About the Animals

Meet the cute critters!

The Duck Flock

Our flock of laying hens is a mix of breeds, mainly derived from rare heritage varieties. They're beautiful birds and well worth preserving, and we're proud to help carry on this tradition. Best of all, heritage breeds are especially well suited to free-range environments like ours, where they can forage freely.  

Why free-range? It's certainly more work than keeping birds in a run, but the girls are just happier when they have room to roam, can forage for tasty snacks in the grass, and generally get to act like ducks.

While they get plenty of tasty, organic duck feed, a varied diet with lots of wild foods helps the ducks get everything they need to lay top-quality eggs.

And all that extra nutrition ends up in the egg, so your breakfast is more than just tasty - it’s also packed with more vitamin A, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids than any egg from a “conventional” operation.

Why heritage breeds? Their genetic diversity is worth preserving, and these birds are much better suited to the life of freedom on pasture than some modern breeds.

Ducks enjoying their field in winter

The goat herd

Raising our own dairy animals had been an idea for years - and in 2023, we finally took the plunge! Three “retired” does from a local cheese farm started the herd, and their kids along with a few additions along the way formed the start of our little flock.

Right now, we’re raising Nigerian Dwarf, Oberhasli, and mini-Oberhasli goats.

All of our goats are ADGA-registered, and many have earned their milk stars and come from fantastic dairy lines.

Keep an eye out on our social media pages for kid sales!

The Pig Herd

Each year we raise 1-2 groups of hogs for pork, from spring to winter. It’s incredibly important to us that all of our animals, including meat animals, are raised with respect and the best food and environment we can possibly provide.

All of our hogs enjoy wooded pastureland, as natural an environment for pigs as possible. With a big cool wallow and cozy straw-filled shelters, they stay comfortable in all weather.

And of course they enjoy a fabulous diet! Just like the ducks, the core of their ration is an organic, non-GMO, soy-free, species-appropriate blend of grains from Scratch and Peck, a local mill based in Burlington.

They also feast on excess garden produce throughout the spring and summer, and piles of pumpkins, grapes, and apples in the fall. And of course their pasture is full of tasty nibbles for them to root up, from blackberries to hazelnuts.

That high-quality diet absolutely makes a difference in the finished product, and we think you’ll agree!

Pork reservations are usually open in May-June, and whole or half pork shares are available.

Visit our online shop to reserve your pork today!

The cast of characters

Having a farm seems to spawn so many stories, and attract so many characters! Here are a few of the critters who call Hearth & Haven Farm home.

Farm dogs

What's a farm without a good dog? While good fences and farm dogs go a long way, as the farm grew, we found that there was no substitute for the protection a Livestock Guardian Dog could offer - so Ayla joined the team!

Ayla is an Anatolian Shepherd, an ancient breed developed in Turkey almost 6,000 years ago.

These specialized dogs are independent, intelligent, and determined to protect their charges. While they will absolutely stand their ground against threats to their home and pack, their main job is simply to be big and intimidating so predators move on.

With Ayla keeping a close eye on things, the ducks, goats, and pigs can forage safely while the native predators like coyotes, bears, and bobcats can go about their business without any harm.

She may be big, but she’s also very friendly and loves people. If you’d like to meet Ayla during your visit, she’d be very happy to lick your face!

While LGDs can work solo, they’re more effective when they have a partner. And it was obvious Ayla wanted a dog friend to play with, too. After scouring rescues for months, we finally found the perfect companion - a big, sweet mutt named Mozzie!

Mozzie is probably an Anatolian/Lab mix, although it’s hard to say for sure.

While he doesn’t have Ayla’s deep instincts for protection, he’s a wonderful companion and playmate. He makes a great emergency backup dog!

Before Ayla and Mozzie joined the farm, Johnny and Penny filled the farm dog role. Both were senior rescues, and while cancer took each of them sooner than we’d hoped, their legacy will always live on here at the farm.

Foster cats

Several species are happy to share even the cultivated areas with us. Chickadees nest in birdhouses in the herb garden, deer regularly walk the fields, and a squirrel named Douglas nests in our wood shed.

We believe that running a mixed farm (one with both produce and animals) can make a positive impact on the environment and the wildlife around us in a way hyper-specialized farms cannot.