Rancho Bajo La Luna
Welcome to our Farm Page!
We are located at 422 Harriston RD
Grottoes VA 24441
right off route 340
Can call or text (540) 435-5738
About The Animals
Services/Products
About The Farm
Hello! It’s me Alondra and this is our small farm that is growing each day. Sticking to our Mexican roots and the agriculture we grew up with on the dairy farm and with FFA.One thing we want to show is how animals are not just raised but inside our home. Growing up with the little goats and sheep, learning how to help our animals with their births and end of life care.Some main goals we have for the farm is to help educate others. It seems more and more each day, people are losing their connections to farming and where our food comes from.
About Us
I was in FFA since middle school. Having done Poulry, Dairy and Meats Judging contests for FFA as well as raising goats and sheep for events in agriculture. Going to big contests like the Big E and getting 2nd place in dairy judging for the group and 10th individual for the East Coast states. The Poultry judging getting 3rd then 2nd in the state.
We are a first generation farm, meaning we are starting the farm fresh. Having grown up on a dairy farm and raising animals since we were children. My brother and I being raised on goat milk and fresh organic food.Leonardo being in Forestry, Poultry Judging and multiple agriculture classes since middle school as well.
Goat Breeds
Nubians
Mini Nubians
Poultry Breeds
Emus
Ayam Cemanis
Coturnix Quail
Modena Pigeons
Cattle Breeds
Zebus
Brahmans
Jersey Cross
Holstein Cross
What’s Available For Purchase
Production Red Hens
Biodegradable Pots
Farm Fresh Eggs
Pet/Farm Sitting
Located in Grottoes I can help in the Ausgusta County, Rockingham County, Staunton, Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft area.
In Rancho Bajo La Luna takes great pride in the quality and attentiveness of our care. We promise to do our services for the pet/home owner to the best of our ability, with kindness and careful attention to the needs of your pets and home. I promise to give your pet affection and attention, and to follow the care, feeding, and medication instructions outlined.Payment is required before the service term begins.
25% of the established payment must be sent to hold your time slot due to prior no shows
Owners are required to provide sufficient supplies for the duration of the service period. If additional supplies are needed, Rancho Bajo La Luna will purchase them and pet owners agree to reimburse costs plus a 10% convenience fee. Pet/home owner agrees to notify Rancho Bajo La Luna and authorize additional visits if he/she is late in returning. Pet owner also agrees to notify, by telephone, when he/she returns. Once confirmed, we lock your reservation into our schedule.
| Experience | With | Animals | Below | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goats | Sheep | Horses | Cattle | Donkeys | Emus |
| Turkeys | Chickens | Peafowl | Geckos | Iguanas | Rabbits |
| Parrots | Dogs | Cats | Rodents | Snakes | Fish |
In "What Type of animal care" Please type if its boarding, house sitting, drop in or farm sitting.
In "Information Needed" Please type how many pets you need care for, the dates and any other important info.
Boarding Animals Here
DisclaimerDue to multiple animals that have been abandoned here or taken weeks up to months to pick up after boarding we will no longer do long boardings. We will do a weekend up to two weeks of boarding.If the animal is not picked up on the day scheduled the owner will be charged a late pickup fee each day over the agreed dates. After 3 days the animal will be deemed abandoned and will be taken to the shelter.
Boarding would be considered one day and night.Pets must be picked up by midday. If picked up in the evening there will be charged for another day. Example if you are only wanting to have your pet boarded one day and night and you were to pick up the pet at 5 or 6 pm that second day you will be charged an additional day.
Small & Medium Sized Dogs- $25
Large Dogs- $45
+ $10 for every additional small/medium dog
+$15 if larger
Cats- $20 + $10 for each additional cats
Parrots/Birds- $25
Iguanas- $25
Leopard Geckos $25
Gerbils/Hamsters/Mice/Rats/Guinea Pigs- $20 +$5 for each additional one.
Requirements
Double the amount of feed normally needed for your pet. Just in case if they need to stay longer.
Their Food and Water Bowl
Preferred Contact Method (Call Text or Email)
Emergency Contact
Vet Info- phone number and location
Biting History
Medication/Feeding Instructions emailed or printed out.
Farm Sitting
Farm Sitting is a case by case situation since animals are normally in groups or very individual care. Rates below are general estimates.
This would also be picking up eggs if needed. Extra services like cleaning stalls or cleaning the coop can be discussed.
1-3 Large Animals starting at $25/day
4-7 Large Animals starting at $50/day
8-10 Large animals starting at $100/day
Herd of Small/Medium Animals starting at $25/day
Multiple Species on a Farm starting at $50/day
Requirements
Preferred Contact Method (Call Text or Email)
Emergency Contact
Vet Info- phone number and location
Know where your emergency kit is in the barn/house
Medication/Feeding Instructions emailed or printed out.
Childcare on the farm
Summer is coming and the kids will be at home with nothing to do, Well I have news for you! We will be starting to have childcare slots available on the farm. We will have space for toddlers, young children and up to teens.
