Background Information for Interactive Exhibits

Hobby Farm

What is a hobby farm?

A hobby farm is a farm that is operated not as the sole income for the operator/owner. In Michigan, many farms

are hobby farms. In fact, over half of the farms in MI operate at a loss, rather than a profit. Most hobby farms

are family farms, 85% of farms in MI are operated by a family or an individual. Many hobby farms have come

about because they have been passed down from one generation to the next. Many smaller hobby farms have

also come about because when a larger farm company comes in and buys up what used to be a large farm, they

do not want the farmhouse and the barns. They often just want the fields for crops and grazing. In these cases,

they sell the structures enough acres to make a small farm. In MI, just about half of all farms are 5-50 acres.

What kinds of animals are found on hobby farms?

Hobby farms include many different types of animals. You name the livestock or the small animal breeds and

they can often be found on a hobby farm – goats, sheep, cows, alpacas, cattle, equine, pigs, turkeys, chickens,

ducks, geese, buffalo, rabbits, donkeys, mules. Hobby farms often specialize in smaller animals and rare breeds.

These farms are where you can find the less common breeds of livestock, this can include bee farms.

Why do people have a hobby farm?

Hobby farmers have their farms for many reasons and income is usually not the primary one. Hobby farmers

love being closer to nature, they like the hard work, they like seeing the product of their hard work and they

love their animals. They sometimes just have the animals for companionship and the fact that they enjoy raising

them. Raising animals on a farm bring us closer to the food we eat as well. When you raise an animal, you

understand everything that goes into that process. The meat or plants you eat are not just found at the grocery

store. They started with the birth of an animal or with the planting of a seed in the ground. Getting them from

that point to your plate takes a lot of hard work and hobby farmers understand this. Many hobby farmers get

food from the animals they raise on their hobby farm. Goats and cows provide milk, chickens provide eggs, etc.

As the name suggests, hobby farms can also be used as a hobby, for instance bee keepers making honey to sell,

or sales of alpaca fur for knitting.

Exhibit Animal Information: Picture Guide to the animals of the Farm (as of February, 2017)

(Note: Both male and female hoofed animals can have horns)

Nubian Goat: Spot, Black with white spots

Nubian Goat: Dobie, Black and tan

Nubian Goat: No name, Blackish stripe down back

Nubian Goat: Snap (sister to snip) 1 horned

surgically removed other is also snapped

Nubian Goat: Snip (sister to snap) 1 horn is

snipped at end

Pygmy Goats: Born - 19 Apr 2007

Goat: Johnny, White w/ long fur

Melvin, dark brown

Simon, white

Theodore, light brown

Anthony, black and white

Dwarf Pygmy Goats

Sugar (white), Saffron (reddish brown), Cagney &

Lacy

Katahdin Sheep: Born - 22 Mar 2003, Bob

Polypay Sheep: Brownie (brown), Benny (white

with black freckles), May 2012

Fainting Goat: Ringo, 2011

Chickens

Chickens vary year to year and throughout the

season.

Turkin (NOT a mix between a turkey & chicken,

but rather a breed of chicken with a long “naked”

neck.)

Buff Orpington

Silkie Chickens

Exhibit Animal Information:

Katahdin sheep are a breed of hair sheep developed in the United States. The breed is ideal for pasture lambing

and grass/forage based management systems. They have demonstrated wide adaptability. They were derived

from breeds that originated in the Caribbean and British Islands and the state of Maine was their original

home. Katahdins are docile so are easily handled. Weight of a mature ewe ranges from 120 to 160 pounds; a

mature ram will weigh 180 to 250 pounds. Mature ewes usually have twins, occasionally producing triplets or

quadruplets. The hair coat of the Katahdin varies in length and texture among individuals and can be any color

or color combination. It generally consists of coarse outer hair fibers and an undercoat of fine wooly fibers that

becomes very thick and longer if cold weather sets in and day length decreases. This undercoat and some hair

naturally shed as temperature and day length increase seasonally, leaving a shorter, smooth summer coat.

The Nubian goat is a goat breed, which is actually native to Middle East and North Africa.

The Nubian breed is highly resilient, withstanding very hot climates and also temperatures down to -15 degree

Celsius. The coat is short, fine and glossy, which gives a sleek look to the body. The coat can be of any color,

spotted or parti-colored. They are much larger than the common dairy goats, and can be raised for both meat

and milk. They are often considered as one the best goats for milking purposes. Nubian goats have many

distinctive characteristics, which help them to get easily recognized. Some distinguishing characteristics include

large floppy ears and a “Roman nose” for the prominent and slightly curved bridge. The male Nubian goats are

pretty large and can weigh up to about 175 lbs, while the females usually weigh around 135 lbs. The female

Nubian goat or 'does' usually attains a height of 30 inches, while the male or the 'buck' can grow up to a height

of almost 35 inches. Apart from meat and milk, Nubian goats can also be raised as pets. In fact, they can be

considered as excellent pets, due to their good temperament. These goats are sociable, intelligent and won't

bother you much, unless they need something. They can eat grains, grasses, alfalfa and clover hay along with

lots of water, about 3 to 5 gallons of water daily.

