Thinking of set about a petting menagerie ? A petting zoo can be a lucrative way to bring visitors to your farm , especially if you ’re already involved inagritourismor you market farm products like a shot to customers , but it is n’t right for every entrepreneur .
Animals are unpredictable , and when they interact with people unaccustomed to animals ’ behaviors , injuries are bound to occur . On top of that , people are more attuned to zoonoses — diseases passed between creature and human race — than ever before . execute a pet menagerie on your farm means you must have a bun in the oven fair to middling byplay insurance — and it ’s not gimcrack . You ’ll also need extra employee to wield appropriate interaction between animals and visitant and to supervise required post - visit hand washing adroitness .
Most people who natter petting zoos expect to interact with baby animals . Many petting - zoo operator buybottle infant , raise them until their cute factor wanes , and then deal them as core or darling in favor of a batch of new youngsters , but this praxis is unsustainable and seen by many as inhumane . Also , displaying bottle babies mould for some species but not others . For instance , the winsome feeding bottle - fed llama or alpaca cria separated from its female parent and fussed over by humanity will almost certainlydevelop unsafe behaviorsas it mature . There are two ways to manage baby animal into a petting zoo : House baby livestockand domestic fowl with their mothers in well - surround quarters where visitant can enjoy but not physically interact with or fertilize them , or utilise only adult animals in your zoo .
You and your employee must be unforced to represent assertively to protect your animals at all times . This means laying down rule as visitant arrive and curtailing unruly children whose parents think their chasing and harass brute is cute . run a necking zoo is not for the faint of heart .
Still interested ? Then here are eight thing to keep in thinker .
1 . Protect Yourself LegallyBefore doing anything else , check into licence and permit you might need to operate a petting zoo on your dimension . If you plan to have exotic metal money , limited permits are certain to implement .
2 . Provide Plenty of RoomYou’ll want at least 10 acre to grant for parking , seating or cinch areas , concession , commode , deal - washing facilities , public field where guest interact with animal , and areas coif apart for animal alone . If you have indoor readiness , like an idle horseback riding area , usable for evolution , even sound . Then you could control rain or shine .
3 . Set Up BoundriesIt ’s OK to allow poultry and small species , like guinea pigs and bunny rabbit , to interact freely with the public , but enclose larger brute in pen where visitant can pet them but not be stepped on or caught in the crossfire between war animals and accidentally horn , bitten or kicked . Educating the public about farm - animal behaviors and communicating boundary lines can go a long room in keeping both humans and animate being dependable .
“ We do guided hitch in chemical group of 10 and set down very unmortgaged rules before even going into the barnyard and we do n’t allow for sealed animals to be petted at all , ” say Anne Shroeder , administrator Star Gazing Farm Sanctuary in Boyds , Md. Although the bema does n’t run a petting zoological garden , lineal supervision of visitors and laying down light terra firma rule are good policies for petting zoo to emulate .
4 . Keep Mini AnimalsConsider featuringminiature animalsof larger species . Non - farm folk rarely see miniature cattle , horses or donkeys . These low animal breed offer the cunning broker of baby creature with much less risk .
5 . Educate About Farm Animals“While I sympathise the desire of children to meet animal , fix something up as a “ zoo ” and thus “ amusement ” gives the wrong message all , ” says Shroeder , who emphasizes teach baby about compassion toward animals . “ Animals are not meant to be amusement . I think that having a firm educational element is dead key if anyone is run to set up such an operation . ”
Also , be aware that children lean to come to the farm armed with kale , candy and other unsuitable goodies to tip your animals . match each radical at the gate and excuse why these items are n’t allowed . excuse that farm animals ’ diets must be closely modulate and show them what the animals feed . Make it a fun , educational experience so that visitor do n’t mind checking treats at the gate .
At the same meter , briefly explain animal behavior and warn visitors about the hazard of disease or injury . Point out the location of hand - washing facilities and excuse that everyone who give your facility is require to use them .
6 . Post SignsVisitors sometimes range away from their group or simply do n’t pay care , so ensure the rules are send tacky and clear . Affix signs to individual penitentiary , explicate the metal money they house and the animals ’ name . A handout brochure containing that information is a nice skin senses , too .
7 . Keep It CleanKeep your quickness as sporting as potential and promptly dispose of barren in an domain by from the zoo grounds .
8 . Have a Plan for Animal HealthIf you determine to take on a pet menagerie speculation , it ’s significant to keep the fauna ’ wellness and safety at the forefront of your surgery . This is important not only because you could face the possibility of having your licence lift or brute - advocate backlash , but just because it ’s the humane thing to do . unluckily , it ’s a common practice among petting - zoological garden keepers to use baby animals while they ’re at the “ cute ” stage , and then floor them off at a sanctuary or trade them for meat once they ’ve “ aged . ”
“ If you must have babe animals , then you want to make a architectural plan for what go on when they get old , ” Shroeder says .
Remember , a petting zoo is a means for you to civilize the populace about the joys and benefit of raising farm animate being , but if you ’re not setting an representative ofproper animal agriculture , you ’re furthering a civilisation that supports the mistreatment of animals . Operating a well - run petting zoo is a rewarding agency to earn excess farm income while bringing joyousness to kid and adults who love animal and do n’t have the opportunity to interact with them often . To avoid costly mistakes and unnecessary stress and brokenheartedness , do your homework before you consecrate .
