Treat your family to year-round fun as your enjoy Kelsey Creek Farm's animals in every season!
Please follow Barnyard Etiquette:
- Children must be supervised at all times.
- Our animals are on special diets; DO NOT FEED THEM.
- Stay on visitor pathways.
- Don't climb on pens and fences. Our livestock exhibits are designed to protect both you and the animals.
- Use quiet voices and quiet bodies.
- Stand to the side when you encounter livestock on the paths and walkways.
- No dogs are allowed in the barnyard area. Please do not leave your dog unattended.
- Closed toe shoes are recommended in the barnyard area.
- Please refrain from eating in the barnyard area.
Kelsey's Chickens
The Poultry Coop at Kelsey Creek Farm displays a variety of poultry breeds, with the south side coop housing the standard size chickens, and the north side coop has the Bantams.
Standard Chickens
There are more than 100 recognized breeds of standard-sized chickens, and they show an incredible amount of diversity in characteristics, feather colors, and behavior. We keep a flock of chickens that are known for their gentle temperaments and big, brown eggs.
Bantams
Because of their small size, people often think that the Bantams are half-grown chickens. There are actually two types of Bantams - true Bantams and Miniatures. True Bantams, like the Silkies, have no larger standard size counterpart breeds.
Miniatures are poultry that have been selectively bred down in size and are perfect replicas of their larger cousins. Miniatures tend to be very good egg layers, many of the true Bantams aren't.
Silkies
One of the exceptions is the Silkie breed. They are not only excellent layers, but are so determined to hatch their chicks that they're notorious for hiding their eggs to keep them. They have even been known to tuck their eggs under their wings, so when lifted up, there is nothing left under them! Just like their larger breed cousins, different breeds of Bantams lay different colors of eggs, but they are about 30% to 50% smaller.
Kelsey's Cows
Bella
Bella is an Irish Dexter cow born in April 2009. She arrived on the farm in March 2010 as a yearling, along with her cow friend, Kylie. Bella is a lovely golden "dun" (brown) and has a friendly, outgoing personality. She is the standard-sized Dexter, in contrast to the short-legged variety.
Franny
Franny is an Irish Dexter cow (female) who was born in September of 2018. Franny is spunky and friendly; her sweet nature has made her a favorite of visitors of all ages. Dexter cows came to the United States between 1905 and 1915. Dexters are tough, need a minimum of shelter and are incredibly efficient at extracting nutrition from sparse forage. Franny is used in many of our programs and classes as she loves making friends. Make sure to stop and say “Hi” to her on your next visit.
Kelsey's Ducks
Out in the waterfowl area, you will see a duck family enjoying their enclosed pasture area. Eleanor (Ellie), Abigail (Abby), Dolley, Franklin, and Deena happily spend their days pulling at the grass, looking for tasty treats in the mud and bathing in their pool.
Muscovy Ducks
Ellie, Abby, Dolley, and Franklin are Muscovy ducks. They were hatched in Spring of 2018. You can easily spot the Muscovy ducks by the red growth (wattles) around their eyes and bills. This is a breed characteristic. Muscovy ducks are native to Mexico, Central and South America. Muscovy ducks are unique in that they do not “quack” like most ducks; instead, they make whispers, gurgles, and bubbly noises. They also wag their tail feathers when they are happy or excited.
Welsh Harlequin
Deena is a Welsh Harlequin, duck. Females, like Deena, are brown and white. Males look similar to wild mallard ducks. This breed originated in Wales and was brought to the United States in the 1960s. These ducks are known for their docile temperament and active nature.
Kelsey's Goats
Watch a video about Kelsey's goats!
Ernie
Ernie was born on March 3, 2009 at a family dairy in Monroe. Adopted at two weeks of age, Ernie became one of the stars in our annual spring educational tours and classes for children. He was bottle raised and trained as a companion animal, learning through positive reinforcement to walk on a leash and stand politely as children interact with him during the teacher's informative narrative. Ernie is a wether, meaning he is neutered. His breed, Oberhasli, is a variety of Swiss dairy goat found in the alpine regions. His coloration is particular to his breed: the rich mahogany brown overall, with black markings on his face and feet, and a dorsal stripe running down his back. Ernie is gentle and affectionate. He enjoys greeting visitors when they come to his pasture fence.