We will have activities, educational weekly topics and healthy snacks available! For daylight and overnight hours.Age Ranges 2-15
Basic Package
This would give your child basic care, 3 snack times included, space in the play area, 1 creative activity for the day. TV/Youtube kid time, help with homework etc. You will get a daily activity report of their time on the farm.
Animal Package
Including above stuff, your child will be able to have time to play with the animals in a safe enclosure, learn to milk goats or how to feed some of the farm animals.
Our Petting Zoo
Have you ever met a friendly set of Emus? Wanna learn how to milk a cow? Ever seen how small quail are? Well come on down!Children and adults can play, feed, take photos and learn about farm animals.While we are still working on being a full time functioning farm for people to see the cute animals we please ask that when you come to understand that we are doing our best to clean up an old farm while letting you have fun!We have goats, sheep, emus, chickens, ducks, pigeons, quail etc.
PLEASE CALL AHEAD
OF TIME TO MAKE SURE I AM HOME
Due to my father's health I will not be open every day all day. Make sure to contact me a few days before coming to make sure I will be available.
Saturdays 12PM-7PM
Sundays 1PM-7PM
Entrance Fee: this petting zoo is donation based. All funds go towards the feed and care of the animals.Some people would prefer to outright get the feed to know where the money is going. As everyone knows not all animals eat the same thing so I have made this to share what we feed our animals. Click the link below!
Farm Events
Traveling Zoo
So prior to the pandemic, we used to do traveling Petting Zoos for schools and parties. Now we are starting to have people ask if we are able to again.Remember it’s only me and possibly my brother if he’s available.
We are open on weekends for the petting zoo on the farm but have had a lot of people asking for us to travel. We will not go so far that it stresses our animals.
Requirements
Must know at least 2 weeks in advance to cancel the weekend petting zoo.
If larger animals, must have space for trailer to move around.
Need at least 20 ft x 20 ft space for animals.
Minimum of an hour of time there
Maximum distance- 45 minutes
Gas Mileage Fee- $1.00 a mile x 2
Need pics of the area to plan out the setup for animals.
Mini Package
2 baby goats- Manchita the Dapple Boer & Itty Bitty the Mini Lamancha
1 baby cow- Cyclone the Brahma/Jersey Bull Calf
Medium Package- animals above plus
4-5 baby goats
3 baby cows-
Cemani Pair & Polish
Medium Package- animals above plus
Brahma Heifer
3 Jacob’s Ewe lambs
4-5 baby goats
3 baby cows
Cemani Pair & Polish
Deluxe Package- animals above plus
our Emu
2 adult Goats
Brahma Heifer
3 Jacob’s Ewe lambs
4-5 baby goats
3 baby cows
Cemani Pair & Polish
Animal Care Files
Electronic Forms of Payment
Cashapp: $Chicanabruja
Venmo: Ranchobajolaluna
Paypal: Lunanytefyre
Zelle: (540) 435-5738
Agriculture Seminar
As time progresses and ideas change, a lot of education from farm to table is being lost. Even so, a lot of people hear the negatives about large commercial farming and think smaller-scale farms and homesteads are the same.Something I want to help with is to help educate others. I was in FFA from middle school up to college. My two main loves were poultry judging and dairy. Being raised on a dairy farm since I was 6 years old, I have been able to experience a lot that kids don’t these days. Some ideas I have for the next coming months are small lectures? Workshops? (Currently blanking out the right word 😅) … SEMINARS that’s the word hahaSetting two-hour sessions for
Education on Egg Layers vs Meat Chickens
Reproductive Health- Goats, Sheep, Cow edition
How to milk a cow and all about dairy
From Egg to plate
how chickens live
Wool Sheep vs Hair sheep and what they do.
Goats… all about goats XD
Uncommon poultry- Quail, Emus, Turkeys, Ducks etc.
Petting Zoo Party
Love animals? Want them at your party? Come on over!Rent the Petting Zoo all for yourself!
Items Available
3-5 6ft Tables
20-40 seats
Portable Bathroom / Portable Sink
Hand Sanitizer Stand
Loud Speaker for Music
Animals Available
2-3 baby goats
3-5 Barn Kitties
1-2 Rabbits
1-2 Pigeons
3-5 Ducklings
1 Baby Cow
2 Teen Cows
5-7 Adult Goats
3-5 Chickens
5 Quail
2 Emus
1 Adult Cow
May 2024 Petting Zoo Update
As some of you may know. On April 22 My mother and I had a car accident. We are okay as we can be but a few things...
Our 2012 Chevy Colorado is a total loss.
My mom is currently on light work at her place.
I can move better again but can't use my wrists like normal.
The last big storms have made a total of about a dozen trees fall on important parts of the fence for the animals
Due to this I have put the petting zoos on a temporary pause. I have friends and some of my parent's friends coming over to help fix some things so its easier to maneuver the animals even with the wrist issues.
