Here at Loud Dog Farm we focus on mostly American Heritage Breeds. These breeds were developed in the United States and they are rich in historical value. Many of these breeds are actually at risk for going extinct. So we have made it our mission to help keep these breeds around through education. As of 2023 we raise only Heritage Breed livestock and we plan to work directly with the Livestock Conservancy to continue our efforts towards saving these amazing livestock breeds!
Check out our breed list to read more about what types of animals we keep and why!! We are always available to consult about livestock breeds and husbandry!
Check out our breed list to read more about what types of animals we keep and why!! We are always available to consult about livestock breeds and husbandry!
Highland Cows
One of the most recognizable of the heritage breeds these fluffy cows are a great addition to the farm. We added three highland cows in the summer of 2023 by trading an old camper for them.... pretty good deal if you ask me!
We are using them for meat and land management. The Highlands are known to be great foragers and have done a great job transforming what was once mostly thickets into a nice little pasture that we are expanding. First introduced to the United States in the 1890s from Scotland. In 2019 the breed graduated off the Livestock Conservancy's conservation priority list which is a great step for the breed. With only 25,000 Highland cows world wide we are very lucky to have our own herd growing right here in Maine.
We are using them for meat and land management. The Highlands are known to be great foragers and have done a great job transforming what was once mostly thickets into a nice little pasture that we are expanding. First introduced to the United States in the 1890s from Scotland. In 2019 the breed graduated off the Livestock Conservancy's conservation priority list which is a great step for the breed. With only 25,000 Highland cows world wide we are very lucky to have our own herd growing right here in Maine.
Cayuga Ducks
These ducks are easy going and enjoy Maine’s harshest weather. A personal favorite of the farmers this is one of the breeds that inspired our heritage breed poultry program!
The breed originates in New York, making them the perfect choice for our farm because they are very cold hardy. Another very unique trait to this breed is their egg color, early spring they lay a black egg getting lighter as the season goes on. They are considered a dual purpose American Heritage Breed. We really have fallen in love and this breed has become a major part of our poultry program as the Cayugas are a great American dual purpose breed!
The breed originates in New York, making them the perfect choice for our farm because they are very cold hardy. Another very unique trait to this breed is their egg color, early spring they lay a black egg getting lighter as the season goes on. They are considered a dual purpose American Heritage Breed. We really have fallen in love and this breed has become a major part of our poultry program as the Cayugas are a great American dual purpose breed!
Runner DucksRunner ducks are a funny looking ancient breed. With a small body size they don't make a good meat bird, however they are great egg producers and are also prized for the insect eating! In large numbers the Runner Ducks are known to herd very well and can be used in herding trials and training. We are currently building our flock of Runner ducks to be used for pest control by herding them through the garden and pastures throughout the season.
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Jersey Giant Chickens
Another amazing American heritage breed these beautiful, large birds make a great dual purpose breed. Developed in the Northeastern United States they are a hardy breed, laying brown colored eggs and considered a good meat bird. The Livestock Conservancy has this breed listed as recovering meaning we need more homesteads and local farms to choose this breed to raise! One of their most impressive traits is there size with roosters weighing 13-15lbs and hens 10-11lbs! That's a great meat bird if raised properly taking 8-months reach butcher weight!
Barred Plymouth Rock Chickens
American heritage breed THAT GRADUATED the Livestock Conservancy's Conservation priority list in 2023!! This dual purpose breed was developed in the northeastern United States, making it a productive, winter hardy breed. They are distinguishable by feather colors, males being light then females. First exhibited in 1848!! This is a very old breed, one of the first in the United States! These are a very easy chicken breed to start with. They aren't too large and but still lay a good size tan egg. Barred Rocks make great 4H project or for exhibitions.
Bourbon Red Turkeys
This classic American heritage breed is a new one for us, added in 2022! Were just getting into learning about turkey husbandry and raising them for meat. They have been great layers and very large birds! They are also a very personable breed and have been a joy to have around the farm! We are working on developing our breeding program and growing our flock to a more sustainable size. Developed in the United States this breed is known for the rich flavored meat and large carcass size. The Bourbon Red turkey has been out competed in the commercial industry but thrives on homesteads and small farms. They make a great choice for meat bird or for just having around the farm for insect control. They are great for pasture production and make great foragers! The livestock Conservancy is looking for more data on raising Bourbon Red turkeys and we hope by the end of 2024 to be starting to gather data to send in hopes of better understand the breed.