The Pygmy Goat is hardy, alert and animated, good-natured and gregarious; a docile, responsive pet, a

cooperative provider of milk, and an ecologically effective browser. The Pygmy goat is an asset in a wide

variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates. Pygmy goats are precocious breeders, bearing one to

four young every nine to twelve months after a five month gestation period. They are very sociable and are

happier in a herd atmosphere or with another goat as a friend. A pygmy goat is a small breed of domestic goat.

Although they produce a very large amount of milk for their size, and can be eaten, pygmy goats are not

typically used for milk or meat, unlike larger dairy and meat goat breeds. The pygmy goat is quite hardy, an

asset in a wide variety of settings, and can adapt to virtually all climates.

A myotonic goat, otherwise known as the fainting goat, is a domestic goat whose muscles freeze for roughly

10 seconds when the goat feels panic. Though painless, this generally results in the animal collapsing on its

side. The characteristic is caused by a hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenita. When startled,

younger goats will stiffen and fall over. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when

startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle. Slightly smaller than standard

breeds of the goat, fainting goats can weigh anywhere from 60 to 170 lb. Males, or bucks, as they are often

referred to can be as heavy as 200 pounds. They have large, prominent eyes in high sockets. The eyes protrude

from the eye sockets, as opposed to recessed eyes seen in other breeds. Their hair can be short or long, with

certain individuals producing a great deal of cashmere during colder months. There appears to be

no angora strain of the fainting goat. Common coat colors are black and white; however, most possible coat

colors are found in this breed.

Fainting goats have many other names, including Myotonic Goats, Tennessee (Meat) Goats, Nervous

Goats, Stiff-leg Goats, Wooden-leg Goats, and Tennessee Fainting Goats. They are smaller and somewhat

easier to care for and maintain than larger meat goat breeds, which makes the fainting goat desirable for

smaller farms. They are also raised as pet or show animals as they can be friendly, intelligent, easy to keep, and

amusing.

Pygmy Goats

Origin: Originally found in Africa, they were domesticated and were quickly spread to Canada and Europe.

Eventually, they were brought to the U.S. The first documented case of Pygmy Goats was found in 1959 by the

Rhue family in California and the Catskill Game Farm in New York as they were shipped from Sweden. They

were originally found in zoos and used for research, but later on were used by private breeders as pets.

Relatives: The pygmy goat is part of the Bovidae family and is closely related to sheep.

Diet: Their diet is one of a foraging animal. They thrive on hay and usually some sort of grain or oats. Salt and

minerals are an important part of their diet. Most owners will have a salt block or mineral block on sight for the

animals to use at their discretion. On the contrary, copper in large quantities is toxic to the goats because they

cannot digest it. Goats are actually very picky about what they eat. They do not eat spoiled or contaminated

food/water unless facing starvation. They also can eat some weeds that are toxic to cattle and sheep.

Their stomach is made up of 4 compartments: the rumen, the reticulum, the omasum, and the abomasum.

Males vs. Females: Female goats are referred to as does or nannies (or, less frequently, as mishas), intact males

as bucks or billies; their offspring are kids. Castrated males are wethers.

Size: Females weigh about 35 to 50 lbs. Males weigh about 40 to 60 lbs.

Lifespan: They live to be 12-14 years old

Breeding: They breed continually throughout the year. Gestation is about 5 ½ months.

Characteristics: Both male and females have a beard and horns, but males tend to be more prominent. The

thickness of their coat changes depending on season. Coat colorations vary greatly, with brown, black, and

white being the dominant colors. Some can have solid colors, whereas others can have spots.

Eyes: Goats have horizontal slit-shaped pupils, an adaptation which increases peripheral depth

perception. Because goats' irises are usually pale, the pupils are much more visible than in other animals

such as sheep, cattle and most horses.

Mouth: Why do they nibble on everything?? They have both prehensile upper and lower lips. So when

exploring it is only natural for them to grab objects with their nimble mouth to investigate. The goats

DO HAVE teeth for grinding (upper and lower molars), so there is a potential to get bitten when they are

nibbling!

Uses: Here in America, the pygmy goats are primarily used as pets and show animals. However, because the

females produce a vast amount of milk for their size, in Africa they are the ideal goat to have because they eat

less than the standard goat and produce much more milk for their size. They can also be used for meat in the

African regions.

Budgerigar (Budgie)

Relatives: The budgerigar is a small parrot, and the only member of its genus. There are approximately 330

species of parrot found throughout the world, with 55 species found only in Australia. Other Australian parrots

include the Australian king parrot, cockatoos and lorikeets.

