12/05/2024
Well, the first bit of snow is on the ground, so it's time for our annual tradition: introducing Murphy!
This is Murphy, nearly 150lbs of goofball and teefs. This will be his 4th winter at the farm. He lives with his goats full time, even in what seems to be the worst weather. He is an Anatolian shepherd, a breed developed in the mountains of Turkey to handle the harsh winters guarding flocks from predators like wolves. His cost is amazingly thick, and you'll regularly find me warming my fingers in it.
While we don't have wolves, we do have a pretty substantial coyote pressure, and the occasional foxes. As the winter cold sets in, the coyotes get hungrier, making this time of year one of the most important times for Murphy to be on the job. In his time here, I've never lost a goat to a predator. He is vital to ensuring the littlest babies avoid a terrible death.
Murphy was raised with livestock his whole life, is acclimated to the weather, and enjoys nothing more than napping in a snow bank. I keep a close eye on him and the livestock through my cameras, and check often to make sure nobody has issues from the cold. He has access to water, eats heartily, snoozes in a comfy bed of warm straw and handles the cold much better than he does the heat of summer.
If you have questions or concerns about Murphy or anything at the farm, please reach out to me. Social media messages, email, or my cell number on my website.
