Call duck
Call ducks are a small, cute but lively and “talkative” duck.
They were originally used as a decoy duck for hunting and trapping larger breeds as the noisy calling would attract wild ducks – hence the name call duck.
Call ducks can come in a variety of colours such as white, apricot, silver, fawn and black.
Guinea pig
Our guinea pigs can be found in our Children’s Barn. Guinea pigs were originally found in the mountains of South America, but became domesticated about 7,000 years ago. Some breeds you can see here on the farm are; American Crested, Peruvian, Rex and Self Beige. They are very friendly and social rodents that are great for families with young children. They typically live from 4-6 years, and love attention. They can have litters of up to 6 pups, but 3 is average.
Netherland Dwarf rabbit
Meet Smokey and Bandit, our Netherland Dwarf rabbits. This is the tiniest rabbit breed in the world that makes super friendly pets! Rabbits have special teeth that grow all the time, so they need lots of toys and yummy food to chew on.
Smokey & Bandit are brothers who are very different from each other. Smokey is the calm, well-behaved one in the barn, and Bandit is the cheeky troublemaker! But no matter what, you’ll always find them together. They were born on 16th May 2022.
Dwarf Lop rabbit
Our group of Dwarf Lop rabbits are a highlight in the Children’s Barn, pop along to meet Buzz, Olaf, Tigger and Rex.
A medium sized rabbit (weighing up to 2.5kgs) with lop ears as the name suggests. They are born with upright ears which soften and droop as they age.
The fur is incredibly soft and dense, requiring regular grooming to keep in top condition.
Pygmy goat
Dot, Martha and Molly are our cheeky Pygmy goat nannies and Billy is our Nigerian Dwarf Pygmy goat billy.
A Pygmy Goat is a small breed of domestic goat. Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, they are not typically used for milk or meat. Pygmy goats tend to be more robust and breed more continually throughout the year than either dairy or meat goats.
The Pygmy Goat is quite hardy, and can adapt to virtually all climates. A fully grown adult male will weigh 18 – 27 kgs (40 – 60 lbs), while the females are slightly smaller weighing in around 15 – 22 kgs (35-50 lbs).
You’ll find our Pygmy goats in the Children’s Barn.
Golden Guernsey goat
Meet Marley, our Golden Guernsey goat. As the name implies, the Golden Guernsey is golden in colour (although fur colour can vary from pale blonde to deep bronze) and originates from Guernsey.
The Golden Guernsey was first introduced to Britain in 1965, and is a lot smaller than the British breed. They are very conservative and make ideal ‘household’ pets due to their docile nature. They were bred for milk which contains high fat and protein levels, making it suitable for milk and yogurt production.
Bagot goat
Meet Sage, our Bagot goat. The Bagot breed comes under the classification of vulnerable by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST). There are around 300 breeding nannies left in the UK.
Both male and female Bagots sport impressive curved horns and luxurious long fur, typically with a white back and bottom.
The perfect conservation grazers
Bagot goats are excellent for conservation grazing as they absolutely love munching on shrubs. Their grazing habits help maintain and restore natural landscapes!
This breed has a fascinating history dating all the way back to the 14th century found in records of the Crown. Legend has it that King Richard II gifted one of these magnificent goats to Sir John Bagot of Staffordshire, giving rise to the breed’s unique name.
Anglo Nubian goat
Anglo-Nubian goats are big, tall, and strong, but they are also super calm and loving! You can spot this special breed by their long drooping ears, rounded head and tall body – they are one of the tallest goat breeds. Goats have a special 4-chambered stomach that helps them eat quickly and store food to munch on later.
These goats are super smart and learn quickly.
Shetland pony
This is Mini, our Shetland Pony. She is now a teenager! She’s very cheeky, and loves attention from our visitors.
You might find Mini in her stable, as we sometimes have to keep her inside, because if she eats too much rich grass, she often gets laminitis, which can cause her a lot of pain to her feet, and is dangerous to her health.
The RBST state that there are now over 900 registered breeding adult females in the UK.
Dales pony
Meet Grace, our Dales pony, a mountain and moorland breed known for it’s strength, hardiness, stamina, courage and good disposition.
Originally a working pony, the modern Dales pony has historical links to lead mining north of UK and is descended from a number of breeds.
These ponies are normally 14 hh -14.2 hh in height and black, brown, bay, grey and rarely roan in colour.
Grace is very special lady being one of fewer than 300 individuals in the UK today.
Photo credits: Piers Golden