Animals – Pet Farm

My name is Andy and I’m the resident alpaca at Moher Hill Open Farm. I am here to tell you all about myself and the other animals on the farm, such as my friends the llamas, ostrich, emu, deer, miniature donkeys, many different breeds of ponies and sheep, pot bellied pigs, kune kune pig, rabbits and many more. There are always new animals arriving at the farm such as our new arrival Melissa the turtle who I am still becoming friends with!

Before I go back to munching grass I want to tell you a little secret; there are many
interesting things to see at the farm such as emu and ostrich eggs, deer antlers and wool which is spun from the farm’s sheep. So don’t forget to ask the staff so show you many of these things and if you tell them that Andy the Alpaca gave you the information they might just let you hold an ostrich egg or try on the hat made from sheep’s wool!

EMU

Name: Dilly and Derry
Origin: Mainland Australia
Diet: Omnivore, but mainly roots, leaves, flowers, seeds and insects

Facts:
1.The Emu is second largest bird in the world, second to its cousin the Ostrich.
2.These are flightless birds, but can reach to speeds of 50km/hr.
3.Emus have long nails on their toes to fight off predators and have extremely strong legs, so strong that they have been known to rip through wire fences!
4.These are very nosey animals who love to watch and follow humans and other animals.

Funfact:
Did you know that Emus sleep sitting down and only sleep for short periods before waking up! This means that they have a series of short naps through the night.

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Alpaca

Name: Andy
Origin: Andes Mountains, South America
Diet: Herbivore: they like to eat grasses, leaves, weeds and shrubs
Height: 85-95 centimetres tall at their shoulders
Weight: 125-175 lbs.

Facts:
1. Alpaca fleece is softer than cashmere or angora and warmer and lighter than wool.
2. They make a humming sound when communicating with each other, this sound is like a musical purring, alpacas make a high pitched tooting sound when in danger
3. There are two types of alpacas: Huacaya and Suri alpacas. These are distinguished by their fleece. Huacaya alpacas have a dense, crimped, woolly, water resistant fleece and Suri alpacas have a fleece which grows parallel to the body in long, separate locks.
4. Alpacas do not bite and they have no upper teeth, only lower ones!

FunFact:
Did you know that an alpaca has three stomachs

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Red Deer

Name: Rudolf, Dancer, Prancer
Origin: Most of Europe and parts of Asia
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. These are the only deer which are native to Ireland and their Irish name is FiaRua.
2. The male deer is called a stag, a female a hind and a baby a calf.
symptoms of diabetes3. These animals have an even number of toes and a 4 chamber stomach.
4. Stags grow antlers in the spring and lose them at the end of winter.
5. Antler size depends on age, health and nutrition of the deer.

Funfact:
In spring the Red Deer grows a soft skin covering on their antlers, called velvet, for protection. zp8497586rq

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Llama

Names: Betty, Lucy Lou, Leroy, Jack
Origin: They originated in North America, but migrated to the Andes Mountains in South America.
Diet: Herbivore, mainly grasses.

Facts:
1. Llamas are very clever animals and can learn simple tasks after a few repetitions Llamas are members of the camel family.
2. They have padded hooves and a water storing stomach.
3. Llamas have a very gentle temperament, are very curious and are intelligent.
4. hey appreciate new and unusual situations and love to be moved around.
5. A baby Llama is called a Cria (pronounced cree-ah).

Funfact:
Today llamas are used in North America as livestock guards especially for guarding sheep

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Falabella Horse

Names: Chester
Origin: Argentina
Diet: Herbivore, mainly grasses

Facts:
1. Falabella horses can reach up to between 28 and 34 inches high.
2. These are one of the smallest breeds of horses in the world and have a frame which resembles a Thoroughbred or an Arab.
3. These are very affectionate horses and can only be ridden by the smallest of children.

Funfact:
Many people train these horses to drive carts.

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Miniature Donkeys

Names: Jack and Jill
Origin: Sardinia and Sicily off the coast of Italy
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. A jennet is a female donkey, a jack is a male donkey and a foal is a baby donkey.
2. Miniature donkeys are herd animals and love the company of other animals.
3. Miniature donkeys make fantastic pets especially for children.
4. A miniature donkey must be less than 36 inches.

Funfact:
Did you know a donkeys favorite pastime is rolling on the ground tall.

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Shetland Ponies

Names: Harry and Alfie
Origin: Shetland Isles, off the Northwest coast of mainland Scotland
Diet: Herbivore mainly grasses and hay

Facts:
1. These are very strong, hardy animals; this is mainly due to the fact that they had to survive harsh conditions and little food on the Shetland Isles.
2. During the Industrial Revolution in Britain they were used as pit ponies were they hauled carts of coal underground in the mines.
3. Shetland Ponies are very strong for their size and can pull double their own weight.
4. Shetland ponies are very intelligent and good natured, but can often become cheeky when over spoilt.

Funfact:
Did you know that Harry and Alfie here at the farm are retired circus ponies.

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Miniature Horses

Names: Dusty and Holly
Origin: Europe and America, from breeding programs
Diet: Herbivore mainly grasses and hay

Facts:
1. These horses are usually less than 34-38 inches tall, which is measured at the last hairs of the horses mane, their withers.
2. Falabella horses are a breed of miniature horses.
3. These animals are often kept as family pets due to their friendliness and how well they interact with children.
4. The average lifespan of these horses is 25-35 years.

