A herd of Red Deer live at Farmer Palmer's and you and your children can meet and feed them in our Deer Feeding experience (check timetable to see if this event is running). Like many species of deer, only bucks will have antlers which will be shed on a seasonal basis, allowing new ones to develop. These are used as 'status symbols' in the mating ritual.
Farmer Palmer says...
•A male deer is usually called a ‘buck’.
•A large male deer is often called ‘stag’.
•A female deer is usually called a ‘doe’.
•A young deer is usually called a ‘fawn’.
•Deer take their first steps within half an hour of their birth.
•Young deer will usually stay with their mother for around a year.
•A group of deer is known as a ‘herd’.
•Deer have long legs typically suited to the environments they live in.
•They can jump high and swim well.
•What do deer grow every year?
•What do deer like to eat?
Farmer Palmer's animals are traditional farm animals, together with popular pet animals like guinea pigs and rabbits. They are taken care of by our dedicated team in the Animal Barn in line with Defra's Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedom Advice.
Donkeys
Hamerton Toby, the miniature Mediterranean donkey is very friendly, although he does like to get his own way.
We have several cows on the farm park. You can sometimes see them grazing out in the fields. Our daily animal events are advertised at the front desk, you’re welcome to take a photo of the timetable.
Farmer Palmer’s is home to lots of sheep. Each year, many of our ewes have lambs. You can see the babies out in the fields skipping and jumping. Their mums are very protective and caring.
Our ponies adore praise and are eager to please, most of the time. In the summer they live outside in the field or paddock and eat grass and a little pony food. In the winter they come in and eat hay. They must always have fresh, clean water.
Pigs do not like being muddy or dirty during the winter. In hot summer months they cover themselves in cool mud & water to regulate their body temperature – because pigs cannot sweat!