

We would like to introduce you to our newest resident, Belle. Belle's former owner's felt terrible when they learned that her inability to walk correctly is due to a niacin deficiency. We routinely get in ducks suffering this fate. Unfortunately, too often owners of young ducklings are given incorrect information about their dietary needs. Ducks need niacin in their diet especially while growing, a lack of niacin can cause improper leg development. Please DO NOT feed ducklings chicken food or a scratch diet. While we are talking about diet please NO BREAD either. The damage has been done so Belle will never walk correctly but she is in good company with Will and Darla who also suffer the same fate. We will be working on some braces to help prevent abrasions when they walk on their hocks.... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." #hshartampa #specialneedsducks ... See more

A parent's work is never done, especially when their kids live in their tribe. Ollie and Greta are such good parents but Aunt Elsa also plays an important role in rearing the youngsters. Under their watchful eyes, Spring and Sprout are expected to tow the line. Ollie is a Barnyard favorite and I simply adore him, it is not unusual for him to approach me so I can give him a kiss on his head. Sprout loves his Daddy and is always by his side but Sprout displays some aggressive behaviors even through all you have to say is "Boo" and he runs😁. Anyway, Ollie and I were spending a little quality time together, much to Sprout and Springs chagrin, when all of a sudden the youngsters dropped their heads while walking towards me, this is an aggressive behavior. Ollie quickly turned and pecked each of them, while sending them on their way. Ollie was not aggressive or over the top, he simply corrected their behavior. It is these simple but very powerful interactions that strongly influence my beliefs and thoughts. There are no words to describe how Ollie's Tribe has touched my heart...... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." #hshartampa #geese #farmanimals ... See more

I love learning about animal behavior and in doing so, many myths have been dispelled and misunderstandings clarified. As humans, most of us rely on technology to answer our questions and guide our lives. Watching animals negotiate their daily lives on instinct, experience and survival skills can teach us much and add to our knowledge. As Floridians we were glued to The Weather Channel and Mike's Weather Page to help us gather important information about potential impending disasters or danger from Hurricane Dorian. As Dorian skirted Florida, I went outside, there was an eery feeling as a slight wind picked up. What was missing? What sent chills up my spine? It was the absence of sound, the quiet was deafening, there was no wildlife around. They were hunkered down, seeking a safe place to ride out the storm if needed.....Our African Spurred Tortoise, Sahel, also found a safe place to hunker down. Although we knew where she was, she remained hidden until the threat of danger passed, then and only then did she emerge to feast of the green grass..... A few years ago, I heard some crows letting out a warning call as they perched in a tree, looking at the ground. I was intrigued so I went to investigate, there was a 5 foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake laying in the grass. The crows spoke and I listened..... Animals tell us so much but all too often we fail to listen. As humans our arrogance, greed and egos are some of our biggest downfalls. Be kind to each other and take the time to listen, it is it's own reward....... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." ... See more

Sometimes, all I can do is laugh. This determined little squirrel is raiding the Treat Feeders😁. Our roosters don't seemed to be fazed in the least, they know there is plenty for everyone. This is a great example of sharing, something roosters are known for...... "The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." ... See more

Our handsome Miligold Macaw, Choco, loves to knock on the wall behind his cage with his beak. I am not sure whether he is getting ready to destroy the wall or if he finds great delight in watching me trying to figure out what the sound is and where it is coming from. It's a parrot's life for me😁..... " The strength of our character is measured by the kindness we show to those in need." #hshartampa #parrots ... See more