Our Home

The Pond and the Stream

This is a picture of us, if you are interested in seeing whose hearts these animals have captured.. (We are Cis and Steve.) The rustic charm and idyllic setting of our small farm captured our hearts the very first time we laid eyes on it.  Beals Creek meanders through the yard and a large pond accentuates the landscape.

"Olivia", our Abyssinian cat, enjoys spinning 'almost' as much as I do. We have taken an active interest in feral cat rescue in recent years and Olivia is one of 15 cats we currently have roaming the farm. "

Packing with goats has become a new hobby for us here at Guinea Lane. We have found them to be easy on the environment and willing to work. Our Alpine and Alpine cross animals make some of the rougher terrain in this area accessible.

Klickitat wanders a mountain stream with Steve. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGDs) are a welcome addition to any nature walk.  With cougar and other predator numbers on the rise in this area, these big dogs make wilderness explorations carefree for us and our pack goats.

DUCKS AND CHICKENS

Amongst the menagerie of animals found here on 'Guinea Lane' waddle my own personal pride and joy.
My ducks...
"Ducks?", you say.
Aw, but these aren't just any old 'run a' the mill' type ducks.
We purchased these little gems in the spring of 2000 from Metzer Farms Duck and Goose Hatchery
www.metzerfarms.com/index.html
26000 Old Stage Road
Gonzales, CA 93926
1 800 424-7755 * fax (831)679-2711
e-mail: metzinfo@metzerfarms.com

The Golden 300 (and a splattering of their white variety) make up my little
flock.
A mere 4 months (or so) after their arrival they began to lay.
And lay they did.
From the onset an egg a day.
Each and every one.
All through the long dark winter months they have never let me down.
Mild flavored eggs of a remarkably large size.
Great for baking or eating.
My husband Steve especially likes his 'duck' omelets.

And the ducks themselves are mild of manner.
Friendly to the point of tripping over them whilst attending to farm duties.

They follow me around the barn yard as though they consider me 'Head
Duck'...or maybe I'm 'Ma' to them.

They delight in swimming in our large pond.
There are the occasional episodes where they take it into their 'bill-laden' little heads to run(?)...'swim away' from home.
Beal's Creek runs through our yard precariously close to said pond.
Every once in a great while my precious ducks decide to go on an adventure.

At times the call of the wild emitting from the gently gurgling waters proves too
much.
To this date, I have always managed to be on hand when they make a 'wild
waddle' towards a life of independence and thrills beyond the pond.
Actually, I do not think they would ever intentionally stray too far.
But once they hit the waters of this creek they are happily swept with the
current, excitedly quacking their delight, down the meandering waterway
towards the 'not so gentle' currents of the South Umpqua River a quarter of a mile downstream.
They have never made it this far.
Thankfully, their dedication to me (and a bucket of grain) has always had
the desired effect.
"Ducks", I cry, as I (not so gracefully) waddle after them in my leaky muck
boots.
"Ducks!" along with a good rattle of the feed bucket, always brings the same
comical results.
An excited "Quack" and a mad dash, against the current, as they swim,
waddle and topple over one another to make it to my side.
I, on the other hand, am running, waddling, falling over my water logged
boots in an attempt to beat them to the yard.
I never have managed this and the last efforts to return them safely always
see me dodging their little bodies as they excitedly accompany me to our
destination.
They are commonly 'grounded' for a day or two until I trust them once again
to the
mucky depths of the pond.
And on and on the comedy reenacts itself.
One of these days, I must get some kind of barrier up between the creek and
pond.
Until that day, they all seem quite satisfied to play the game through.
And yes, ducks can laugh.

We do not raise these delighful birds but for those that live close there
are always eggs to spare.
:)

Guinea Lane is a place where magical cats with silly names dwell.
Green meadows and lush dark thickets.
Sheep that all know their names and come a running when called.
Goats that race me across the yard everyday at playtime.
Dogs that are much wiser then me ... but love me anyways.
Dancing streams with hidden treasures hidden beneath their cool mountain
waters.
Tiny fairies that flit over the still waters of 'Bonnie's Pond'.
Great birds that stalk the waters edge, on their long legs, in search of unwary fish
and frogs and toads...
OH my.
Magic and wonders.
Life and adventures.
Heartbreaks and joys.
We have found all this and more.
Welcome to the magical little piece of paradise that we call home.
Guinea Lane Farm
C.H.

Cis Hanson and Steve Egbert
Guinea Lane Farm
P.O. Box 1098
Canyonville, OR  97417
guinealn@pioneer-net.com