Q&A for How to Start a Petting Zoo

Provide accommodation on-site for them and research the necessary permits for this (similar to what you would need for flats or apartments). It may also be a good idea to get them to sign a contract specifying your requirements (e.g. taking the rent for accommodation out of their wages). You may also want to think about training them in a specific area and giving them a psychological evaluation, especially if they will be working closely with people and children.

Check your local area for what permits etc. you'd need to run a zoo in your back garden. You would also want to make sure it would be okay with your neighbors if you have any within about 2 acres of your property. Also, it may not be a good idea to own larger animals, so you would have to think about what kinds of animals you would be keeping. If you live in an area with lots of houses you might want to think about making yours stand out; painting the front with colorful animals is a great idea and it catches people's eyes.

Yes, this is actually a great idea. You can ask zoos which is their best attraction and then base your design off of that. For example, if one zoo does best with rabbits then base your zoo's rabbit enclosure off of theirs, and if another zoo does best with their horses then base you horse attractions off of theirs, etc. It may be a good idea to look at what shows people enjoy seeing the most so that you are not wasting money on shows that people don't want to see.

Certainly! Many people travel to farmers' markets just to buy fresh, homegrown fruits and vegetables. Consider having your vegetable stand at the front of your petting farm. This way, the parents will be more likely to see them and buy them.

Depends on the farm animals. Rabbits, chickens, and ducks are cheaper ($1-10). Donkeys, mini horses, and sheep can run hundreds of dollars.

Kangaroos are a bit aggressive, but their relatives, wallabies, could work.

You could include small friendly reptiles, such as bearded dragons and geckos, as well as some exotic mammals such as a chinchilla.

I think that opening a reptile petting zoo is a great idea if you know the right way to go about it. It could get people to get over their fear of lizards or snakes, but you will need a fair amount of start-up capital.

Yes, they can!

That depends on many, many factors including the animals you get and the location of your zoo.

If you are very lucky, a few hundred thousand a year. More often, $10,000-ish a year.

A degree would be very helpful, but you would also need a lot of financial resources in order to start your own zoo.

There are some permits that you have to take care of. I recommend looking at the page about how to start a petting zoo on howtostartanllc.com.

Farm animals are the best choice, like calves, lambs, poultry etc. And you could get some other animals, like deer, guinea pigs or even parrots. The animals must be well trained and/or harmless.

All animals have different care requirements, often depending on their native regions. Be sure to fully research temperature tolerances and provide adequate shelter from the elements for each type of animal.

Yes, all animals have to have a shelter where they can get out of the rain, snow, hail and heat.

It depends on the amount of space and the type of animals you have. Check city ordinances and laws to see how many people are allowed in a room, and make sure the room doesn't get so crowded that it stresses the animals. Some animals get stressed more easily than others, so take this into consideration.