Riley became ill suddenly, and despite every effort to save her, including emergency care at Cornell University’s Hospital for Animals, her little body could not recover. An autopsy later revealed that an uncommon bacterium, while not infectious, had taken too great a toll on her system. We are deeply grateful to the dedicated team at Cornell for the compassion and excellent care they showed Riley during her time with them.

Riley’s story began here at Lollypop Farm when her mother, Joy, was surrendered to us while heavily pregnant. Soon after, Joy gave birth to triplets: Riley, Phyllis, and Bing Bong. While Phyllis and Bing Bong found a loving adoptive home, Riley and Joy showed an extraordinary bond with people. Their gentle natures and love of attention made them perfect candidates to remain at Lollypop Farm as permanent residents and ambassadors for their species.

Riley touched countless lives. She greeted children at Summer Camp, delighted school field trip groups, and brightened the days of donors and visitors alike. Beyond her sweet and playful spirit, Riley served an important role by teaching people about goats, farm animal care, and the bond between humans and animals.

Though her time with us was far too short, Riley made an unforgettable impact. She will be dearly missed by her Lollypop Farm family, along with the many visitors she met. Her mother, Joy, continues to live here on the farm with her fellow resident goats.

Riley’s legacy will live on in the lessons she taught and the joy she brought to so many.

Our staff was quick to share their memories and thoughts, further demonstrating Riley’s impact:

Mary, Farm Manager – “From the moment Riley was born, you could tell she was special. She made every child and adult smile who met her. She was a very lucky girl, because she knew nothing but love her entire life.”

Calen, Farm Caretaker – “Riley brought such a strong presence to the farm. Although she was the smallest of the goats, her personality was quite the opposite. She was smart, she made you laugh, she was sassy, and she definitely knew how adorable she was. She was captivating. Riley was loved and adored from the moment she was born to the day we had to say goodbye. She is missed every day, but with every “remember when __”, her presence still is and will always be at Lollypop Farm. Thanks for making our days brighter, Riley.”

Emily, Farm Caretaker – “The world feels different without Riley’s presence, but her memory is woven into every corner of the farm. We will miss her morning greetings when she used to tell us that we were going too slow at feeding time. Riley wasn’t just a goat, she was family—and the farm feels a little quieter without her.”

Alyssa, Humane Education Program Supervisor – “Riley made an immediate and lasting impact on everyone she met, easily bringing smiles to children and adults alike. Alongside Joy, Riley was a staple of our programs, teaching countless students, campers, and adults about the importance of animal consent and agency. Her presence ensured these essential lessons were engaging and unforgettable. She brought so much happiness to our students, shelter helpers, campers, and humane educators, and she will be profoundly missed by the entire Education Team and every child who learned from her.”

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The post Potbelly Pigs 101 appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

Here’s a guide to help you decide if pig parenthood is right for you and what to expect if you choose to adopt from Lollypop Farm.

Why Pigs Make Great Pets
Pigs are highly intelligent, emotional, and social animals. They can learn commands, enjoy enrichment activities, and thrive in environments where they are treated with kindness and respect. Many pig owners will tell you their pig is a cherished member of the family — curious, affectionate, and occasionally a bit mischievous!

Pigs form deep bonds with their companions (human or animal) and communicate with a wide range of grunts and squeals. When given appropriate space and care, they are joyful creatures who love to root around outside, nap in the sun, and even enjoy belly rubs.

What You Need to Consider
Before adopting, it’s important to take a realistic look at whether you’re set up for success as a pig parent. Here are some key things to think about:

• Zoning and Space Pigs are farm animals, even if they’re living as pets. That means your property must be zoned for livestock. Most towns require four to five acres and specific types of shelters or enclosures. Be sure to check with your municipality, and know that inspections may be required.

• Pigs Need Pig Companions Pigs are herd animals, and we require adopters to take home at least two—unless you already have a pig in need of a buddy. A solo pig can easily become bored and lonely, which can lead to destructive behavior.

