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Did something weird today, well actually yesterday...

Discussion in 'Random Ramblings' started by BorderKelpie, Nov 11, 2009.

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  1. Nov 11, 2009 #1
    BorderKelpie

    BorderKelpie Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I got home from work, did my chores and called my mom to let her know that I got home ok and was still alive (we never stop being moms, do we? lol). Well, my DD calls in. I, of course panic because she had just gotten to school (I work the deep night shift). Anyway, turns out the Ag dept at her school was trying to put on a petting zoo for the pre-K kids but all they could scrounge up was a heifer, a llama and a piglet. DD asked my to bring something, a chicken, anything, please, to the HS in the morning. (This is the kids that doesn't like animals and is apparantly embarrassed by mine). Needless to say, I loaded up every carrier and bird cage I had in the Jeep, bathed my frizzled cochin and my feed store silkie, mopped up the kitchen floor, walls, and ceiling (chickens don't like baths, I guess lol)and crawled off to bed. As soon as I got off work the next morning, I raced home, grabbed the now fluffy but still unhappy girls, my gold sex-link roo, Toast (who still needs to be neutered), a pair of Seramas, a pair of quail, a pair of ducks, and two baby cochins and shoved them into my poor Jeep. I also, just for grins, hard boiled a sampling of different colored eggs to show the kiddos what my chickens to for a living. Feeling a bit like a modern day Noah's ark, I fled for the school. I happily (albit, sleepily) set up a wading pool with shredded paper, surrounded it with an X-pen and turned the ducks, the cochin, the silkie and Toast in it. They were not pleased. Most of them had never even met before (everyone is kept in separate pens). THe Seramas had a bird cage to themselves as did the quail.
    The kids liked the ducks (I learned something, Cuddy, the duck, cannot bear to be separated from Cameron, the drake). Since she was due to lay an egg, I took him out to let the kids pet him. She would fuss so badly, the kids asked my to put him back because it was mean for her to be left without him(kids can be so sweet). I thought the frizzle would be an instant hit. They petted her then andered back over to play in the bedding. Toast will guard anybody, the other birds were getting upset by being buried in paper so he placed himself between the kids and the rest of the birds, ducks included. My awesome boy.
    What I thought was really cool, though was how excited the kids got when I pulled out the eggs. I was literally swarmed by them. I just wanted them to know where eggs come from (no, they don't just magically appear at the store....) They seemed to like that (and the shredded paper) most of all.
    Bizarre children.
    I loved every minute of it. I was fun. Can I make a living doing that? It's much more rewarding than my currant job.
    Sweet little faces, bright little excited eyes.
    Too much fun. Too cool.
    I love my chickens and ducks, and quail.....
     
  3. Nov 11, 2009 #2
    Goose and Fig

    Goose and Fig Grateful Geese

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    That is so cool! Good for you- I bet you could make a side job out of it.

    When my kids were younger, their favorite time of the school year was a trip to Mohican State Park in Ohio. They have a
    "School of the Outdoors". What an adventure for city kids. (Well- my kids were used to that stuff) It was fun and educational.
    Always wanted to do something like that. Maybe some day [​IMG]
     
  5. Nov 11, 2009 #3
    PlymouthRocker

    PlymouthRocker Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I'm so glad you had fun and that you made the kids have a great time too. You blessed their day! YAY!

    What a brilliant idea to determine if you can make a living from this! I always say the best job to do is the one you love.

    My first question would be how your birds would handle a long trip. Then I jump to this question: Can you find someone who does this for a living that doesn't live close by (competition, of course) that can give you pointers and ideas and answer questions you have about insurance and liability and marketing and what to charge. Next question is: would you pick up the phone today and call 10 schools to see if they would be interested. Would you call 100 schools? Would you call daycare centers? How many schools and daycare centers do you have in a 100 mile radius from your home? How far would you travel?
     
