Zebra Finch
A small bird at just 10cm long, the Zebra Finch is the second most popular pet finch.
They live in flocks. The male is much more colourful than the female with orange cheek patches.
They feed on the ground or amongst shrubs and grasses. Being very adaptable they can nest in trees, shrubs, at ground level or below ground in old rabbit warrens!
Budgerigar
A small long-tailed parrot which is popular as a pet due to its playful, vocal nature.
In captivity they can be a variety of colours; blues, yellows, whites and greys, but naturally they are green and yellow with black markings. You can tell the gender by looking at the colour around the nostrils (royal blue for males and white or brown for females).
Jacob sheep
The name, Jacobs sheep, a dark brown and white patched sheep comes from the story of Jacob in the Old Testament, who bred piebald sheep. During the 17th and 18th centuries, British landed gentry imported the sheep from Spain to be used as ornamental livestock in parkland. Their un-dyed unbleached wool is in demand by the fashion industry.
This special sheep with dark brown and white patches is called a Jacob sheep! Its name comes from a story in the Old Testament about a man named Jacob who bred sheep with different colours.
Hundreds of years ago, people in Britain brought these unique sheep over from Spain to have them as pretty animals in their parks. Today, their soft, natural wool is very popular with people who make clothes because it is beautiful without being dyed or bleached, making it extra special!
Wiltshire Horn sheep
The Wiltshire Horn sheep come from Wiltshire, and they have a special talent— they can shed their wool all by themselves in the spring! This means they don’t need to be sheared like most other sheep. Horned sheep became less popular in the 19th and 20th centuries and that meant less Wiltshire Horn sheep. But some breeders formed a Wiltshire Horn Sheep Society in 1923 to bring the sheep back from almost becoming extinct.
The sheep who didn’t like orchids
Besides shedding their wool, these clever sheep also helped protect wild orchids! In 2011, they were borrowed to graze near a railway, where they ate the bushes but carefully avoided the wild orchids and other plants. These sheep are great at looking after the land, too!
Portland sheep
The Portland sheep come from the Dorset area and are a bit smaller than other sheep. The rams have big, spirally horns, while the ewes have horns that form a half circle. When lambs are born, they have a bright red coat that changes to a creamy white as they grow.
In the past, they were a popular choice for meat, even during the time of King George III. But by 1974, there were almost none left. Thankfully, the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) stepped in and helped bring them back to life!
Ship-Shape Sheep
Legend has it that the Portland swam to our shores from ships of the Spanish Armada in the 16th century. But others believe they were introduced centuries earlier by the Romans.
Crollwitzer turkey
The Crollwitzer turkey is a small, light turkey, it is a very alert and upright bird with attractive plumage.
It has a distinct pied-coloured appearance with contrasting black and white feathers.
They can be stroppy and are not as placid as larger turkey breeds.
Bourbon Red turkey
This breed is known for its calm nature and make very tame pets. They are good foragers on pasture and provide excellent meat. A stag can weigh up nearly 15 kg and a hen 8 kg.
As the name suggests, they have a rich, dark chestnut mahagony plumage with some black and white markings.
Continental Giant rabbit
Meet Rodney, one of our Continental Giant rabbits, who live in the Children’s Barn.
The Continental Giant is a very large breed of rabbit also known as the German Giant.
They can often grow larger than some dogs. The longest rabbit was 1.3m and the heaviest is 24 kgs. Their average lifespan is 4-5 years.
They are usually friendly with other animals and are easily litter trained to live inside as a house rabbit. However Fred and Barney (our original Continental Giant rabbits) do not get along so are housed separately.
In September 2024, we welcomed Rodney, Albert and Derrick.
Tamworth pigs
The Tamworth pig is easy to spot because of its beautiful red-gold hair! They have the longest snout of any pig breed today, which is why people call them “a plough on four legs”! Their ears stand up, making them look extra alert.
Tamworth pigs are tough and can live in many different places, from rough grasslands to meadows. The female pigs, called sows, are great mothers! They are very gentle, produce lots of milk, and protect their babies.
West of England goose
The male and female differ in colour, making it easy to tell them apart. The Gander (male) is white, while the goose (female) is grey and white. This is even true when goslings hatch; the females have grey patches on the beak while the male has a plain orange beak. Both the goose and the gander have an orange bill, legs and webs.