Happy Halloween

We’ve had lots of fun with the animals this Halloween, giving out tasty pumpkin treats (no tricks here, just treats!) and having a go at bobbing for apples - Penny the goat had the best technique and managed to work out how to get them, much to the disapproval of the others!

Penny & Jim demolishing their pumpkin!

Many of the apples that we are currently using have been very kindly donated by people with apple trees in their gardens. As the majority of our animals can eat apples, these are very much appreciated by us all. Thank you!

Henry the Rooster bobbing for apples!

Halloween usually marks the end of our open year, as we traditionally close at the end of October until the following Spring. However, after lots of requests from our wonderful supporters, we have decided to stay open at weekends until Christmas. We will have slightly revised opening hours of:

10am to 4pm (with last entry at 3pm)

Winter can be the toughest time for us and our animals, so it is at this time of year that we need your support more than ever!

Thank you, and we hope to see you soon.

Are YOUR rabbits eating enough hay?

It's Rabbit Awareness Week and this year the emphasis is on HAY. According to a survey carried out last year by the PDSA, it is thought that around 70% of rabbit owners aren't feeding them enough hay. It is sadly a little known fact that your rabbit's diet should consist of 85-90% good quality eating hay. It's not something that just needs to be fed along with pellets; in fact these should make up a very small percentage of your rabbit's diet, with the hay and grasses making up the bulk of the diet. Types of hay that are recommended include; Timothy Hay, Grass Hay and Meadow Hay.

Here at Brockswood, we follow a Rabbit Diet Pyramid:

Brockswood Rabbit Diet Pyramid

As you can see this is made up mostly of hay and grasses; followed by leafy greens, herbs and other plants; a small amount of pellets, and an even smaller amount of treats – after all, the biggest treat you can give your rabbit is a healthy, balanced diet!

Your rabbits need 85 – 90% of feeding hay & fresh grass, that’s equal to their body size every day!

Please remember to throw away any old, damp or soiled hay!

✔ High in fibre, promotes digestive health - rabbits have a very complex digestive system, and it is important that this is kept in tip top condition.

✔ Stimulates chewing, good for dental health - hay helps to grind their teeth while they're chewing it. As their teeth never stop growing, they need to hay to ensure that they are kept trimmed down, so they do not overgrow and cause issues later on!

✔ Encourages bunnies to forage for emotional health - keeping your rabbit's mind active is very important and helps to stop them from becoming bored and depressed.

Why not make it fun for your rabbit and present it to them in different ways? Hay racks for rabbits are available from most good pet shops, and even small hay nets like we use for our larger field animals! We like to fill up boxes with good quality eating hay, various grasses grown on site, herbs and other edible plants such as dandelion leaves - and occasionally we'll hide a couple of treats at the bottom, encouraging them to forage!

We use recycled fruit crates in our rabbit runs - we simply clean them up, paint them with a pet safe waterproof paint, wait for them to dry, and then fill them up with goodies!

By talking to our friends, family and other rabbit owners and letting them know the importance of hay in a rabbit’s diet we can all play a part in encouraging responsible ownership and helping to better the lives of more rabbits.

Are your rabbits getting enough hay?

Happy Halloween!

Halloween at Brockswood is an occasion our animals all look forward to - it means treats, treats and more treats! Of course, it's all in moderation, but what's better than tucking into some pumpkin?

Pumpkins and their seeds are a great source of vitamins and nutrients, such as Vitamins A, E, C, antioxidants, lutein and beta-carotene. The seeds are even thought to aid natural de-worming! What a great way to recycle!

Our new Roosters, Davey & Jack loved it!

And so did Missy the Raccoon!

Additionally, we all had some great fun dressing up - Rosie the goat loved being our star witch for the year. Even Tuppence, who's a bit shy sometimes, seemed inquisitive as to why her enclosure suddenly bared all things Halloween-y.

So how can YOU make Halloween fun AND safe for your animals?

• Keep your pets inside - ground your cats, tell your dogs to stay, as trick-or-treating commotion can be quite upsetting. Simply put a spooky film on and give them some love instead!
• Don't be a stranger. Masks and costumes can be quite frightening for your pets - they don't know who you are! So when around them, keep masks and costumes on the DL. 
• What about treat time? Make sure all treats given are non-toxic, and in moderation - human chocolate, sweets, and gum are a DEFINITE no-no!
• What if I'm having a house party? Set your pet up in a 'safe room' - a quiet, chilled environment where they can get away. 
• Even the best vampire dog can't drink blood. Make sure all decorations (i.e. candles, lights, cardboard cut-outs) are all out of pet's reach. Even things like rubber eyeballs or fake blood can pose a threat. 
• Not every pet is a dress-up star. Be aware of how your pet feels dressing up; if they're uncomfortable, let them be themselves for this year! Ensure the costume used is safe! Remove dangling parts, masks that cover eyes etc, and ensure your pet can move freely.
• Customise and personalise. Got a rabbit? Give them a cabbage leaf stuffed with veg as their treat bag. Got a dog? Buy them some new toys! Leftover pumpkin? Feed it to your chickens! Don't be afraid to GET CREATIVE!