Opening a petting zoo

**Octaneforce** · 10-28-2018, 10:37 AM

Okay before you laugh hear me out.
I think a petting zoo would be a great business. Buy some goats and pigs and then have a little farmers market out front with overpriced jelly and pies. I visited a few over by me (new york) in the last few months and it seems fool proof. I also stopped at one in massachusets while i was there for a wedding about 2 weeks ago. The petting zoo part was free! The little store they had was super busy. The place even had a friggin alpaca walking around.

I plan on buying a chunk of land in delaware and starting this up. My worry is if its legal to do this on residentially zoned land. And the insurance has to be crazy. If anybody is familiar with rehoboth beach in delaware, not far from ocean city in maryland, then you know these areas are blowing up and it seems almost impossible to have a failing business there.

**Proximal** · 10-28-2018, 10:45 AM

Farmers Markets are huge out here in Los Angeles. We also have a couple of farm stands that are open all week (but not year long, no winters).

The petting zoo concept seems to be seasonal. Like around Halloween or Christmas, when it would be more child oriented. Currently, our neighborhood farm stand has a corn maze, a pumpkin patch & a petting zoo & it’s SLAMMED with customers with kids.

Good luck with your plans, wish you well, sounds like a winner.

**kelkel** · 10-28-2018, 12:28 PM

So you're planning on moving south?

**Chrisp83TRT** · 10-28-2018, 12:40 PM

If you are Passionate about it ... then do it, if your first thought is money then I wouldn’t do it.
You find out if you lead with greed with your first intention , you will grow miserable.

But yeah man, I’m not laughing , I think it’s a cool idea , especially if your heart is in it, if it is , then it will be a success.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**Octaneforce** · 10-28-2018, 01:57 PM

Wow you guys are supportive for more than just bodybuilding! Lol
I do honestly want to do this, ive always wanted the “farm” life and this seems to be a way i could have it and still pay my bills. Also having a bunch of land leaves lots of room for projects cars and bikes

Kelkel i actually have a vacation house in delaware, thats how im familiar with the area. I want out of new york so yeah i guess you could say im moving south, but i can get from ny to my place in de in only 3.5 hrs so I’ll be close. I also have family in delaware/maryland.

**Obs** · 10-28-2018, 02:44 PM

If it makes you a bunch of money do it!

The animals pay for their own food from quarter/feed dispensers. Sounds like a great idea.

**Obs** · 10-28-2018, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

So you're planning on moving south?

Delaware.... Regular backwoods confederates down in that inbred forest.

Octane, if you hear banjos be sure to display the stars and bars.

**almostgone** · 10-28-2018, 04:09 PM

As far as goat breeds for a petting zoo, I would look into a pygmy or dwarf breed.
Steer clear of the Spanish or even Boers; they can be downright temperamental.

**Old Duffer** · 10-28-2018, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Obs

Delaware.... Regular backwoods confederates down in that inbred forest.

Octane, if you hear banjos be sure to display the stars and bars.

Hey! What do you have against banjos!?!

;-)

**Obs** · 10-28-2018, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by Old Duffer

Hey! What do you have against banjos!?!

;-)

I mrtely was being a smart aleck about delaware being "south".

We are banjos where I am from.

**guitarzan** · 10-28-2018, 04:47 PM

Originally Posted by almostgone

As far as goat breeds for a petting zoo, I would look into a pygmy or dwarf breed.
Steer clear of the Spanish or even Boers; they can be downright temperamental.

He should get fainting goats!

**almostgone** · 10-28-2018, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by guitarzan

He should get fainting goats!

Yes! But explain to the kids what is going on so they don't spaz. LOL, I've seen kids bust into tears because they thought the goats died.

**Couchlockd** · 10-28-2018, 05:24 PM

I've always dreamt of a bully breed petting zoo. All well socialized even tempered AmStaffs, english bull terriers, bull terriers and APBT's.

It would do great, especially the puppy sections.

**Octaneforce** · 10-28-2018, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Couchlockd

I've always dreamt of a bully breed petting zoo. All well socialized even tempered AmStaffs, english bull terriers, bull terriers and APBT's.