Still wanna come over?I have had over the last few weeks people call or come since they did not see our initial post.If you are still wanting to come over I ask you call ahead of time. Any time during the week so I know how many are coming, what time and so on. This will give me enough time to get some of the smaller animals that are easier to manage into the petting zoo pen.As you all know these are my pets and I want everyone to have fun but I need to make sure I and they are okay. Safety is my number one priority.My wrists are still having issues so taking everyone out is not possible. I can have the following out for kids.
Baby goats- Born Mothers Day
Quail- 10 little gentle quail
Rabbits- Gomez and Morticia
Pigeons- Modena Pigeons
Chicks- Ayam Cemani pair
Kittens- Our Barn Kitties
Emus( they follow me and always in the main pen anyway 😄 )
Feed and Care
One reason I started doing the petting zoo is because as we all know feed is expensive. With my father's health on the decline, I had to leave my job to help care for the animals and be the transport and care for my father.
We have had a lot of people love to come feed, play and learn about livestock. Most pay cash, some use apps like Venmo and Cashapp but a few would prefer to donate bags of feed directly.Just like kids and adults animals eat certain feeds and brands. We try to keep it to more affordable options. So down below is what every animal on the farm eats.
What Everyone Eats
Producer's Pride 12% All-Stock Sweet Pellets Feed, 50 lb.
Producer's Pride Cracked Corn Grains, 50 lb.
Champion's Choice Trace Mineral Block, 50 lb.
Square Bales of Hay- 2 a week for goats
Round Bales of Hay- 1 a week for cattle
What our Cattle Eat
Purina Stocker Grower Pelleted Cattle Feed, 50 lb. Bag
For the Heifers & other young cattle
Tractor Supply Commodity Pellets Livestock Feed, 50 lb. Bag
For the Adult Cattle
What our Goats Eat
DuMOR Non-GMO All Stock Pellet Feed, 40 lb.
Manna Pro Goat Mineral Supplement, 8 lb.
What our Chicken, Emus, Quail & Other Poultry Eat
Custom Chicken Feed Mix
This mix also works well for other poultry
We get oats, soy, cracked corn,
wheat and bugs for them.
They mainly free range on the
farm in a large pen and outside
the pen.
Occasionally Water Melon, scraps,
Sunflower Seeds, and mealworms
Purina 30% Protein Starter Game Bird and Turkey Feed, 40 lb.
For Pigeons, Quail and Emus
Studding Services
We have a variety of great genetic options for siring goats & cattle.
Canelo- Red Brahma
Medio Metro- Zebu
Luka- Mini Nubian
Canelo- Purebred Red Brahma
This is the most gentle bull I have ever met. He is close to hitting the 2 year mark. So far we have one offspring that is staying to see how she grows. Named after a Jalisco, Mexico boxer who's a famous red head. Very gentle with not only his girls but us as well.
Medio Metro- Miniature Zebu
Medio Metro is a 2 1/2 year old purebred Mini Zebu standing at Inches.
With a calm demenor, very food motivated and beautiful coloring. We are keeping his two first offspring this year to see how their growth is.Perfect for first calf heifers with very small calves. His son a purebred Zebu weighing roughly 20 pounds at birth.His daughter seen to the left is a Red Brahma/Zebu Cross and also was about 35 pounds
Slideshow of some offspring the last 5 years. Kids are Mini Nubians crossed with the following breeds: A boer, Alpine and other Mini Nubians.
Luka is the most well documented since he was born ON the farm on my mother's birthday! He was the last male baby born from my original Herd sire.
Luka is a Mini Nubian. His mother was a purebred Nubian while his father was a purebred Nigerian. Making him an F1 Mini Nubian.Just like his father he has a very high doeling ratio. In the 16 offspring hes had in the past 5 years hes had only 4 bucklings while the rest have been doelings.
As well we having many come out with blue eyes like his father.Hes got the stockier build like a Nigerian but the facial features and size more like a Nubian. He stands at 25 inches at the shoulder. His children are medium to larger size. With small kids who grow up fast hes a great one for any Nubian, Mini Nubian or stockier Mini.
Meet the Herds
As a multi species farm we have people ask us what kind of animals we have. So this section is just for that! Learn about Zebus, Brahmans, Nubians, Alpines, and non herd (Like our poultry Flocks)So click on the links below on the ones you are interested in!
Cattle Breeds We Have
Goat Breeds We Have
Our Poultry Breeds
Brahmans AKA Brahmas
The Brahman/Brahma breed originates from India and known as the "Sacred cattle of India."
They are very well known to adapt to very hot climates, resistant to pests and parasites.While they may not be so popular in this area, in Mexico they are very common and more preferred breed. With such popularity there even came its own specific breed of Brahmans "Sardo Negros" of Mexico. Mixing Zebus, Gyrs, and Brahmans to make it.While you may not see purebred Brahmas as much you do see a lot of their crosses. Brahmas are known for fast growth. Well known crosses are your Brangus and Brafords.
Main Well Known Traits
Long pendulous ears & hump back
Extra loose skin on chest and stomach.
Bulls: 1,600-2,200 LBS
Cows: 1,000-1,400 LBS
Docile/Tame Personality
Heat Tolerance