Western Australia – Day 7 – Animal Feeding

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The most important reason why we chose Western Australia as our holiday destination for June 2017 was the availability of farmstays, and the animal feeding experience became one of the most significant activities that Hannah especially looked forward to. The farm we stayed on – Margaret River Hideaway & Farmstay – had exactly just that, and runs four times a week – Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Farmer Andrew was the host for the Tuesday event, and brought us around the farm across about six stops where the kids (and any adults – though any such interested was relegated to lower priority in the queue LOL) – were able to feed sheep, Dexter cows,  emus, Highland cows, and chickens and ducks. And finally a visit to the chicken coop where a mother hen was with her brood of 13 chicks and very protective of them. The circuit runs for 90 minutes.

And what did we learn from the experience?

Sheep are very easy to feed and very gentle.

The three Alpacas on the farm are also quite timid, and you must never pet them nor approach them from behind. And sometimes with no apparent reason even, as one Singaporean lass discovered when one Alpaca kicked her in the thigh quite hard only because she was unconsciously approaching the fellow from the side. Could tell that it was a painful kick!

To clean your hands after feeding, look for a nice soft furry surface – i.e. a sheep – and wipe clean away!

Emus are violent eaters LOL, as you can see from the picture of H below LOL

There is a feeding order between Highland cows – you have to feed the domineering one first, and he’ll just get real upset if you feed his companion before him!

Farmer Andrew giving out instructions on what to do and what not to do: especially “Do not chase the animals!”
The sheep were the easiest to feed as they only had lower teeth, though as with many of the large animals, they finished in two gulps all of what Peter could carry in his hands.
Peter was brave enough to try feeding the emus but not the cows LOL.
Though the sheep are spoiled silly – they won’t just eat anything!
Farmer Andrew wheelbarrowing kids around the 90 minute feeding circuit. There were about 8 younger kids, and about half-dozen somewhat older ones – so each child had a turn on his wheelbarrow as we moved from point to point. Where there was space, the very friendly and enthusiastic family dog – Archie – would also get into the wheelbarrow for a ride.
If you’re still grinning while being attacked by three emus for your bucket of food, all is good!
This highland cow is in love! As Farmer Andrew quipped to the attending female guests, the cow’s drool is an anti-aging cream.
H quipped that the ducks eat real quick out of her hand!
It was a little harder to feed chickens given how they peck at food, so many of the kids ended up spilling their handfuls of seed on the ground.
Don’t let these three Alpaca’s cheeky smiles fool you. They deliver a karate-like kick!

The kids had so much fun this morning they want to go for Round #2 on Thursday and do the circuit again on our check-out day, so there might be more photos again then.:)