Visiting the Museum’s Farmyard has been a popular family tradition for more than a generation. Children in particular make a connection with farmyard animals – often making the sounds they have learned, like “moo” for the steer or “baa” for the sheep. These domestic animals are easy to get close to!

The Museum’s farm animals are from both common and rare breeds. We have Gulf Coast sheep, pigs, a donkey, a Jersey steer, a rabbit, a Royal Palm turkey, a Muscovy duck, and 3 species of goats.

Animal Enrichment

Our keepers do all kinds of things to keep our animals physically and mentally stimulated. Sometimes the animals get piles of paper to dig in, a new layout of their enclosure, or new sounds or smells. So if you notice anything unexpected in the Farmyard, it may just be part of our animal enrichment. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

 

1) Why does the donkey look like he’s limping sometimes?
The donkey’s name is Lightning. Lightning has trouble with his left front knee. To help with his limping, we have his hooves trimmed to a comfortable angle every 6-8 weeks.

 

2) Are the goats pregnant?
The goats aren’t pregnant, but they do have gas! This breed of goat (Nigerian dwarf goats) produces a gas that makes their sides bulge whenever they eat hay. It’s just a natural part of their digestion.

 

Contact us if you have any other questions about the farmyard animals.