A Forest farm full of animals

There are animals everywhere : horses, of course, but not only them ! There are also chicken, chicks, lots of roosters that all get along well the ones with the others, ducks, geese, dogs and cats. Not to forget all the animals for which we strive to preserve natural shelter and food sources and even create new ones : the hedgehogs, for example, in need of shelters and feeding places for the winter. Squirrels will profit from the hazelnut hedges we plant once they have sufficiently grown. Birds who appreciate food balls, nesting houses, the fruit hedges, flowery bushes, trees and meadows for the insects. We see more and more bees, butterflies and ladybugs since Michel has started sowing wildflowers. With watercarrying ditches and pond there are also dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, frogs, toads, slow-worms, lizards, salamanders … Serpents have little chance of survival with the roasters chasing them furiously.

Among the animals that surround us are also wild pigs, roe deer and deer. So we had to surround the property with a protective high chain-link fence, even though we don't like fences at all. But it was absolutely necessary to at least keep the deer out. Over the years, the fence will be overgrown by flowering wild hedges and trees.

Our protective measures have not yet worked for the wild pigs, they make holes under the fence everywhere, dig up everything and also let the deer in. This is now changing since our two Patou protection dogs really don’t like them at all and keep them out ! They also seem to be efficient against the foxes who have carried away many of our ducks and chicken.

Chicken, geese and ducks

At the forest farm, chicken, ducks and geese live in freedom, feed naturally, eat grass, worms, beetles, insects, larvae, everything that crawls and flies in the manure, in the earth and on the grass. As a result, there are almost no wasps or hornets, no snakes: the roosters solve the problem. In addition, fallen fruit and flowers are also part of the menu, vegetable scraps, eggshells for the minerals and the grain that we spread on the fround as supplementary food. Only at night do they retire into the chicken houses and cages for safety, so that the fox does not get them.

Since our silky and dwarf chickens grow up and live in freedom and in a natural family unit, the many roosters also get along surprisingly well. Some, especially the younger ones, live in boys' bands, others have their partner or even their harem.

At regular intervals, members of the association take over gangs of chicks or roosters, ducks or geese. Since our way of living with animals has encouraged a natural selection of the most balanced, human-friendly lines, they are generally pleasant and friendly to interact with and for children they are usually the stars!

Cats and dogs

Many of our cats and dogs, too, had been abandoned or even abused when they were young or came to us after the death of the previous owner.

The cats are usually very reserved or suspicious and will not let anyone they don't know come closer. The dogs, on the other hand, are friendly, accustomed to children, sociable and grant visitors a trust-building, safe contact.

This is especially advantageous when it comes to teaching children to behave appropriately in the presence of dogs, to make contact with them, to communicate, to give orders. The child can thus develop an awareness of his ability to control his own emotions and then the animal.

The horses

The Horseforest has adopted and cares for a dozen of horses. For the sake of utmost protection, all have more than one owner and are co-owned by the association and certain members. Here all horses live in herds or at least in a small group. They have large paddocks, pastures in the summer and open stables for protection. However, our horses are never confined in boxes and never have to live alone!

Most of the horses are old, disabled, have been mistreated or otherwise in distress. Some of the mares that the association has taken over have had foals, partly for therapeutic reasons, and several of these young horses are now part of the herd. All the horses are loved and cared for equally, whether older or younger, whether with or without a handicap. All of them also have their place within the activities of the association: even a simple stroke or brushing is a moment of sharing, of getting closer and such a moment can be invaluable for both humans and animals.

All these horses deserve people to take care of them along with us, and even become sponsors and contribute to the costs. Depending on your possibilities, you can come and participate, whether alone or with your family or friends. You can make the horses feel comfortable and happy by cleaning them, petting them, taking them for a walk or even taking them on a ride. That depends on the horses and on your experience. Yet, with the right horses and with appropriate advice and guidance, you can slowly but surely gain experience.

To learn more about all these horses, read more about the story of each of with photoshow and links to participate the way that suits you best, just click on the link-picture below and discover their world ...

Louley's horses