Petting zoo: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What petting zoo is

A provider brings gentle farm animals such as goats, rabbits or chickens to your party, keeping them in a fenced area with handlers present and handwashing set up. People book one for birthday parties, school days and family events when children want to meet animals up close.

Signs you need it

  • You are hosting a children's party and want animals as the main activity
  • Your guests are young children who will enjoy touching gentle animals with supervision
  • You have a yard or outdoor space where a fenced pen can be set up
  • You want an activity that keeps a crowd of kids busy for a long stretch
  • You want a farm theme for a birthday, a school day or a family event
  • You want the animals handled by people who know how to work with them safely

What the pro does

  • Asks about the number of children, their ages, the space and the length of the visit
  • Chooses the animals that suit the group and the event
  • Arrives with the animals, the fencing and a handwashing station
  • Sets up a fenced pen away from food and the main play area
  • Handlers stay with the animals and guide children in how to touch them gently
  • Packs up the animals, fencing and waste at the end of the visit

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Length of the visit and the number of animals brought
  • Number of children and the number of handlers needed to supervise them
  • Types of animals, such as goats, rabbits, chickens or a mix
  • Fencing, handwashing and shade or cover needs at the site
  • Travel distance and arrival time at the site
  • Whether the animals stay for a long visit or a short one
  • Whether the provider includes a separate feeding or a small farm lesson

What a written quote should spell out

  • Length of the visit and the number of animals
  • Animal types and the number of handlers present
  • Fencing, handwashing station and waste plan
  • Site needs, such as shade, a flat space and a clear area away from food
  • Arrival, setup and departure times
  • What happens if an animal is unwell or the weather changes

Questions to ask before you hire

  • What animals do you bring, and how do you choose animals for children?
  • How many handlers will be present, and how do they supervise the children?
  • Where will the pen go, and how far is it from food and the play area?
  • How do you handle handwashing and hygiene for the children?
  • What is your plan if an animal gets stressed, sick or hurt?
  • Can I see photos or a video of a visit at a party?
  • Do you carry liability insurance that covers the animals and the visitors?

Red flags

  • They will not show their animals' health records or care plan
  • They have no handwashing station or hygiene plan
  • They let children handle animals with no adult supervision
  • They bring animals that are not suited to small children, such as large or aggressive animals
  • They will not confirm the handler count or the fencing in writing

What you can do yourself

You can choose a shady, flat space away from food and the main play area, and clear the ground for a pen. You can also set up a handwashing station with water and soap before the animals arrive. Hire a provider for the animals, the handlers and the fencing, since animals need trained care, and children need supervision from people who know animal behavior.

Licenses and permits

No state license is usually required for a petting zoo, but many states and localities regulate animal exhibits, animal health and public contact with livestock. Check state and local rules with your state or local licensing agency and your state animal health office before booking, and ask the provider for its health documents.

Petting zoo questions

Does a petting zoo provider need a license?

Usually not a state business license, but animal exhibit and livestock rules can apply. Ask the provider for its health documents and check local rules.

Are petting zoo animals safe for young children?

They can be, with supervision and handwashing. Ask for gentle animal types, adult handlers on site and a clear plan for children who are scared or too rough.

Where should the animals be kept during the party?

In a fenced pen away from food and the play area. Ask the provider where the pen will go and how the children will move in and out.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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