Farrah
Farrah joined Kelsey Creek Farm in November 2016. She was adopted from Puget Sound Goat Rescue along with her companion, Kona. Farrah is a Toggenburg, a breed of Swiss dairy goat. Toggenburgs are the oldest known breed of alpine goat, first registered in the 1600s! Their name is derived from the valley where the breed originated. Farrah's color and pattern (overall beige with white markings) are particular to the breed, and no other is acceptable. "Toggs" (as they are affectionately known) have high milk production and and are known for their fun-loving high spirits. Toggenburgs came to the U.S. in 1893 and were shown for the first time at the Illinois State Fair in the early 1900s.
Kona
Kona and her companion, Farrah, were adopted from Puget Sound Goat Rescue in November 2016. Little Kona was surrendered when her owners could not afford veterinary care for her injuries after she survived a dog attack that sadly took the life of her twin brother. The excellent physical and emotional care she received at the sanctuary allowed her to heal nicely, leaving only minor issues with her neck tendons, and no apparent emotional scars. Born in November 2015, she was raised as a bottle baby and is as affectionate as any companion animal could possibly be. Her small stature is a result of stunted growth from her trauma, but she is otherwise perfect in every way. Kona is a French Alpine doe (female).
Chip
Chip is a Nigerian Dwarf goat born in 2014. Chip lived with Cora at a farm in Bellingham until Kelsey Creek Farm adopted them both in October 2022. Chip loves people and often comes to the gate for snuggles when he sees people coming. He likes to eat pumpkin vines and sniff Cora’s nose through the fence.
Baxter
Baxter is a Nubian goat, a breed known for their large size and big, floppy ears. Baxter also has big, beautiful spots all over! He was born on a goat dairy near Olympia in February 2023 and came to live at Kelsey Creek Farm that spring. Baxter is a sweet, goofy guy who loves snuggles and attention.
Oliver
Oliver was born on a goat dairy near Olympia in February 2023. He is a mixed-breed, including Nubian, Nigerian Dwarf, and Alpine. Alpine and Nigerian Dwarf goats both have upright ears and Nubians have floppy ears. Baxter seems to have compromised between the two: his ears come out to the side!
Kelsey's Ponies
Winchester
Winchester's gentle demeanor and small size makes him one of the most beloved ponies at Kelsey Creek Farm. He was born in 1997 on a Welsh pony breeding farm in Oregon and came to Kelsey Creek Farm as a five-year-old. His color is called bay, which means that his coat is a dark brown and his mane, tail and legs are black. Winchester is a gelding (neutered male), and he stands at 12 hands tall (48") at the withers.
Benny
Benny is a Shetland pony. He was born in 1999 and came to Kelsey Creek Farm from a family farm in Sultan in Spring 2019. He is light brown from head to tail - known as "sorrel." He is a gelding (neutered male) and stands a little over 11 hands high (a "hand" is four inches). Benny is best friends with Rascal. A gentle fellow, he is a great favorite of everyone he meets.
Rascal
Rascal is a Pinto pony. He was born in 2010 and is a gelding (neutered male). He came to Kelsey Creek Farm from Sultan in 2019 along with his best buddy, Benny. Pintos are bred for their color patterns and can be almost any breed. There are different names for the various types of Pinto patterns. Rascal is a "Bay" (black/brown) "Tobiano" (colored markings on white). He is around 12 hands tall. Rascal's enthusiasm and flashy color attract a lot of attention!
Valiente
Valiente is a mixed breed pony who was born around 2008. He is black with a white stripe on his face and white feathering around his hooves. Valiente loves snuggles and follows caretakers around his pasture while they are working.