Oberhasli Goats
Land development, restoration, composting, packing, dairy, caramel, butter, meat and more!! oh my!! All things you can do with goats! Oberhasli are a heritage breed known for their easy going temperament and confidence on rough terrain and water. We currently train for packing and dairy production! We have a small group of trained packed goats available for group hikes! The are considered a large breed goat weighing 100-125lbs. They are a very easy breed to keep usually get along good with other goats and animals. A great choice for novice goat owners or handlers interested in training a pack goat! They are one of the founding breeds of the farm and in 2024 we offically open for milk sales! Oberhasli milk is sweet and creamy, great for drinking and baking!! We currently have 1 buck and 8 does!! each doe can produce up to one gallon of milk per day!!!
American LaMancha Goats
American heritage breed of goat used mostly for dairy production! They are a very distinct breed and easily recognizable by the lack of ears! We added this very sweet breed to our herd in the winter of 2023!! We now have three Lamancha goats! Each doe will produce between one and two gallons of goats milk a day!!
Celadon Quail
Another great heritage breed our quail have the rare blue egg gene! Quail eggs are the perfect bite size farm snack. Pickled, boiled, on a salad, in your lunch, on your dinner now matter where you add them quail eggs really just complete any meal! They are very rich and creamy and packed with vitamins and nutrients!! We are working on stabilizing the flock and getting them all to true blue meaning all the quail we produce will lay blue eggs and pass on the blue egg gene!
Farm Dogs
The most important employees on the farm. The dogs. Truly what keeps us going in the hardest of times. The dogs stand by the farmers sides when predators attack, when it’s dark they show no fear, when there’s rain they don’t complain, they move the birds, the protect the goats. Truly the hero’s to our flock! Buddy the oldest is a lab mix he has a ton of training under his collar and has taught many students of all ages! Both human and animal! Archer is our German shepherd border collie mix, he’s wild, the energy is awesome and the mix with protection is perfect for are semi urban setting. We haven’t always had a farm! Archer is also becoming quite experienced and can be trusted with rabbits and quail, goats and other dogs. Hard to find in such a hard working dog. He can control the flock and work with the other dogs too.
Our Jagdterrier, Tuck, after dreaming of a huge farm dog we opted for a smaller more challenging pup. And oh boy did we get it. High energy, high drive, small size. Perfect for ratting, rats are the biggest threat to quail and eggs! We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning and training and are very hopeful tuck like the other dogs will be free range working with the rest of the herd soon.
Moura is our Estrela Mountain Dog. She is our first full time Livestock Guardian dog. She was not born here but brought to Maine all the way from Colorado! Her ancestors come from Portugal and Estrelas are one of the oldest livestock guardian breeds known to man. We plan to breed and show Moura to represent her breed. Her work ethic and beauty shines through everything she does here on the farm. Adding and Estrela to the mix was the perfect fit!
And last but not least little Merrow, a NAP TYPE border collie. She's a little bundle of fire and kisses all at the same time. She will be our first herding dog. As our herd has grown and pastures expand we are moving the livestock more and more and in bigger groups than ever before. Having four paws on the ground using that border collie eye to move animals helps keep stress levels low. For both animal and farmers sake!
Our Jagdterrier, Tuck, after dreaming of a huge farm dog we opted for a smaller more challenging pup. And oh boy did we get it. High energy, high drive, small size. Perfect for ratting, rats are the biggest threat to quail and eggs! We’ve been doing a lot of conditioning and training and are very hopeful tuck like the other dogs will be free range working with the rest of the herd soon.
Moura is our Estrela Mountain Dog. She is our first full time Livestock Guardian dog. She was not born here but brought to Maine all the way from Colorado! Her ancestors come from Portugal and Estrelas are one of the oldest livestock guardian breeds known to man. We plan to breed and show Moura to represent her breed. Her work ethic and beauty shines through everything she does here on the farm. Adding and Estrela to the mix was the perfect fit!
And last but not least little Merrow, a NAP TYPE border collie. She's a little bundle of fire and kisses all at the same time. She will be our first herding dog. As our herd has grown and pastures expand we are moving the livestock more and more and in bigger groups than ever before. Having four paws on the ground using that border collie eye to move animals helps keep stress levels low. For both animal and farmers sake!
Mealworms
Yup! That’s right! Mealworms are apart of the pack too. These little buggers are super cool. Besides that fact that a chicken will do anything for one of these tasty treats, mealworms poop is well....the shit. It can be used for hydroponics systems and also as a organic pest repellent. So we keep a colony of mealworms breeding all year round to teach young birds to forage and help out in the garden!