Settling in field animals
Moving to a new home can be a very stressful time for an animal and they are likely to feel vulnerable and frightened. By offering them comfort, a good routine and a warm and caring environment, you will help them to relax, develop confidence and above all, bond with you and their new animal friends.
We will give you an information pack about your new animal which will tell you everything we know about them. This will include:
- their assessment at our Rehoming Centre
- what they have been fed and when
- their veterinary history at our Rehoming Centre
- their animal passport if required
Some points about settling an animal in will apply to all species and breeds:
Make sure that your field, shelter or stable is secure and that the animal can’t escape.
Give them time to recover from the journey.
Give them access to food and water.
Leave them quietly in a calm and safe environment, checking on them from a distance at regular intervals to make sure they are settling down.
Sometimes a move to a new home can unsettle an animal and affect its appetite. Our field staff will give you some of the food the animal has been fed at the Rehoming Centre so it has continuity of diet. If you change its diet, do it gradually, and not until the animal has settled and secure in its new environment. When you give the animal food, allow it at least 20 minutes alone to approach and eat. Take away any leftovers to encourage appetite and get the animal used to a routine. Always have fresh hay and water available, and remove any old, dusty hay as this can cause health problems.
If after 3-4 days the animal is still not eating, call our field staff for advice. If the animal is showing signs of illness as well as poor appetite, then contact your vet immediately.
We strongly recommend that you seek a suitable insurance policy for your pet. This should not only cover you for any medical eventualities, but it should also include third party cover for any damage or accident caused by your pet to someone else as you would be liable should your pet escape and cause an accident.
It can take a while for your animal to become sociable with others. Don’t force introductions. If it is content, eating and able to get shelter, it may be quite happy not getting to know companions and people until it feels ready. However, it’s important to be vigilant, and watch for interactions with its companions, as it may be being bullied.
Take things slowly. Some animals can take up to eight weeks to get used to a new environment. If you are going to introduce them to other animals, do it gradually. For example, stable horses side by side so they can get used to each other or place a divider in the paddock to give them the opportunity to meet safely.
Most importantly, all animals should be treated with respect and allowed to take their time getting used to new surroundings, new smells and new people.
Top tips
Feeding bread to sheep and goats can make them very ill.
Horse scratching posts provide handy rubbing areas for sheep and will also help goats to shed their hair during moulting season.
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