Volunteer at the
Happy Herd
If you are interested in volunteering for us we would love to have you.
We’d love to have you join our volunteer team!
The more consistency and commitment we have, the better the experience is for every0ne — especially the animals, who thrive on familiar faces and routines, bonding with volunteers that can commit to a specific schedule.
Some quick information to consider
- volunteers must be 16 years or older.
- if you are unable to come on your scheduled day, call or text Diane (number will be provided once confirmed as volunteer).
- pets are not allowed with you, our dog, cats, and some chickens roam freely and their comfort is our top priority.
Volunteering Hours
Year Round: Morning shift: 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM or Afternoons: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (earlier in winter)
Transportation
There is no convenient public transportation to our sanctuary therefore private or group arranged transportation must be organized by the volunteers.
Getting Started
- You must bring a signed liability waver with you the first time. (see below)
- be sure to wear farm appropriate attire: boots or rubber boots, clothing that can get dirty, gloves & a mask if you’re sensitive to dust when cleaning stalls.
- please do not bring friends with you unless you have been a minimum of 4x to volunteer & have checked with Diane first. Too many people can make things confusing and jobs can get missed. It works best when everyone is in a routine and doesn’t need to be supervised.
- there is a volunteer room where you can leave items & a bathroom at the back of the property, next to the cow areas, beside the feed room.
- be sure to ask Diane what you can feed and how much.
- on your first day you’ll have an orientation with another volunteer where you’ll meet the animals and be shown around the farm. Someone will be available to help you orient to the different jobs so you become comfortable.
Cleaning of cows, pigs, goats & sheep stalls:
- rake up old hay and poo into wheelbarrows.
- sweep and pick up waste in goat pen.
- dump all compostable waste on the designated dump site.
- replace bedding (straw or shaving).
- fill hay mangers.
- empty, scrub, and refill water containers.
Cleaning of chicken coops:
- clean and refilling water bowls & food.
- cleaning of waste.
- gather eggs from the coops, put in feed room
- strip all old bedding from floor and nesting boxes (monthly).
- put down light layer of lime and then cover with shavings
- refill nesting boxes with shavings.
Meal preparation for the animals: (only select Volunteers)
- sorting vegetables and fruits in the feed room.
- preparing animal specific meals.
- ensure a wheelbarrow of hay is left for afternoon feedings of animals.
- discard unusable items.
- sweep feed room floor, empty compost bucket
Animal Enrichment:
- brush and play with the animals.
- pigs love belly rubs.
- all animals love to be groomed, there are brushes in most areas
- the pigs need mud holes filled with water in the hot summer weather.
General tasks:
- general clean up of barn area & removal of hay from grass areas around farm.
- notifying Diane & Steve if running low on any items around the farm (hay/straw/shavings/ advising of broken tools etc).
- storage of tools in proper area and tidy up during and after completion of work.
- weeding/watering garden/plants.
- moving Hay into barn loft. (seasonal)
- painting fences/houses.
