Black Willow Farm

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United States
Axton, VA
Black Willow Farm

We are a family-owned and operated farm in Southern Virginia specializing in equine and fowl

10/22/2026

Cross‑posting from the farm because y’all are family ♥️
I’m launching a book + beauty subscription box and weekly mystery bundles, and our first box is already being made. If you could like, share, or follow the new page, it would mean the world.
We’re keeping the farm running and the critters spoiled — one self‑care moment and one good book at a time. .Well.Read

10/02/2026

While this isn't farm related, for my most recently celebrated (40th) birthday, Mr. Farmer took me to the city to watch a musical about....the country 😂 It was fantastic, everyone did so well, and I believe the captive children even enjoyed it. It was so thoughtful--and then we stuffed our face ❤️

10/01/2026

Hey guys! Its been a while since I last posted and I know that some of you still drop in to see if there are any updates. Since going back to work, and still going to school full time, and Mr. Farmer working long hours AND kids back in school--its been quiet. The farm is mowed, very late for the year due to the drought, and our bales are lingering in these dormant fields ready for storage. Recapping on our 2026, we have lost Sheila due to age, and Carolina due to an unfortunate colic, and we are now down to just Archie, Aspen, Festus, and Hector. Its kind of sad that our pastures are so empty that we consolidated them both.

Our tractor has been down, so we are limited on what we can do, and for the foreseeable future, our farm will lie dormant until we can determine what we do next. This is the part of farming they don't glamorize, the loss and pivotal moments.

We are down to three turkeys, three geese, a houdini duck, some chickens, and a very lucky coyote. Our dogs don't deter it, and he's made quite a living off of our toms these past months. We won't be replacing them either, unfortunately. Not until we can ensure their safety.

The one thing I can say though is that we are still so very blessed to have this farm. With everything not going anyway we expected, we still have the foundation to build back up when we are ready. I look forward to eventually coming back home again, and reviving the beautiful property.

We hope you all have are doing well, we miss the conversations with those of you who followed us, and we followed, and hope this year has been kind to you. We look forward to stopping into your pages and showing love when we can ❤️

02/04/2026

Flashback to Sheila and Archie back when he was just a wee thing--fresh and new. Its that season--foaling season--and I'm seeing a ton of posts on people's timelines this time if year.

To those of you struggling with this foaling season, I send my deepest condolences to you. No matter how seasoned of a horseperson you are, nothing prepares you for loss. Thank you for sharing your journeys with us so that we can stay grounded and know that this is still the reality of breeding.

For those of you sharing your beautiful foal pics for us to fawn over, we see those too! I love seeing all the effort and work come together to create such amazing horses--and we can hear the collective sighs of those who are thankful to watch their babies hit the ground, healthy.

Let's just remember that, no matter what, you can chose to help others in sharing your journeys, and tips you may have, as well as your struggles. We can support others, rather than gatekeep, to ensure that those who choose to breed are doing it ethically--with purpose and care. Inspire others to be better for their horses, their breeds, and themselves as owners and breeders.

02/03/2026

Anyone after a frozen turkey? Our little Velociraptors are doing well in the snow, and roost when they get cold.

Surprisingly, these guys do well regulating their temperature:

Key Winter Survival Mechanisms:
Insulation & Feathers: Turkeys fluff their feathers to trap body-heated air, providing a natural, insulating layer. They also complete molting before winter for optimal, thick plumage.

Roosting Behaviour: They prefer to roost in dense conifers, like pines or spruces, which block wind and snow. They often stay on the roost longer during extreme cold to conserve energy.

Body Position: To protect unfeathered areas, they often sit in trees or on the ground with their legs tucked under their body feathers. They may also tuck their heads under their wings.

Energy Conservation & Diet: Wild turkeys consume high-fat foods, particularly acorns, and pack on significant body fat (up to 25% of their weight) to fuel their metabolism. They limit movement on extremely cold days to conserve energy. Ours eat tons of feed to supplement their lack of foraging skills 🫠

Heat Exchange: They use a counter-current heat exchange system in their legs, which minimizes heat loss from their extremities.

02/01/2026

Its beautiful out, albeit cold, and Tex is just worried about food because he's always hungry lol We were definitely glad to be able to get out and grab some more essentials, like pvc fittings since we had a pipe burst last night. Mr. Farmers is always handy in situations like these, and today fixed us right up with some pics and some Shark Bite connectors. Anyone else having trouble with this biting cold?

01/31/2026

So I was trying to show Mr. Farmers how to measure the horses for their blankets and we did from the top of the withers to the top of the tail and the chest to shoulder for the front.... now, when I drew it on my phone, it gave me the option to let AI create an image from my drawing. I had absolutely no idea it would create.....this. Its like almost okay, and almost an abomination 😂😂☠️

01/30/2026

There's something so magical about the snow, even if our most recent bout was more than we were anticipating....and it has stayed longer than we hoped. Eventually it will warm and thaw, but can we appreciate the beauty of winter here ❤️

01/28/2026

Tex has gotten so big, and still just as mischievous as ever 😅 He did well through the weather but boy did he give me a run for my money when it came time to blanket horses. Why, you ask? Because he had to lick all the new blankets, because Tex is a weirdo 😅🤣

01/28/2026

Its been snowy here, but we just had roads scraped and I am so glad we were able to do a feed run this evening! I don't know what it is about snow, but as soon as I can't go out, I immediately want to go 😅 I hope that everyone else has been safe and warm through the snow and ice. Our Herd didn't enjoy the cold, and really, we ran out to get new blankets and couldn't blanket any of them due to our mischievous bull in the pasture. I am hoping, come spring, we can relocate all the horses to the new pasture, and maybe figure out a more permanent place for Tex that allows us access again to all the horses. Sending love to all of you! ❤️

Address

Axton, VA
24054

Website

http://youtube.com/@blackwillowfarm

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