The Friendly Farm is home to friendly animals and friendly farmers who take care of them. Worthy of a spot on any summer bucket list, you can relax and take your time visiting with lots of different animals.
The Friendly Farm is an annual tradition for the Mommy, UP! crew, and it is always a happy and positive day. I thought a lot recently about why this place seems nicer than any other petting zoo experience. I came up with two answers:
1. The grass covered pastures. When you look around, you are surrounded by happy green grass rather than the typical dirt/bare ground.
2. This is all they do here, and they do it well. It feels quiet and relaxing.
During a recent visit, I was in the large pasture where all the sheep hang out and a tiny lamb started bleating, calling for help. I watched as not only did the lamb’s mom respond, but a nearby Friendly Farmer’s head popped up from what he was doing and he was right behind mom. Once reunited with mom, the lamb was happy again and the farmer went back to his work, letting them be.
Visiting The Friendly Farm
It is an easy drive out to Dublin, NH to visit The Friendly Farm. They are right off the main road and have a large unpaved lot. Walking up to the entrance, there will be someone in the window. This is where you pay your entrance fee and buy grain bags.
Stroller Friendly
The space is stroller friendly. If your stroller can handle grass, you’ll be good. However, depending on your situation, it might be easier to just leave it in the car. I felt like I was constantly parking it outside of the various enclosures because it was just easier for everyone to walk in. That said, if I had a baby along for the visit I would probably want them safe in the stroller and not strapped to me while wrangling goats!
Picnic Area
There is a large picnic area for snack breaks or lunch. The only animals wandering around here are the chickens and they seem to keep to themselves.
Hand Washing Station
This hand washing station is conveniently located to be used as you come out of the chicken house or bathrooms and before you eat in the picnic area.
All about the animals!
Farm visiting etiquette: Please do not chase any animals, including the chickens.
Hold a Baby Chick
One of the first things through the entrance is the chicken house. This is home to many chickens but the highlight is the baby chicks. These chicks are in an open brooder so that you can interact and hold them. (Photo Op!) Just make sure to always hold them over the brooder and as low as your kiddo can reach so that if they drop, they aren’t dropping very far. There are always plenty of chicks, so when some are ready for a nap, others are moving around and ready to go.
Make sure to take a moment to look for chicks hatching in the closed brooders off to the side. These hold eggs at different stages of development and if you’re lucky you might see a just-hatched chick or someone pecking their way out of their shell!
The Friendly Farm Goats
Throughout the property, there are multiple pastures of goats. They all know the drill with the paper bags of grain so: If you want attention, hold the grain bag. If you don’t want attention, hide the little bag! If you have a tiny little person who won’t enjoy being mobbed by goats the same size as them…don’t send them off with the little bag!
I laugh a little bit every time I see this pen at the Friendly Farm. I don’t know if this is it’s intended purpose, but I call it the Panic Pen. It is inside the large goat area so I imagine if you need a quick getaway from “TOO MANY GOATS!” you can slip in here! (That is an actual quote from a two year old I know.)
If you or your crew aren’t ready for too much up close & personal time with goats (sometimes they get jumpy), it would be easy to feed and pet them through this fencing instead. I also imagine it would be a handy place to stand with a stroller if you have a baby or napping little in it while still staying close to the rest of your group.
The Stables
Around the back of the main admissions building is called “The Stables.” It is home to two stalls of bunnies. In one stall you can go right in and pet the bunnies as they go about their day. On the other side is the maternity ward, allowing an up close view of baby bunnies.
The Main Pasture
Around the corner from the barn is a large pasture where you can freely interact with sheep. They are excited for the grain bags as well but tend to be more chill about it than the goats. Along the perimeter are pens with other animals to visit. There are horses, cows, llamas and pigs.
The Official Mommy, UP! System for Farm Animals
TL;DR Overalls & Boots
TL;DR Overalls & Boots
By the end of a fun filled day at The Friendly Farm or other petting zoo situation, the only word I can think of as I look at my own jeans and boots is “contaminated.” No matter how clean a place is, you’re still just walking around where goats and chickens walk around with goats and sheep rubbing up against you. If that isn’t really your jam, this might be the system for you!
To tackle my ick feeling, I have established and committed to the overalls system. If we are headed to hang out with farm animals, anyone I’m in charge of is in overalls and boots. The boots can be any kind of boot – kids’ choice – just not sneakers or sandals. Overalls and boots are cute and on brand for the experience but the primary purpose isn’t aesthetics.
At the end of the visit, it makes decontamination easy at the car: Boots and overalls are peeled off in the trunk with the same care and isolation as if they are soaking wet. The shirts have been pretty protected by the overalls and kids get a fresh set of shorts and sneakers for the ride home. I also wear boots and then change to sneakers. This isolates all the farm animal essence to the trunk.
I don’t want to pass on any discomfort or put anything negative into the day, so I explain that farmers wear sturdy clothes around animals (which is true!) and for the ride home I just want them to be comfortable in fresh cool clothes (which is true!).
Quick Facts: The Friendly Farm in Dublin, NH
| Admission Fee | Visit their website for current rates |
| Weather-dependent | Check their Facebook for any updates |
| Seasonal | Open late May through mid-September. Check their website and Facebook for official dates each year. |
| Parking | Dirt parking lot |
| Bathrooms | Bathrooms are outside the chicken house. They are a rustic, outhouse situation but they have real walls and an accessible one with a baby changing table. |
| Stroller friendly? | Yes, jogging stroller with air tires is easiest. |
| Picnic | Many picnic tables in the open space by the stables |
| Sun Exposure | Full Sun: There are shady spots but the majority of the space is full sun |
| Nearest Food | Dublin General Store 5 minutes down the road with a small groceries selection and sandwich shop. (Well stocked on Goldfish!) |
| Nearest playground | Adams Playground is 13 minutes down the road in Peterborough, NH. |
| Address | 716 Main St, Dublin, NH |
