Village School Farm Roster

Unpacking hay

Feeding on the weekends.



  1. First collect the key from ... (call Liz if you have forgotten). It will unlock the gate, animal enclosure and the hay shed.
  2. The animals prefer to be fed in the afternoon as this is their usual schedule when the children are at school.
  3. One and a half scoops of "pasture replacement pellets" (from the white bucket) each per day is the right amount for the goats. Please make sure you close the shed door after you.
  4. Please ensure that all feed containers are under cover so that they don’t walk on their food and so it doesn’t get wet.
  5. There is a gate that separates the chook/geese area from the goat area. Please DO NOT let the goats through the gate into the back. The goats gorge themselves on the chicken grain and end up with bloat - a fatal condition for animals!
  6. The chicken/geese food is in the smaller tin shed in the animal enclosure. The metal bin needs to have the lid closed at all times to keep mice and rats away. If you spill some food on the floor, just sweep it out the door. The chooks will clean it up for you. There is a scoop in the bin to dish up the grain, the food hopper is in the smaller caged area and must remain there to discourage other birds from dining over. Two (2) scoops of seed is sufficient for one days feed.
  7. All the animals rely on fresh, clean water to survive even more so than the food! There is a large half-barrel to fill for the goats, black containers and a paddle pool for the geese to dabble in and two water hoppers for the chickens to drink from. Please scrub them out before filling them to get rid of any algae which can make animals ill. There are scrubbers in the larger shed. In hot weather please ensure the water containers are in the shade as chickens will not drink warm water.
  8. The animals appreciate any fruit or green pick you may be able to bring from home for them. Like us they cannot eat spoiled food as they become ill too. When you come to feed the animals an important and enjoyable part of it is collecting the eggs. Eggs must be collected EACH DAY. If an egg is warmed constantly by the hen for 48 hours the eggs “activates” and a chick begins to grow inside it. This is not very nice for a poor family 2 or more days down the track who go to make scrambled eggs.!! If a hen is “broody” and doesn’t want to get off the nest, please don’t feel sorry for her and leave her. Being broody is like being hypnotised from too much TV and they just don’t think to get off. Gently tip them out of the nesting boxes and encourage them to go out of the hen house for some food and a dust bath. Chooks who spend too much time on the nest will get mites. They need to dust bath. If she is sitting on a nest not in a box (check around the sword grass please) just gently move her off the nest with the toe of your shoe. Don’t stick your face down there, you’ll give her a fright (remember she is hypnotised!) and she’ll peck you!
  9. There are some plants around the enclosure under shopping trolleys to protect them. In warm weather please give them a water either with the hose or with the watering can in the big shed.
  10. Changes take place on the farm. If you come and things look different, please ask your child or ring the farm manager.
  11. If an animal looks ill or injured, please call the farm manager (contact details in the directory). John’s parents have also volunteered their advice (veterinary) if we are in a pinch. Please let me know what’s happening and I can ring ahead to the vet’s if need be.

PS. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE KEY BACK SO THE NEXT PERSON CAN GET IN.
Thanks,
Farm Manager.