Residents
Here is a partial list of the many beautiful animals that currently live at Ballydídean. You can also see them on Instagram or Facebook.
If you’re driving by you can probably see the cows and Ash, our livestock guardian dog
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The Tractor Flock
Cornelius
“Corny” is our first rooster. He came to us with his three girls in a chicken tractor Christmas 2020. He has a bum leg but is a very sweet boy.
Cinderella, Connie, & Chris
These girls are timid and quiet but curious. They are currently exploring the future home of our blueberry bushes.
The Tumbledown Flock
Tina & Amy
Tina (brown) and Amy (white) came to us in 2020 from a foster home where they had been staying for a year. We do not know their ages or breeds. They had been abandoned by a neighbor and a generous family with other birds took them in. Amy has limited neck mobility and cannot fly since recovering from a dog attack many years ago which broke her neck and wing. They like to go for walks and swims and spend their days with the chickens (see cameras).
The Camano Chickens
Silver, Dotty, Snape, Stella, Peep, Ding, Daphne, Twitch, Speedy, Sunny, and Buttercup were refugees from changing homeowners association rules on neighboring Camano Island. They moved in to Tumbledown with Tina and Amy and enjoy all the leftover micro-green sprouts from Foggy Hill Farm.
The Fort Olsen Flock
Dot
Dorothy “Dot” is a very sweet hens who joined Kate in establishing our second flock in 2020. She is so mild mannered and easy to pick up for a cuddle. We credit Dot with really completing the healing process for Kate who was still a little wistful after physically healing until Dot joined her in the chicken tractor and all of her confidence and joy and rushing back in just a few days
Wilbur & Ginger
Our special-needs babies, Wilbur has a crossed beak and Ginger is a runt for getting picked on her early life, they have both found prosperity under Dot’s watchful eyes. They can often be found foraging together or feasting in the food dish.
Ada & Ingrid
Named for famous mathematicians Ada Lovelace and Ingrid Daubechies by donors Fadil Santosa and Jan Kleinman, these two ladies are curious, spry, and fiercely independent! At just over a year old when they came to us in 2020, they are by far the youngest chickens we’ve adopted.
Lilith, Vanessa, & Breonna
Named for the biblical demon of the night, Vanessa Guillén, & Breonna Taylor respectively (from left to right), these three ladies came to us in 2020 at 6 years old to retire from a backyard chicken coop. They are the most human friendly of our chickens and are berry and olive enthusiasts.
The Goat Herd
Juniper & Nutmeg
Juniper (brown and black) and Nutmeg (spotted) are Louis and Park’s mom and aunt respectively. They came to us in 2020 to retire after life as backyard milking goats. Juniper quickly established herself as top goat, knocking her kids down a peg, and they have really unified and calmed the herd. Junpier is often playing with her boys and Nutmeg is often jockeying with Lady for a spot at the hay pile.
Louis & Park
Louis (black) and Park (brown) joined us in 2019 at 12 weeks old. They are an Alpine/Nubian mix. We adopted them from a local family who bred their milking goats and didn’t want the boys to end up butchered. They love to follow us around the yard, wrestle, and of course climb stuff! They lived with the chickens for a year and then moved into our new goat pasture/barn in 2020. They are our friendliest (and adorably dumbest) animals.
Lady & Earl
Lady (medium black and brown), & Earl (large white and brown) are a pair of Saanen/Nigerian Dwarf goats who joined us with their late sister Queenie in 2020 at age 9. They are long time friends of `Rez and Archie and came to us from the same private sanctuary. They are adorably short (about calf height) and led by a strong woman (as all teams should be).
Burren, Dingle, and Dublin
Burren (spotted nose), Dingle (pink nose), and Dublin (black nose) joined us in 2021 at just 2 days old. They are “Bummer” lambs born to a commercial dairy herd, destined to be starved to death because it’s not economical to bottle feed them. Thankfully they were rescued by the Dairy Calf Underground Railroad and rushed up to us from Oregon!
The Big Hoofers
Dahlia & Rosie Cotton
Dahlia (brown Jersey) and Rosie Cotton “RoCo” (Miniature Belted Galloway/Panda) started boarding with us in 2019. They were founding members of the “big hoofer” herd. You can learn more about them on their Facebook page. Dahlia is a retired dairy cow who was 12 when she moved in. Rosie Cotton was just a few months old and joined as a companion for Dahlia. Dahlia is the sweetest, friendliest cow you’ll ever meet and RoCo is spunky, sassy, and suspicious.
Archie & ‘Rez
Archie (black and white Holstein) and Perez “Rez” (brown Jersey) joined us in 2020 when they were around 8. They come to us from a private sanctuary in Oak Harbor where they lived most of their lives. Rez escaped from a dairy farm as a calf and Archie was malnourished as a calf by some uninformed homesteaders. They are part of the “big hoofer” herd who rotate together around our pastures. Archie is friendly but timid. Rez is very friendly and a great cuddler.
Cuzco
Cuzco “Couscous” joined us with his brother Zorro in 2019 during their golden years (16!). We adopted these former 4H alapacs from their previous owners who wanted them to be part of a larger herd before they got too old. Cuzco is goofy, skittish, and a beautiful runner. He loves to spend time in his pool (or any other water tank) and is very bonded to Dahlia and Rosie Cotton.
Poco & Neo
Poco and Neo joined us in 2020 at just 2 days old. They are twin bulls born to a dairy cow and were destined to live only a few months before being killed for veal. Thankfully they were removed from the farm by a compassionate neighbor and placed with us to live long full lives with our herd!
The Grounds Keepers
Catniss & Mocha
The resident barn cats. Also here long before our time, these excellent huntresses keep a watchful eye on the property when Fintan is not here (and a watchful eye on Fintan when he is). They are both so sweet but they are territorial of their humans. They never socialize with the same people (which is why we only have a good photo of Catniss...). They can be found stalking in trees or grass or curled up on one of the heat pads in the various outbuildings.
Fintan
Fintan “Fifi” is at the farm about a third of the year. He is a rescue from Texas (likely ran away or was abandoned from cattle dog training). He is very protective of the farm and its residents and very destructive of large branches, watering cans, and plastic pots. He has several neighborhood dogs that he meets up with for playdates. His best friend on the farm is Gwen, for whom he reserves every ounce of patience, gentleness, and love.
The House Babies
Bingley & Nox
Our two lovely house cats and our first babies. They have lived with us from our cramped apartment at UW, to the bungalow in Ballard, and now the large farmhouse. They love all the space. Nox is almost always upstairs sunning himself on the bed and Bingley sleeps on my desk during the day or follows us around the house. They both sleep on Sarah at night.
Memorial
All our residents live with us for their full, natural lives. But of course no life is forever.
We remember all the wonderful animals who have shared our farm with us on our memorial page.