 Here is a little bit about us. You can also visit my blog to read about life on our small farm.A wildlife haven On Burrow Downs we believe in living in harmony with our native wildlife. Here Eagles soar overhead, Hawks patrol our yard for snakes and mice, Lizards such as Shinglebacks and Bearded Dragons live in abundance, Echidnas can be found looking for ants and termites and turtles and frogs inhabit our dams. We even have a kangaroo or two loose in our top paddock!   Growing our own food  We enjoy growing our own vegetables. Nothing tastes as good as fresh produce grown naturally and eaten the day you pick it. We use a system of raised beds to grow most of our vegetables. We also grow our own herbs. We are still delveloping our gardens, and there is a lot more work to be done!  Faverolles chickens  The Faverolles is a French breed of chicken used as a utility breed known for their excellent table qualities and superior egg laying during winter months. The French have a dish for which the Faverolles was used exclusively. It is called "Petite Poussin" or "Small Breast." Known to be a quiet bird, they are easy to handle and make excellent chickens for children or suburban back yards. They are a pretty bird with a beard and muff, feathers on their feet and five toes instead of the usual four. They come in both large fowl and bantam form. Here at Burrow Downs we have the bantam. The most well known colour is the Salmon. In the Salmon variety, the hen is a completely different colour from the male. Because of this they are often referred to as the 'Peacock of the poultry world'. For more information on Faverolles see the Faverolles Australia website. Wiltipoll sheep  At Burrow Downs we have a small flock of A1 class Wiltipolls (Australian Wiltipoll Association inc. flock number 338). The Wiltipoll is a prime lamb wool shedding breed developed in Australia. They are a polled version of the Wiltshire Horn. They shed their short white fleece annually in spring and  early summer. They are a hardy 'easy care' breed which are good foragers. They can handle a wide range of conditions and produce a high quality meat. * There is no need to shear or crutch * No jetting, dipping or muelsing required * Tail docking is optional * No need to treat with chemicals for fly or lice * They are resistant to grass seeds * They will readily remain in their paddock * Wiltipoll ewes come into season in autumn and lambs are born in spring * They have a high percentage of multiple births * Rams will breed all year round and can be crossed with other breeds to create prime lamb * Unlike other shedding breeds, Wiltipoll are classed as a 'Downs’ breed in the 2010-2012 AWEX code of practice For more information on the Wiltpoll, see the Australian Wiltipoll Association website. Pyrenean Mountain Dogs Our Pyrenean Mountain Dogs enjoy life at Burrow Downs and keep an eye on all our animals. See the rest of our website for more information on our dogs.  |
