Petting Zoo.. Need a little help.

[Brunty_Farms]

Well it's going to be a petting/looking zoo. There will be four acres of pasture with trees growing throughout. I don't want to cut the trees down for more pasture so I thought this would be my best bet. I don't want to stress any of the animals with the visitors, the kids will not be allowed to chase the animals what so ever. I really want them to be seen from a distance anyways displaying their long tail feathers for people to see.

The animals that are shy will have plenty of room to stay away from the children and only the animals that are friendly and want to come up to you will have the oppurtunity. All of the animals will be purchased as babies to grow into this atmosphere. I wouldn't want anything to be thrown in the pen with out proper socialization.

I've had experience with emu's and they were fine. I raised them from day one till they were about 8 months old. Unfourtanatly a kid from our old farm shot the two along with about 25 pullets with a bb gun. I couldn't prove it even though people seen him doing it. The cops didn't seem to care. Anyways the two emu's would eat directly out of our hands and never really gave us a problem. Anything shiny though they would want to eat.... earings, rings, ect.

For the insurance if I had people sign waivers would I still need to purchase additional insurance? No body will be allowed in the petting zoo with out supervision and there will be two-three people in with the tour to make sure the animals are taken care off. But then again I do not want any accidents to happen to any kids on the property. Maybe I should set an age limit? Or have a seperate part of the petting zoo for the younger kids with smaller animals that are more predictable such as rabbits, ducklings, and so forth.

Reguardless of purchasing insurance a waiver will be signed so I'm not held responsible. I remember as a kid if we would ever go on field trips or such this is what we had to do.

What do you think?

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I would still get the insurance. Too many people are sue happy today.

One of the zoos we go to has a petting area and within that there is an area that is "roped" off (they used pipes). This is an area that the animals can go into that is off limits to people. That way the animals can get away from the people when they have had enough.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
My neighbor has a wallaby at her petting zoo and oh my goodness, he is too cool. When I go over to visit.....he's the first stop I make.
When she first got him she kept him in a sling by her stomach all day long. He is toooooooooo sweet and the kids love him. He is such a big attraction that she is adding more.

I would love to have mini cows or a zebu but I would be hesitant of their horns around kids. They are sweet though.


Good luck with your zoo!

 

[Big Chicken Little]

Llamas are not good for a petting zoo. Most do not like to be touched by strangers ...let alone running, skipping little ones LOL

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Quote:
My neighbor has a wallaby at her petting zoo and oh my goodness, he is too cool. When I go over to visit.....he's the first stop I make.
When she first got him she kept him in a sling by her stomach all day long. He is toooooooooo sweet and the kids love him. He is such a big attraction that she is adding more.

I would love to have mini cows or a zebu but I would be hesitant of their horns around kids. They are sweet though.


Good luck with your zoo!

Cattle can be dehorned and I most definatly recommended the be dehorned, especially in a petting zoo.

There are some that are naturally dehorned, they are called polled. They are easier to find in some breeds than others.

 

[pinkchick]

Quote:
My neighbor has a wallaby at her petting zoo and oh my goodness, he is too cool. When I go over to visit.....he's the first stop I make.
When she first got him she kept him in a sling by her stomach all day long. He is toooooooooo sweet and the kids love him. He is such a big attraction that she is adding more.

I would love to have mini cows or a zebu but I would be hesitant of their horns around kids. They are sweet though.


Good luck with your zoo!

Cattle can be dehorned and I most definatly recommended the be dehorned, especially in a petting zoo.

There are some that are naturally dehorned, they are called polled. They are easier to find in some breeds than others.



I didn't even think of that!

 

[bulldog-girl]

It does not matter how many waivers are signed. You can still be sued for negligence. Your personal homeowners would not be happy about a petting zoo either. They would require that you get additional liability or they would cancel your insurance. Most homeowners only carry about 300,000 or so for liability(like if someone falls on your property) most negligence suits are at least a million and that is why stores etc. carry at least that for a minimum. I would suggest no smaller limit than 1 million. Many parent nowdays don't supervise their kids and yet they are the first to sue in a accident.

The other thing to consider is people getting onto your property when you are not home. Once neigbor kids know you have a petting zoo they could try to get on your property when you are not home unless you have some good watch dogs and fences. If you don't have neigbors than it would not bee so bad. If you have a sign out from that says "petting zoo" than you really would need to beef up security. I raise English Bulldog pups and people only come on our property with invitation however I do not put a sign out front when I have pups for sale. I don't want to advertise and have someone break into my house to steal pups. I have heard this happen more than once.

Don't mean to rain on your parade but if you are sued, you can lose your house and all your assets. Things do happen even with the best of plans.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Don't mean to rain on your parade but if you are sued, you can lose your house and all your assets.

I think you poured on my parade....

But thank you for the information, I'm going to be in touch with the insurance agent and my lawyer.​

 

[the1much]

get liability insurance,, about 1 million $ worth,, it doesnt cost much at all.

 

[chicken_angler]

Where's the flying pigs?