Nancy L. & Martin Davidson Barnyard

You are now entering the Nancy L. and Martin Davidson Barnyard exhibit. The Barnyard is located off the Main Plaza on the south side of the Zoo next to the Beastro. Its perimeter is marked by a wooden split rail fence. The indoor area of the Barnyard was formerly The Lodge and, before that, the Zoo’s original Elephant House, which opened in 1923 and was built in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. It features red barrel roof tiles and beige stucco exterior walls.

This exhibit houses animals such as goats, sheep, alpaca and chickens. While visiting the Barnyard, guests can feed some of the animals for an additional cost or as an add-on to their membership. As you explore and get up close with these animals, we hope you develop a greater understanding and appreciation of them.

The wooden fenced area at the back of the exhibit houses our alpaca. Alpaca are smaller cousins of llamas. They were selectively bred for their wool and fully domesticated in South America.

They have slender bodies with long necks, short round faces and small pointed ears. Their soft fleece can be a variety of colors including white, grey, tan, brown and black. Alpaca are the smallest members of the camel family, typically weighing between 100 and 200 pounds and standing around 3 feet tall at the shoulder.

Alpaca communicate with soft hums and other vocalizations. They are grazers that live in large domestic herds feeding on grasses. Living in groups provides protection as they have excellent senses of sight and hearing and send out alarm calls to alert the herd if they sense danger.

As you enter the Barnyard, a large wooden chicken coop sits to your left. This coop houses our brahma chickens and includes an outdoor yard fenced in with netting for safe exploration. Inside, a ramp leads up to a nesting box where the chickens rest and lay their eggs.

Brahma chickens are large, weighing up to 10 pounds which is about as much as a medium sized bowling ball. They are covered in feathers all the way down to their feet and come in three colors: white, tan and dark grey.

On the left side of the Barnyard, across from the alpaca, is the exhibit for our goats and sheep. This large rectangular space is enclosed by wooden fencing with an open middle section where visitors can reach in to feed and pet the animals. Inside are benches, logs, wooden platforms, ramps, tires and even a small tire swing for climbing and play. Several large oak trees provide shade. Along the outside of the exhibit are food dispensers that guests can access with tokens to feed the goats, sheep and alpaca.

The sheep here are Jacob sheep, a small black and white wooly breed with a goat-like appearance, especially when sheared. Jacob sheep are multi-horned, with most having two to four horns. Typically, two horns stick straight upward from the center of the head, while the outer pair curls downward toward the face. Both males and females can have horns.

The goats here are Nigerian dwarf goats. These small goats have short straight fur in a variety of colors including black, white, brown, red and blonde. They typically weigh about 40 pounds and stand around 20 inches tall, similar in size to a medium dog. Their large eyes are set on the sides of their heads, and their rectangular pupils give them excellent peripheral vision to watch for predators. Both males and females may have horns and beards.

While feeding the goats, you may notice them licking your hands. Goats are naturally curious and often explore with their mouths, which is why many people think they eat anything. Nigerian dwarf goats are known for being gentle and playful. You may see them climbing, jumping or butting heads as they interact. In addition to visitor-provided feed, the goats and sheep also eat hay placed throughout their exhibit.

We hope your visit to the Barnyard exhibit gave you a greater understanding and appreciation of these amazing animals. Enjoy the rest of your journey at the Toledo Zoo.