Feeding time at the Funny Farm

John calls our petting farm the "Funny Farm".   Feeding hungry animals who all want to be fed at the same time is very interesting and tests your balance and strength.

For 6 months we allow our animals to roam in the back by the zip line.  We do this so that the animals get some exercise and feeding them in winter is easier.  Feeding them when they are free is very interesting.  We have four different types of feed (horse, pig, chicken, and sheep/goat) we want the right animal eating the right feed.  When you open the sliding door to go outside you first have the sheep (4 of them) barreling towards you baaing full force.  Than comes the horses (3 of them) and next the goats (4 of them).  First we feed the horses because they insist on being fed first.  Next we feed the goats in four separate pans and of course it's mayhem because the sheep want to eat right NOW.  As you put the feed into the pan, four to eight heads try to eat the food and than when you go to the next pan you have 8 bodies following you.  Than we feed the sheep in a red wagon (we use what we have lying around).  Watching the goats eat is if really funny.  They always think the next pan has better food and are constantly rotating and trying food from each pan.

Little Peter sharing his lunch with the chickens.

Little Peter (our pig) likes wreaking havoc during feeding time.  Sometimes he eats in his pen and other times he tries to tip the red wagon and eat the sheep's food.  Other times he is trying to tip the horses wooden box.  The other day there was 3 horses, and one goat eating out of the wooden box and along comes Little Peter.  The goat was standing in the wooden box and Little Peter tries to tip the wooden box over.

The chickens have food in their pen and than they go and eat all the leftovers, if the horses haven't gotten to them first.

Our animals do not believe in eating in peace.  Feeding time is mayhem time.

Spud, Butternut, Jenny, and Mozart.

View from the Zip line deck.

 

 Lorissa