  7. Nov 11, 2009 #4
    BorderKelpie

    BorderKelpie Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Uh oh, PlymouthRocker, you got me thinking now.....
    There is a local petting zoo person here, he is a nice guy (I know him as I have sold/traded with him for a while), but he does the usual parties, etc. What if I did the school tours? I like to teach, I love to see the lightbulb flash when a kid catches on to something. Insurance and liability, good point. Hmmm, I getting visions of uniform type clothing and power point displays and....
    I need to teach the birds a few tricks and get them diapers.
    Seriously, I like the idea of school tours, sort of like a traveling teacher. A circuit teacher (sort of like the old time circuit judge! - love it!)
    I've got to do some research.
    Thanks!
     
  9. Nov 11, 2009 #5
    PlymouthRocker

    PlymouthRocker Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Quote:You are most welcome! I have been the instigator of more than one career change when I see how much someone LOVES what they want to do. I would love to hear an update from you every now and then as you find out the possibilities.

    One other thing: a friend of mine was a paralegal for many years. She had two weeks vacation - one in the spring and one in the fall. During those two weeks she ran a consignment sale. She determined that with parking fees, train ticket fees and daycare (not to mention lunches and clothing) that she netted $30,000 from her $70,000 job. She was recently downsized and figured she only had to do a few more sales a year to make the same income she did ALL YEAR at her full time job.

    Perhaps you could start with doing this on your vacation? How much time do you get?
     
  11. Nov 11, 2009 #6
    BorderKelpie

    BorderKelpie Chillin' With My Peeps

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    I don't actually get a vacation. I work 7on/7off. I used to complain about that because it makes getting a second job very difficult. As of today, I think it may be just what I need to get this worked out. [​IMG]
    I can work here one week and do that the next week.
    And, you're right, working does cost too much money. Not to mention just how seriously burnt out I am with this job.
    I see too much here. I don't know how much more I can take.
    I am still reeling from something that just happened here tonight.
    Makes the circuit teacher job sound even better.


    He was just a kid.
     
  13. Nov 11, 2009 #7
    Godsgrl

    Godsgrl Ostrich wrangler

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    at the zoo usually
    What a wonderful thing for you to do. I'm sure you really made the petting zoo. The enjoyment you got out of the experience is why I volunteer at a zoo. To see the children's faces light up when they see me with an animal, to teach them about it, and encourage them to love nature.

    It's easier doing this at the zoo, less for me to worry about. Good luck with your petting zoo idea, I hope it works out for you.
     
  15. Nov 11, 2009 #8
    Whitehouse Quail

    Whitehouse Quail Chillin' With My Peeps

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    A family friend of ours is a clown, you know, they went to clown school and are registered. With who, I don't know. But, they live on a farm, so when she puts on her show, she brings baby chickens, baby ducks, goats, potbelly pigs, full size chickens and ducks, rabbits, hedgehogs, doves, and other barnyard animals she has available. So, she charges for the show and the preshow, which is just a petting zoo where you can feed the animals.

    I don't know if you would want to dress up in a clown suit and paint screaming children's faces, but it IS an option. Just brush up on your balloon animal making. I can make a mean snake!

    Now that I think about it, she is married, so she might just be bored out of her skull and earning a little extra money. But, clowns have potential to make some big money. My whole family are clowns, including me, trained and perform in circuses, but I've never tried to make living on it.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 11, 2009
  17. Nov 11, 2009 #9
    PlymouthRocker

    PlymouthRocker Chillin' With My Peeps

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    Quote:Well, 7 on and 7 off would make this ideal for you! And I'm very sorry about the situation that happened last night. Best of luck to you as you begin this new adventure!
     
  19. Nov 11, 2009 #10
    allaboutdemchicks

    allaboutdemchicks Chapel Farms

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    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] What fun!! [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]





    I too brought my daughter's preschool classroom a broody hen with two little chicks for "Show and Tell". I would guess that 95% of the class had never seen a chick and they were absolutely amazed!!!

    The public schools in my area do shows like you are discribing where the children pay a small amount, usually one dollar, to get out of class for a period of time and hear/see the information presented. It is an annual event that the children always look forward to !!

    Congratulations on your special day. I'm looking forward to hearing what creative ideas you can come up with. [​IMG]





    Claudia
     
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