It would do great, especially the puppy sections.

Oh yeah, another reason i want to do this. Id have like 40 pitbulls

**Octaneforce** · 10-28-2018, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by almostgone

As far as goat breeds for a petting zoo, I would look into a pygmy or dwarf breed.
Steer clear of the Spanish or even Boers; they can be downright temperamental.

Noted! Goats are actually easy to get in delaware

Obs i will always display the stars and bars

**Capebuffalo** · 10-29-2018, 01:44 PM

Not saying no, but figure vet bills and liability insurance.

**SocioMachiavelli** · 10-29-2018, 02:35 PM

redneck sumbitch

Seriously though hope it works out.

BG · 10-29-2018, 03:33 PM

Originally Posted by Octaneforce

Okay before you laugh hear me out.
I think a petting zoo would be a great business. Buy some goats and pigs and then have a little farmers market out front with overpriced jelly and pies. I visited a few over by me (new york) in the last few months and it seems fool proof. I also stopped at one in massachusets while i was there for a wedding about 2 weeks ago. The petting zoo part was free! The little store they had was super busy. The place even had a friggin alpaca walking around.

I plan on buying a chunk of land in delaware and starting this up. My worry is if its legal to do this on residentially zoned land. And the insurance has to be crazy. If anybody is familiar with rehoboth beach in delaware, not far from ocean city in maryland, then you know these areas are blowing up and it seems almost impossible to have a failing business there.

The farms out on Eastern long Island gross 5 million a year doing that, mostly for Halloween, pumpkin patches, corn mazes all sorts of shity. I used to have to drive past them at the end of the day after work, it would take 30 minutes to go 2000ft.

EDit for link.......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJTul35ZW1s

**lextheflex** · 11-05-2018, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by Octaneforce

Okay before you laugh hear me out.
I think a petting zoo would be a great business. Buy some goats and pigs and then have a little farmers market out front with overpriced jelly and pies. I visited a few over by me (new york) in the last few months and it seems fool proof. I also stopped at one in massachusets while i was there for a wedding about 2 weeks ago. The petting zoo part was free! The little store they had was super busy. The place even had a friggin alpaca walking around.

I plan on buying a chunk of land in delaware and starting this up. My worry is if its legal to do this on residentially zoned land. And the insurance has to be crazy. If anybody is familiar with rehoboth beach in delaware, not far from ocean city in maryland, then you know these areas are blowing up and it seems almost impossible to have a failing business there.

Combine this with a playground (and/or activitys for young kids) and you got a golden!

**kelkel** · 11-05-2018, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by almostgone

Yes! But explain to the kids what is going on so they don't spaz. LOL, I've seen kids bust into tears because they thought the goats died.

Not politically correct but that's hysterical. Plus entertaining for the parents....

**kelkel** · 11-05-2018, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by lextheflex

Combine this with a playground (and/or activitys for young kids) and you got a golden!

Petting zoo combined with a craft brewery.

**Couchlockd** · 11-05-2018, 03:41 PM

I opened a petting zoo.

I only have one animal, a trouser snake.

**Octaneforce** · 11-07-2018, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by BG

The farms out on Eastern long Island gross 5 million a year doing that, mostly for Halloween, pumpkin patches, corn mazes all sorts of shity. I used to have to drive past them at the end of the day after work, it would take 30 minutes to go 2000ft.

EDit for link.......... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJTul35ZW1s

White post farms killlsss that place must be a gold mine! I drive passed it all the time

**Octaneforce** · 11-07-2018, 06:50 AM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Petting zoo combined with a craft brewery.

Yes i thought about this too. A bar with some goats walking around? People would show up by the bus load. The only issue is trying to get a liquor license is a whole new battle.

**diesel101** · 11-07-2018, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by almostgone

Yes! But explain to the kids what is going on so they don't spaz. LOL, I've seen kids bust into tears because they thought the goats died.

City kids anyways.

**kelkel** · 11-07-2018, 10:17 AM

Looking good in the new avi Octane!

**Obs** · 11-07-2018, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Looking good in the new avi Octane!

X2

Its time to switch yours up kel.

