The Farm Animals
The museum partners with area farms each year to bring in a small selection of traditional livestock from May to October. This generally includes sheep, poultry, pigs, and calves. A few of the animals are mature and rejoin us each year while others arrive as new spring babies who will grow up with us over the season. Where possible we bring in traditional and heritage breeds, typical of what would have been kept in Cole Harbour over the last 100 years.
We believe in the importance of keeping farm animals in the public eye so that we may know and value them. The Farm promotes optimum quality of life, and seeks to build awareness of the natural behaviors and personalities of these animals. This is made possible by access to fresh air and adequate space, play and stimulation, comfortable quarters, optimum nutrition and the company of their own kind.
The animals are borrowed from farms in Shubenacadie, Musquodoboit and Windsor areas. They are not pets and we are not a petting zoo. Over the course of the summer the sheep and calves will become accustomed to visitors and may enjoy a friendly pat. Some will learn to enjoy the public attention and approaching the fence to get a good look is encouraged. Please do not attempt to touch the pigs. As curious and confident animals, they are often tempted to sample what is in front of them.
Please do not feed or offer any outside food items to the animals. Each has different requirements and susceptibilities and their systems can be easily upset. Their diets are carefully regulated and maintained by trained staff. We appreciate your cooperation in this – it is vital to the animal’s health and well being.
We do not have horses on the site. While most farms would certainly have kept one or two for work and transport we do not have the space or resources to keep a horse adequately housed and exercised within our small site.