The Animals of Winterhill
A working farm, a place of refuge, and a living landscape
At Winterhill Forest Farm, we provide a permanent sanctuary home to an eclectic variety of heritage breed animals. Some arrive rescued from neglect, while others are older or without a long-term home. All live out their lives in peace, free to range across forest and meadow, forage naturally, and follow their instincts, while contributing to the farm in practical ways, producing useful products such as eggs and wool, and supporting the land by fertilizing gardens, managing vegetation, and helping maintain the property as part of a regenerative system.
Heritage Chickens
Winterhill’s chickens spend their days foraging, dust bathing, and moving through pasture and woodland, as chickens have done for centuries. We keep a small flock of heritage breeds, chosen for resilience, temperament, and genetic diversity. Our hens remain here for life, long after they have finished laying. In recent years, we have also taken in hens discarded when their productive days were over. Their eggs, when available, reflect the diversity of the flock, with shells in all shades of cream, brown, green and blue. We offer these as a considered gift.
Shetland Sheep
Shetland sheep graze the land in ways that support the landscape and reduce the need for mechanical mowing. Our original flock arrived as a single group of seventeen when their previous steward left the country, and since then we have taken in additional Shetlands from other places that needed homes. We do not breed them, focusing instead on care, continuity, and long-term refuge. A rare heritage breed, Shetlands are valued for their exceptionally fine wool, prized by hand-spinners, makers, and historical craft communities. Fleeces are available in limited quantity each spring.
Sebastopol Geese
Sebastopol geese are a rare heritage breed, known for their long, curled feathers and gentle, inquisitive nature. At Winterhill Forest Farm, they graze alongside the sheep and stay close to the farmyard, often following people with quiet curiosity. We keep a small flock of four and focus on care rather than scale, sharing hatching eggs each spring with small farms and homesteads across Canada committed to preserving this historic breed.
Mangalitsa Pigs
Mangalitsa pigs are a rare, primitive heritage breed, descended from wild boar. Their thick, curly coats have earned them the nickname “sheep-pigs,” and they are naturally hardy, independent foragers. At Winterhill, they roam through woods and field, rooting for acorns, chestnuts, walnuts, grasses, and roots, guided by instincts little changed over time. They came to us from a neglect situation and are not raised for meat, but kept as conservation animals and companions.
"Blue" The Peacock
Blue is an Indian peafowl with classic indigo plumage and an unmistakable presence. He came to Winterhill from another sanctuary after being found wandering with wild turkeys nearby, where he was vulnerable to predators. Independent and curious, he lives here as a sanctuary bird in a large, secure habitat where he can roam, explore, and display naturally.
Livestock Guardian Dogs
Winterhill Forest Farm is home to three rescued livestock guardian dogs who live and work alongside our animals. The dogs offer a non-lethal way to protect vulnerable animals from livestock predators. They patrol the farm, mark territory, and use their alertness and presence to keep wildlife at a distance. At night, all animals are secured in safe housing, and the dogs come inside. They are working animals, but are also deeply loved companions, part of the farm and part of the family.
Hunter the Cockatoo
Hunter is a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo who has been with our family for more than twenty years. He arrived as one of several parrots rescued from neglect and has spent decades proving that cockatoos are clever, social, and occasionally impossible to ignore. Now at over forty years old, Hunter reminds us that some commitments last a lifetime and maybe even then some.