Give us a pumped up most muscular pose

**kelkel** · 11-07-2018, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Obs

X2

Its time to switch yours up kel.

Give us a pumped up most muscular pose

Only if you come over and oil me up like the old days.....

But seriously, everything hurts lately. Knee, elbow, shoulder a little. Killing my training and pissing me off....

**Obs** · 11-07-2018, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Only if you come over and oil me up like the old days.....

But seriously, everything hurts lately. Knee, elbow, shoulder a little. Killing my training and pissing me off....

Anytime...

And just shoot more gear. Prob solved

**kelkel** · 11-07-2018, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Obs

And just shoot more gear. Prob solved

That very well may help.....

**Octaneforce** · 11-07-2018, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by kelkel

Looking good in the new avi Octane!

Thanks man. Definitely starting to learn what works for me thanks to dudes like you and obs on this board. And lots of others of course

**Capebuffalo** · 11-07-2018, 02:48 PM

Will there be heavy petting at this “zoo”?

**Couchlockd** · 11-07-2018, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by Capebuffalo

Will there be heavy petting at this “zoo”?

Only at my zoo
Attachment 174813

**Octaneforce** · 11-07-2018, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Capebuffalo

Will there be heavy petting at this “zoo”?

Im gonna shoot the goats with tren and make them fuckin huge.
Machines that dispense oats? Pshh theres gonna be whey protien dispensers and chickens laying eggs right in the animals feed troths. “Heavy petting zoo” thats actually a good idea for the name

**gunsonwheels00** · 11-29-2018, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by Octaneforce

Okay before you laugh hear me out.
I think a petting zoo would be a great business. Buy some goats and pigs and then have a little farmers market out front with overpriced jelly and pies. I visited a few over by me (new york) in the last few months and it seems fool proof. I also stopped at one in massachusets while i was there for a wedding about 2 weeks ago. The petting zoo part was free! The little store they had was super busy. The place even had a friggin alpaca walking around.

I plan on buying a chunk of land in delaware and starting this up. My worry is if its legal to do this on residentially zoned land. And the insurance has to be crazy. If anybody is familiar with rehoboth beach in delaware, not far from ocean city in maryland, then you know these areas are blowing up and it seems almost impossible to have a failing business there.

Man if you have an idea for a business, & it's not going to put you under trying to get it started, fkn go for it. You'll never know if it would have been successful or not if you don't try.

I love photography & always have my whole life, but it's such an over-saturated market that I have my doubts about ever being successful with it.. but I've just gone for it & it's done really well so far. I'm going to school as well right now for Business Management which I hope will coincide with the photography thing, but if not, it's a backup plan, because I can fall back to a basic job using that. So that's the other thing I would recommend for ya, just have a fallback/backup plan.

Other than that, all I can say is.. it would never work here in Texas lol folks out here have too many furry animals of their own. Unless you had some really cool/unusual animals maybe.

**gunsonwheels00** · 11-29-2018, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by Octaneforce

Okay before you laugh hear me out.
I think a petting zoo would be a great business. Buy some goats and pigs and then have a little farmers market out front with overpriced jelly and pies. I visited a few over by me (new york) in the last few months and it seems fool proof. I also stopped at one in massachusets while i was there for a wedding about 2 weeks ago. The petting zoo part was free! The little store they had was super busy. The place even had a friggin alpaca walking around.

I plan on buying a chunk of land in delaware and starting this up. My worry is if its legal to do this on residentially zoned land. And the insurance has to be crazy. If anybody is familiar with rehoboth beach in delaware, not far from ocean city in maryland, then you know these areas are blowing up and it seems almost impossible to have a failing business there.

Somewhat related story: here in Texas, north of San Antonio, they have this really cool place called the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, it's like a drivethrough safari, you drive your own vehicle through these roads & they have giraffes, zebras, all these exotic animals that come up to your window & expect food so you can pet them and take a selfie with a giraffe with it's head in your car haha, I thought that was pretty cool.
The startup price for something of that scale would be massive.. not to mention the cost of the team of lawyers on staff for when the zebra gets pissed and dents up someones vehicle or hurts someone