Whether you’re away on holiday or this is your weekend escape property - The Hobby Farm Hand is here to make sure your animals are well cared for while you’re not around. The service is customisable based on your needs.

Feed out and farm checks can be customised for your individual needs and can include:

• Feeding out of hay, grain, pellets or supplements - Can be provided by the owner or arranged by The Hobby Farm Hand.

• Headcount and visual condition check of all livestock

• Trough/water check – ensuring animals have access to clean water.

• Yard/paddock walk-around to spot any issues (e.g. injury, stuck animals, downed fences)

• Photo or text update

• Fence check

• Paddock rotation of stock

• Rugging/unrugging horses

• Medication delivery

• Holding for vet or farrier

Vaccination is a vital part of your herd’s preventative health care. However, administering vaccines can be daunting if you're unsure where to start or don’t have the right equipment on hand.

All equipment and vaccines are supplied, including:

• Vaccines appropriate to the species, age, and health status of your animals.

• Single-use needles, used once per animal to significantly reduce the risk of disease transmission and minimise discomfort associated with repeated or blunt needle use, as guided by extensive scientific research.

• Clean, species-appropriate handling and injection tools.

There are a lot of steps in the marking process, and so many different methods! I use low-stress handling and pain-minimising methods to get the job done calmly, safely, and with care for both animals and owners, backed by science and industry.

Marking includes:

• Tagging with NLIS and visual ID tags to be supplied by the owner.

• Vaccination appropriate to species and age.

• Drenching for internal parasite control.

• Castration and tail docking (lambs only) using the Numnuts® system – combining elastrator rings with local anaesthetic (Lidocaine) to provide blood free and to minimise pain, supporting better welfare outcomes.

• Oral pain relief (Meloxicam) for castration and tail docking.

Parasites can seriously impact the health and productivity of your livestock — but not all treatments are created equal. With increasing issues around drench resistance, it’s more important than ever to use the right products at the right time, and to avoid unnecessary treatments.

Parasite prevention and treatment includes:

• Faecal Egg Count to determine the specific parasite burden and species present.

• Oral drenching (worming)

• External parasite treatments (lice, mites, flies, ticks)

• Flystrike prevention and treatment

• Individual or herd-level assessments

• Guidance on product choice and rotation to reduce resistance risk

I supply all required products, so you’ll only pay for the amount your animals actually need — no need to buy full containers for small mobs or occasional treatments.

Shearing and crutching are key to maintaining animal health, comfort, and productivity. I use battery-operated shears, allowing work to be carried out efficiently in whatever yards or setup you have available.

Shearing services include:

• Full shearing of sheep and alpacas

• Tidy-up shearing of retained fleece on shedding breeds

• Crutching of sheep to improve hygiene and reduce flystrike risk

• Option to combine with vaccinations, drenching, and hoof trimming, saving time and reducing repeat handling

Whether you’re just starting out or managing a growing hobby herd, livestock care can come with a lot of questions — and not all of them have easy answers. The Hobby Farm Hand offers friendly, practical support to help you feel more confident and capable on your farm.

I can provide:

• One-on-one guidance on husbandry, nutrition, parasite control, and routine care

• Help interpreting product labels or choosing between treatment options

• Support with planning out regular care schedules (vaccinations, worming, etc.)

• Advice on setting up basic infrastructure like yards, shelters, and feed stations

• Follow-up support after a visit, if you're unsure what to do next

Whether you’re looking for quick advice or an ongoing point of contact, I’m happy to help. My goal is to make sure you’re not just getting a job done — but also learning the why behind it, so you can grow your confidence as a livestock keeper.