• Size Matters Don’t be misled by terms like “micro” or “teacup” pigs. These misleading labels often result in underfed, malnourished animals with stunted growth. A full-grown pot-bellied pig typically weighs between 80 and 180 pounds, and they don’t reach their full adult size until about 3–5 years old. Proper feeding with species-appropriate grain and hay is essential to avoid health issues.

• Indoor Living Isn’t Ideal While baby pigs may seem like perfect indoor pets, they often struggle in house settings. Pigs are natural foragers and rooters — and when confined indoors, they may turn their attention to your floors, carpets, cupboards, or even your refrigerator. We recommend housing pigs in secure outdoor enclosures with access to a shelter, plenty of space to roam, and enrichment activities to keep them engaged. You will also want to ensure that their space has strong fencing.
  Another option if you were considering an indoor/outdoor pig is if you have a room in your house that opens up to a fenced-in yard, or build a stall in your garage. It is best if the pig has access to go outside often.

• Veterinary Care Not every vet is equipped to care for pigs. You’ll want to ensure there is a large-animal vet in your area who accepts pigs before adopting. Routine care includes vaccinations, hoof and tusk trimming, and spay/neuter surgery (already completed for pigs adopted from us).

• Time and Budget Caring for pigs is a long-term, daily commitment, regardless of the weather conditions. Cleaning shelters, feeding, checking on their health, and providing them with attention are all essential aspects of responsible pig ownership. Check over food and supply costs before you commit to owning a pig. Our farm staff have great cost breakdowns to help you think about things like veterinary care and food needs.

Adopting from Lollypop Farm
If you’ve read this far and are still feeling excited—that’s a great sign! At Lollypop Farm, we’re passionate about helping pigs find loving, knowledgeable homes. All pigs available for adoption are vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and microchipped.

Here’s how the process works:

• • Fill out the Farm Animal Adoption Application: Pigs are farm animals, even if they’re living as pets. That means your property must be zoned for livestock. Most towns require four to five acres and specific types of shelters or enclosures. Be sure to check with your municipality, and know that inspections may be required. Fill out our application here.

  • Schedule a Visit: Meet the pigs in person and ask questions about their personalities, care, and needs.

  • Prepare Your Home: Ensure you have proper zoning, fencing, shelter, and supplies in place.

  • Adoption Fee: The fee is $100 for pot-bellied pigs and $200 for farm pigs.

  • Take Home Your New Friends: : If everything checks out, you’ll be ready to welcome your pigs home!

We know it might sound like a lot — and it is — but in the right environment, pigs are incredibly rewarding companions. Our goal isn’t to talk you out of adoption; it’s to set you (and the pigs) up for long-term success. Too often, pigs are surrendered because their needs were misunderstood. That’s why we’re honest about what pig ownership requires.

If you’re ready to open your heart and home to these curious, clever animals, we’d love to help you find your perfect match.

Have questions or want to meet some adoptable pigs? Contact the Lollypop Farm team at (585) 223-1330 ext. 184 or by email.

The post So You’re Thinking About Adopting A Pig? appeared first on Lollypop Farm.

Due to their sweet natures, we decided to try and see if they would enjoy being animal ambassadors here at Lollypop Farm. Once Bing Bong and Phyllis were old enough, they were adopted to the perfect home together with a slightly older goat “brother” to spar with. This meant Joy and Riley could begin their training.

Animal ambassadors are animals that are hand-picked for being extra friendly around people. With their help, animal care staff can demonstrate and educate people about animals and their needs. Joy and Riley both have proven time and time again that they are gentle and love attention from all people. This makes them the perfect ambassadors to engage children and adults in modeling empathy, compassion, and respect toward farm animals.

Joy and Riley took to ambassador training very easily, and made their debut at the Telethon earlier this year. You probably saw them on camera! But this summer, Joy and Riley took on the exciting role of teaching Lollypop Farm Campers all about goats! They walked into the classrooms and made their way around the room to each child, allowing the campers to pet them as they walked by. After every child had a chance to pet them, they stood quietly while the farm staff answered questions about the goats. This was a great opportunity for campers to learn more about animals they may have limited exposure to and what care they need. Interactions like this will help campers learn empathy for years to come, as a happy memory at Lollypop Farm camp.