Kelsey's Rabbits
Basil
Basil joined Kelsey Creek Farm in December 2015. Basil was born in June 2014 to one of our local 4-H families. Basil is an English Spot, and his color is called Blue Tort (tortoiseshell). Considered the oldest of the 'fancy" breeds (those bred for particular markings), the breed was first noted around the 1850s. The English Spot's body is overall white with colored ears and eye patches, a line running down the back (called herringbone), an array of spots on their sides, and an interesting marking on their noses known as a "butterfly." This breed of rabbit weighs about five to eight pounds and has a long, lean build. Most show rabbits are trained to sit quietly on a piece of carpet while being judged. The Spot is actually judged on how fluid they are when they run back and forth on a table!
Hazel
Hazel is a Holland Lop bunny, which is a breed most recognizable for their adorable floppy ears and their small size. Hazel looks brown, but her fur is actually a mixture of brown, golden, and white. Hazel is a very friendly bunny who loves the company of people and other bunnies.
Blueberry
Blueberry was born in June 2023. She is a mini rex rabbit, which is a breed known to be exceptionally soft. They’re unusually soft because their underfur and outer fur are the same length. Usually, the outer fur is longer than the underfur. Blueberry’s color is called blue otter. If you look closely, you’ll see brown highlights, especially around her paws, nose, and ears. Blueberry is a playful bunny who loves chewing on bunny toys and hopping around her pen.
Cinnabun
Cinnabun is a really friendly bunny! She is a lionhead bunny, which is a breed known for the long fur around their heads and necks. She has blue eyes and brown, black, and white fur. Cinnabun loves running up and down her ramp, digging in the dirt, and munching on carrots, her favorite treat!
Maple and Barley
Maple and Barley were born in the summer of 2023. They are very gentle bunnies who love to dig tunnels and play in straw piles.
Kelsey's Sheep
Bobcat ("Bob") and Shaun
Bob and his buddy, Shaun, were born on Orcas Island in the spring of 2014. Bob was the special pet of the farm family's children and is very gentle. Shaun was a surprise third lamb in a set of triplets. He was bottle-raised, as his mother could only support two of the three lambs. Shaun is good-natured and affectionate and, due to being bottle-raised, has a slightly brash and mischievous nature. These two boys arrived at Kelsey Creek Farm in the fall of 2014. Both of these boys will readily come to the pasture fence for attention, patiently standing while little hands explore their woolly coats.
Bob and Shaun are Cotswolds, one of the most ancient of heritage sheep breeds from Great Britain. Hailing from the Cotswold Hills in Gloucester (midland country on the British Channel), the breed's name is derived from its environment. In the early days, the sheep were housed in shelters locally known as "cots" or "cotes" which were set up in the barren hill areas known as "wolds" or "wealds." The breed has been recorded in agricultural notes as far back as the period when Caesar made his conquest on the British Isles, about 54 B.C.!
Paige and Paisley
Paige and Paisley were born on February 26, 2022 on a farm in Snohomish. Kelsey Creek Farm adopted them in May 2022, when they were only three months old. They are Shropshire sheep, which is a breed from England. They love eating alfalfa hay, exploring new pastures, and playing with Kelsey Creek Farm’s other two sheep, Bob and Shaun.
Lilypad and Primrose
Lilypad and Primrose were born in February 2023 on a farm near Machias, which is just a little north of the town of Snohomish. Lilypad was given her name because her face is nearly round, just like a lily pad in a pond! They are both Shropshire sheep, which is a breed from England. Lilypad is a playful sheep who likes to climb up on anything she can and sometimes she sneaks bites of flowers from the planters as she walks between her barn and pastures. Primrose loves hanging out with her cousins, Paige, Paisley, and Lilypad. She loves getting scratches from staff and visitors alike and she loves exploring new pastures.
Kelsey's Pigs
Cora
Cora was born on January 17, 2022 and was raised in Bellingham. She is a Berkshire pig, which is a breed from England. Cora is a very playful pig and sometimes she even likes to jump, which pigs don’t do very often! Cora is a picky eater, which is also unusual for pigs. Cora loves getting scratches, rooting in the dirt, and even laying in her water trough!