Funfact:
Some miniature horses are used as assistance animals for the blind.

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Goats

Origin: The domestic goat was domesticated from the wild goats of southwest Asia and central Europe.
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. These animals are closely related to sheep and goats have been used for their milk, meat, hair and skins all over the world, yet more recently they have become popular as pets.
2. A male goat is called a buck or a billy, a female goat is called a doe or a nanny and a baby goat is called a kid.
3. Goats are very inquisitive animals and will inspect any new object which comes into their pen, they will do this through sniffing, chewing and tasting the object.

Funfact:
Did you know goats are very intelligent and love to test fences and gates in order to escape from their pen? They have even been known to climb trees!

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Jacob Sheep

Origin: Ancient breed of sheep, which are thought to have originated in Syria 3000 years ago
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. These are a rare breed of black and white spotted (piebald) sheep.
2. Sometimes they are kept for ornamental purposes or for guarding other livestock.
3. These are very hardy sheep, which very rarely need veterinary care.
4. They shed their fleece once a year at springtime and on the farm they are shorn.
5. Their wool can then be sold to make into yarn.

Funfact:
These animals can grow up to 6 horns, which usually curl.

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Soay Sheep

Names:Sooty and Sweep
Origin: The island of Soay, off the Western Isles of Scotland
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. These are intelligent, nimble animals with excellent mothering habits.
2. Soay sheep have quirky behavioural traits and are lots of fun to watch.
3. Rams have two horns which are extremely strong.
4. They have naturally short tails and have a self shedding fleece.
5. Soay Sheep can live for 10 to 12 years and weigh from 50-75 lbs.

Funfact:
These animals much prefer to eat weeds rather than grass!

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Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig

Names: Podge
Origin:Vietnam
Diet: Omnivore, mainly grasses, and shrubs but also eat insects.

Facts:
1. These pigs are often called miniature pigs because they are much smaller than regular farm pigs, yet can still grow to large sizes (200lbs).
how to get your ex back advice2. In the past they were mainly used for food, but today they are more often used as pets, with many people keeping them in their house.
3. They have tough outer hair, and if you stood on a pigs back on your bare feet you would definitely get a pinch!

Funfact:
Did you know that pigs are the forth most intelligent animals in the world? zp8497586rq

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Kune Kune Pig

Names: Hamlet
Origin: Were imported to New Zealand
Diet: Omnivore

Facts:
1. The KuneKune pig (pronounced Cooney Cooney) is characterised by its small size and hair covering its body, they have a short snout and pointy or floppy ears.
2. The KuneKune pig has a pair of tassels (called piripiri) hanging off its chin, similar to a goat.
3. These are delightful, very friendly animals, which thrive on human company.

Funfact:
Did you know this unusual name KuneKune means round and fat in Maori.

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Guinea Pig

Origin: Andes in South America
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. These animals are domesticated animals and so do not exist in the wild.
2. In the Andes people used them for food, but they now have become popular household pets.
3. These are very shy animals and can get scared very quickly.
4. Baby guinea pigs are born fully furred and after two days are eating the same food as their parents.

Funfact:
Did you know that the Guinea Pig is not at all related to the pig family?

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Rabbit

Origin: These are native to many places, including Europe.
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. A male rabbit is called a buck, a female is called a doe and a baby is called a kit or a kitten.
2. After digesting their food rabbits eat their own droppings to further absorb minerals and vitamins.
3. Rabbits make very good pets, but as they are prey animals they are always alert and this can make them timid.

Funfact:
In the wild rabbits avoid predators by running in a zigzag motion, digging burrows and delivering powerful kicks.

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Donkey

Names:Evee
Origin: The deserts of Africa
Diet: Herbivore

Facts:
1. In dry climates donkeys can go long periods without food or water, and their long ears help to keep them cool.
2. Their ears also help them to hear for many miles away.
3. Donkeys don’t like rain and their coats are not waterproofDonkeys have been used as pack animals for centuries, but they also make excellent guard animals, especially for sheep, goats and cattle. 4. Donkeys are intelligent creatures and will not run from trouble.
5. While Donkeys have a reputation for being stubborn they usually only are when they question their safety.

Funfact:
Did you know the ancient Egyptians are thought to have used donkeys to carry precious gems

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Indian Peafowl, Peacock

Origin: India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Pakista
Diet: Omnivore-plant seeds, worms, fruit, insects, small snakes, berries and grain

Facts:
1. There loud screeching call can be heard through the farm.
2. By a means of courtship the male loves to fan out and display his amazing train, but the females are not always impressed by this.
3. Peafowl make excellent guard dogs as they have excellent hearing and vision.

Funfact:
Did you know the national bird of India, peacocks are especially admired in that country, because they eat Cobras…but only small ones!

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Ostrich

Name: Ozzie
Origin: Southern Africa- open, semi-arid savannah
Diet: Omnivore mainly roots, leaves, flowers, seeds and insects

Facts:
1. The largest, heaviest and tallest of all the birds, Ostriches are also the fastestreaching speeds up to 65kph (40mph) and lay the biggest eggs.
2. These flightless record-breakers do not need to drink-they make their own water internally and get the rest from vegetation.
3. They swallow stones to aid digestion.
4. Ostriches can cause serious injury or death with a kick and a slash from their powerful legs and claws.

Funfact:
Did you know that contrary to popular belief, Ostriches do not bury their heads in sand when threatened. They ‘hide’ by lying flat on the ground ……..or run away!

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