Joy and Riley have been wonderful additions to the farm team so far, and they will continue to represent the animals on the farmyard for as long as they enjoy it. Their sweet demeanors make them perfect ambassadors for children and adults alike. Keep an eye out for opportunities to meet these sweethearts through humane education and farm programming.

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Purchasing live chicks

Chicks generally start showing up in stores mid-to-late February. When you see chicks (whether they be chickens, or baby ducks) for sale at a farm store or online through an agricultural supply site, it may seem an easy and affordable way to build a flock. But before you click “add to cart,” take note of New York State regulations regarding the sale of farm birds. For example, did you know that chicks can only be sold in groups of 6 or more in New York State? This means that at the very least, you’ll be taking on 6 chicks that will quickly grow into hens or roosters.

Even more problematic—it is very difficult to determine the sex of a chick at this early stage in their development. This can result in issues down the line if you purchase a number of chicks and many of them turn out to be roosters. In a normal flock, hens should outnumber roosters. When this balance is off, it can be cause for fights between birds and general unhappiness. Stores may claim to be able to appropriately sex the chicks, but will often not take them back if the birds are not what the buyer expected them to be. Even at Lollypop Farm when young chicks are surrendered, we keep them in our care long enough for them to grow to an age where we can determine their sex, and ensure that adopters get the birds they are looking for.

State and local regulations on farm birds

When considering purchasing chicks, it’s important to check with your town to make sure that your property is appropriately zoned for farm birds. Roosters especially may see more regulations on the local level than hens, due to noise pollution laws. Before purchasing chicks, make sure to check with your local government representatives to ensure that your property is properly zoned.

Alternatives to live hatching for educators

This time of year, we tend to see an increase in the number of chicks and ducklings admitted to the shelter, some of them having been raised in classroom hatching projects. We urge educators to replace bird-hatching projects with learning activities that teach life processes without the use of live animals. The animals raised in these projects often do not receive veterinary care, particularly if they are born sick or deformed in these projects.

And often, educators don’t realize that there are lots of neat alternatives to hatching live chicks for educational purposes, for example, chick life cycle exploration sets! Students can examine the fascinating process that happens inside an egg without actually raising live chicks that require a lifetime of care. When chicks are purchased for hatching programs in a classroom, they often have nowhere to go after the lesson is over and end up being surrendered to shelters like Lollypop Farm.

We also recognize the value that a pet can bring to an educational setting. Prior to adopting a classroom pet, we recommend that there is a primary educator responsible for ensuring the daily care of an adopted pet, including daily feeding and habitat maintenance. We counsel educators that the classroom environment and noise level should be suitable for the pet, and that a pet should never be handled when unsupervised.

Cornell Cooperative Extension provides all sorts of fascinating resources for educators, from egg incubation and hatching cams, to full lesson plans. Explore their resources here.

Educators can purchase chick life cycle sets here and find free classroom resources here.

Adopting chicks or farm birds from Lollypop Farm

If you’re feeling prepared to welcome new farm birds into your flock, consider adoption! When chicks are surrendered to Lollypop Farm in large numbers in the early months of the year, we need the support of our community to find great homes where they will not be used for meat. Generally, there is a wait-list for hen adopters, as it is harder to find homes for roosters.

Much like the state’s regulation about purchasing chicks in groups of six, our farm team will also work with adopters to ensure that farm birds go to homes where they will be part of a flock—whether that means adopting a number of birds together, or bringing birds into a home where there are already feathered friends.

“Raising chickens is an amazing experience, but you just have to be prepared!” says Joanna Dychton, Farm and Safety Manager at Lollypop Farm. Chickens are incredibly intelligent birds and make wonderful farmyard companions. If you’ve done your homework and know what goes into caring for chicks and grown birds, consider adopting!

Interested in adopting from Lollypop Farm? You can view farm birds waiting for homes here, and learn more about the adoption process and associated fees here.

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