Our Animals
Finnsheep
The decision to raise Finns came very easily once I learned about this remarkable breed. I started researching fiber sheep and being a woman of smaller statue, I appreciated their manageable size and loved not having to worry about things like tail docking and dehorning. Their silly personalities, sweet super loving dispositions and luxurious fleece is what won me over and I could not be happier with them. If you are thinking about getting sheep of your own give them a look, having been raising them now for years and for all the reasons mentioned above and below I think they make an excellent homestead sheep.
LGD-Maremma Sheepdogs
Maremma sheepdogs (Maremma Abbruzze) are an Italian breed of LGD (Livestock Guardian Dogs) that protect and defend our animals and property from predators. They are similar to the Great Pyrenees but with a smaller range of territory making them easier to home to a farm and stay within borders in a fenceless situation. We have come to rely on them for protection and companionship, not only for all of our livestock but for all of the human members of the farm as well. They assist with chores, travel into the pasture with the herds and flocks, and monitor the property from anything looking for an easy meal. We honestly would not want to imagine our farm without several Maremma.
While it is not the custom of all shepherds, we find that allowing all of our Maremma sheepdogs to have time out of the pasture or barn for daily visits (when possible) gives them time not only for affection and excitement but exposure with new people and other animals they don’t regularly interact with. All of our dogs are homed to the farm and regularly have opportunities to free range and parol the whole area. We will announce any expected litters via this website and have a questionnaire and detailed information to anyone interested in a future puppy. AJ’s Happy Chick Farm is a proud breeding member of the Maremma Sheepdog Club of America.
Baron
Our original sire, Baron (from NEK Sheep and Goat Farm) has always maintained a rock steady disposition and is the quintessential perfect dog, to meet Baron is to love Baron. Up until last year he guarded the entire farm free ranging the 140 acres protecting it from predators and greeting visitors. Now over 11 years old Baron has retired and is relaxing at the farm house with his favorite people. He has always been an excellent LGD able to work with any of our livestock groups, fiercely protecting them while at the same time calm and gentle with all people. It was his personality and the desire to pass down all of his excellent attributes that led us to breeding Maremma.
Duchess
In 2018 we added Duchess to our farm family with the hopes that she would be a suitable mate for Baron. Originally the pick of the litter from Moon Acre farm in AZ it was clear from day one that Duchess was smart and confident. She is an outstanding guardian and has repeatedly impressed us with her intelligence, intuitive nature, and flexibility to the needs of our farm. Duchess is capable of working with all of our farm animals but is most often with our ewes and their lambs. She is very people friendly and good with children and skittish animals. My original herd of Kindergoats were terrified of big white dogs after several traumatic incidents at another farm and it was Duchess who got them over that fear after residing with them for a year. When she came of age it was clear she was the perfect match for Baron and their pairing have produced excellent offspring.
Pupster
We selected a male to keep from the first of Duchess and Baron’s three litters and appropriately named him Sir Pupster The Magnificent. He is the perfect blend of Baron and Duchess and can be found with (often lounging alongside) our rams and wethers. Pupster is incredibly smart, very obedient and at 4 years of age a very mellow guy. He is huge, weighing about 150 lbs and built like a tank but conscious of his strength and size and adjusts his behavior to meet the needs of whatever creature he is interacting with. It is not unusual to see him in a group of day old ducklings carefully guiding them out of harms way or placing himself between me and our Tom Turkey (aptly named Turkor the Ungrateful) who sometimes takes it upon himself to get nasty with me. In these instances Pupster will fiercely protect me but is very careful not to harm Turkor in any way even when he himself has been pecked and flogged in the process. I find that level of restraint to be incredible.
Augusto
In 2023 we added a new puppy named Augusto from SunnyView Farms. His parents are both imported from Italy and he is carrying some very much needed new blood to be added to the United States lines. He is a happy, friendly dog displaying a good connection to all our farm creatures and is proving to be easy to train and enthusiastic to learning from both us and the older dogs. He is a proven breeder and sired a litter of 13 puppies with Duchess April 2025. She is now retired from breeding but Augusto is available as a stud. He has his OFA for elbows (normal) and hips (good) and is registered with the MSCA. All documentation is available upon request.
Lady Guinevere
Our newest addition was born in April 2025 from Duchess and Augusto and is proving to be as smart and friendly as her mother.