Appearance: Also known as the “grass parakeet”, budgies are a bright green and yellow color. This helps them

blend into the plants in the habitats where they are found. These parrots have been bred by people to show

other colors, such as white, blue and purple, but are most commonly seen in blue and green colorations. Males

and females look alike, except for the color of the cere, or nostril area at the base of the beak:

Males: dark blue cere Females: brown/tan/cream colored cere

Size: One of the smaller parrot species (8 inch wingspan, 7-8 inches long, weight= 1 ounce)

Range: Budgies are nomadic and often migrate long distances in search of food and water. Found throughout

inland Australia (not found in the extreme southwest, far north or eastern coast).

Habitat: Inhabit mainly dry, open grassland and farmland of Australia’s interior. These birds normally stay

close to water and are not often seen in areas highly susceptible to drought. Budgies are adaptable to areas of

human habitation and sometimes use water reservoirs near farms.

Feeding: Budgies feed mainly on the seeds of native herbs and grasses, such as porcupine grass and saltbush.

They often take the seeds from the ground. They have strong, compact beaks for crushing seeds. They also

have two forward facing and two backward facing toes (a characteristic of parrot-species) that are covered in

tiny scales that help them grasp grass stalks while feeding. Budgies usually feed in the cooler hours of early

morning and late evening. They are fast fliers and can travel long distances in search of food and water.

Breeding: Breeding takes place year-round, depending on location and availability of food and water. Several

clutches may be hatched per year. Budgies breed in large colonies, forming strong pair bonds. Nests are made

in tree holes, stumps and logs, lined with wood chips. Pair bonds between breeding couples are strengthened

through preening. Usually lay 4-6 white rounded eggs. The incubation period is about 18 days. As with other

parrots, young budgies are born naked and helpless. Both males and females help to take care of hatchlings,

feeding the young a regurgitated food high in protein. The youngest and smallest chicks are fed first, to give all

offspring a better chance of survival. Young fledge at about 35 days and are full-grown and sexually mature at

only 3-4 months of age.

Behavior: Budgies sometimes gather in huge flocks of thousands, or even tens of thousands, of birds, especially

after a heavy rainfall. However, normal flock size ranges from a pair to over a hundred. By flocking together,

budgies are protected against predators and can more easily locate food and water sources.

Predators: Snakes and Falcons commonly prey on budgies.

Lifespan: These birds can live 7-8 years in the wild, over 10 years in captivity.

Conservation: Budgies are currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, meaning that “they have been

evaluated against the criteria and do not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable or Near

Threatened”. They are one of the most abundant species of parrot in Australia.

Bennett’s Wallabies

Relatives: There are 30 different types of wallabies. The Bennett's Wallaby is the Tasmanian subspecies.

Wallabies are considered small to medium-sized kangaroos.

Appearance: Bennett's Wallabies are distinguished by their black nose and paws, white stripe on the upper lip,

and grizzled medium grey coat with a reddish wash across the shoulders. They are smaller than the mainland

species of wallabies (as island species nearly always are).

General Wallaby Info: The soft, woolly fur can be gray, brown, red or almost black. The belly is lighter. They

have short arms with clawed fingers, strong, legs, and long four-toed feet with claws. They can hop and jump

with their powerful legs. Wallabies range in size from the size of a rabbit to almost 6 ft (1.8 m) long.

Males: Males (called Boomers) are larger, reach maturity at 2 years

Females: Females (called Fliers) have a pouch in which the young live and drink milk. Females mature at 9

months of age.

Size: Body 36-40" long, tail 27-29"; 28-40 lb.

Range: Bennett’s wallabies can be found only on the small island of Tasmania, south of mainland Australia

Habitat: Flat grasslands, mobs typically have large habitat ranges.

Feeding: Like most macropods, the Bennett’s Wallaby live in groups called mobs. They feed at night and,

particularly on dull days, in the late afternoon, generally grazing on grass and herbs close to forest shelter.

These herbivores (plant-eaters) eat grass, leaves, and roots (here we also feed them carrots and sweet potatoes).

They swallow their food without chewing it and later regurgitate a cud and chew it. They need very little water;

they can go for months without drinking, and they dig their own water wells.

Breeding: Interestingly, captive animals maintain their breeding schedules; Tasmanian females that become

pregnant out of their normal season delaying birth until summer, which can be anything up to eight months

later. Wallabies breed in the Australian late summer, mostly between February and April. For the Bennett's

Wallaby births occur during late summer to early autumn. The gestation period is about 30 days. Pouch life is

about 280 days and weaning occurs at 12-17 months. Babies are called Joeys.

The tiny newborn Joey climbs out of the birth canal up into the pouch unassisted, using little underdeveloped

arms and begins to suckle. At this time the Joey looks like a tiny pink jelly bean, with nothing really developed.

While in the pouch and suckling, the Joey’s outer appearance and features grow and develop (fur, arms, legs,

tail, ears, etc.) The little pink head peeks out of the pouch at about 150 days.

Predators: Dingos (wild Australian dogs), domestic dogs, humans (for consumption or by accident by

automobile).