Admin
Cup of tea, animal administration tasks, social media postings and responding to messages and organising food supplies and build product for new enclosures.
6.30 AM
7.30 AM
Animal Barn
To the main animal barn, Ade often arrives at this time and so the ritual starts- turning all the lights on and the three monitors for the 69 site cameras and getting a cup of tea. In winter the huge wood burner fire is lit and then stocked up with wood throughout the day through to the evening. Over a brew Ade and I discuss the days tasks and priorities and any animal movements or treatments needed.
7.30 AM
8.00 AM
Animal Feeds
I (Lindsay) starts the animal feeds. In late spring and summer, the first part to the feed process is harvesting fruit and vegetables from our vegetable garden. In winter the farm stock are given fresh hay. Ade then starts build maintenance, repair or new build.
9.00 AM
Inspection
Carly arrives and starts the task of inspecting, checking and cleaning out the enclosures and providing new enrichment.
9.00 AM
12.30 PM
Review
Feeding and watering done, and in the process all animals checked and head counted. Kettle on and team review of priorities for the afternoon and planning of new enclosures on a scrap of paper, that we inevitably cannot find. None of us tend to eat during the day, we can’t seem to find the time! On Fridays we are trying to build a habit of stopping for a sausage sandwich or fish and chips as a real treat.
PM
Husbandry & Maintenance
On a regular basis we schedule in husbandry sessions where animals are wormed, hooves clipped and overall health checked. Ade will be flat out building, fixing, fencing. Carly and I juggle managing the vast vegetable garden with tending to any specific animal treatments and care needed and I sort pm feeding for those requiring it.
PM
4.00 PM
Admin & Compliance
Ade and Carly depart. The barn is quiet! I normally head to the house about 7pm having rechecked the animals and done some of the vast amount of administration required to ensure compliance e.g. all medical interventions recorded, updated animal diary and individual animal records and so on.
8.00 - 11.00 PM
Social Media & Research
Updating social media, researching animal health matters, animal enclosure ideas and any new species we have been asked to take on.
8.00 - 11.00 PM
