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petting area
We are open all year round, though the cast changes with the seasons.
As winter approaches the hardier animals remain outside. Visit the 'woolly' Mangalitsa pigs, sheep, goats, the rheas and the european eagle owls.
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rheas
Rheas are a flightless bird ranging throughout South America from Brazil to Argentina. They are farmed for their meat which like their African cousin the Ostrich is low in fat and cholesterol, and also valued for leather and [feather] dusters.
Rheas use their wings to steer when running and will zig-zag-zip when in danger [from farmers]. In the wild they eat insects and broad-leaved plants, though in captivity and on farms they will eat grain.
SFS has three, one male (brown and grey feathers): Jonny and two females (white feathers): Katie and Edda.
Edda is the mother of the group, feeding last and keeping company with one of the other rheas at all times. Katie has the brightest blue eyes, and pecks the fence to greet you. Jonny has a bad leg injured shortly after he arrived and is making a slow but sustained recovery.
Jonny could grow to be 1.5m tall weighing 40kilos (4’9” and 88lbs in old money), and live to be 10 years old.
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european eagle owl
The European Eagle Owl was a native of Britain until the 19th Century, now extinct here. They have a Deep two tone hoot. A wild Eagle Owl can live for 20 years & double in captivity.
Eagle Owls are the largest of the owls and their sheer size and aggressive nature makes them the most dominant bird of prey European Eagle Owls prey mainly on mammals.
Because owls have such sensitive ears they have a flap of skin, which covers the ear opening when things get too loud.
The Eagle Owl nests in ground scrapes usually among rocks in open woodland in mountain foothills.
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dwarf lop-eared rabbits
The Dwarf Lop rabbit is a small, compact rabbit. The ears are long, floppy and delicate. The Dwarf Lop rabbit can weigh up to 2.4kgs. Many are small and weigh less than this. They are short haired. The hair should be soft and dense.
Rabbits are most active in the morning and at night; they generally sleep during the day. Rabbits need things to climb on, crawl through, dig and chew.
The Dwarf Lop rabbit comes in a wide variety of colours. The colours are black, white, blue, agouti, chinchilla, sable, seal point and fawn.
Rabbits have quite delicate stomachs so when feeding fresh fruits and vegetables make sure they are added to the diet one vegetable at a time.
The Dwarf Lop rabbit has on average litters between 3-5, they have been known to produce up to 9. The ideal age for the female Dwarf Lop rabbit to start breeding is between 5 to 6 months of age.
Rabbits can become trained to learn their name. They are more intelligent than guinea pigs and hamsters. They can even be trained to go to the toilet in one specific area, which makes cleaning up after them much easier.
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pygmy goats
The Pygmy goat is a minature goat. They are extremely intelligent, sociable and playful, and will get bored without a companion to play with. They make fantastic pets and come in a variety of colours ranging from brown, black and red to golden with white markings.
Pygmy goats are very hardy, and adapt to the cold by producing a thick, woolly undercoat. Pygmy goats are one of the few breeds of goat that will breed out of season. They will therefore produce more than one baby goat, or kid, per season.
Since they are herd creatures, they do not like being alone.If they are to be kept as pets, pygmy goats should also have their horns removed (a procedure called debudding) in order to prevent them from hurting people or other goats.
They are also notoriously curious and often get their horns stuck in fences or other tight spots.
Pygmy Goats love human contact and if handled and kept fit and healthy make wonderful pets for children and adults alike.
They are friendly, gentle and very inquisitive.
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mangalistsa pigs
Mangalitsa is a name for three breeds of pig grown especially in Hungary and the Balkans known also as a curly-hair hog; Blonde, Swallow bellied and Red. They all have the same behavior although the only difference is the colour.
They are descended directly from wild boar populations.
The Mangalitsa produces too little lean meat so it has been gradually replaced by modern domestic breeds.
In the UK, the breed is kept free-range, fed on standard Sow and Weaner Pellets. The higher quality and protein levels of this food results in a slightly larger stockier pig.
Mangalitzas will happily rear their young (who are born stripes like wild boars) in outside arks all year round without the need for additional heat and light.