Barnyard Babies: Fun Facts About Animals in the Birthing Center

Last year, 105 adorable animals were born during the fair, and this heartwarming exhibit continues to be a favorite for visitors of all ages. The Birthing Center brings the magic of the farm to the fairgrounds, offering a unique opportunity to learn about animal care and witness the miracle of life up close. Want to know more about the cutest babies in the barn? Check out some fun facts below!

Calves

• These udderly amazing baby cows are born with the ability to stand and walk within an hour of being born
• The average baby cow weighs between 60 to 100 pounds at birth
• They are born with already developed senses and can see gnarly 360 degrees around them
• They can also hear sounds at higher and lower frequencies than humans can
• Their sense of smell can reach as far as 6 miles away
• Gestation periods for cows is an average of 9 months and most cows only give birth to exactly one calf

Chicks

• New baby chicks take their first steps within hours of hatching
• Chicks have a small bump on the tip of their beak called an egg tooth, which they use to break out of their shell
• After a mother hen lays an egg, she will sit on it for almost 24 hours a day until the egg begins to hatch after 21 days of incubation
• Chicks grow quickly and double their size in their first two weeks and start growing adult feathers almost immediately
• They reach full size in 20 weeks
• At 6 months old, they can begin laying their own eggs

Piglets

• A mother pig will be pregnant for 3 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days
• A sow can give birth to up to 10 piglets per litter and will usually give birth twice a year
• Sows usually nurse their piglets for three to five weeks
• Newborn piglets weight about 2.5 pounds at birth and usually double their weight in one week
• They can open their eyes right away, and can run and walk after they are born
• Pigs are very intelligent animals. Piglets can be trained to learn their own name at just two weeks old

Lambs

• Lambs can stand and walk within minutes of being born
• Lambs usually nurse from their mothers 1-2 times per hour for up to 3 minutes each time
• They form close bonds with other lambs and can recognize up to 50 individual sheep faces
• Newborn lambs sleep 12 to 16 hours per day
• Lambs enjoy running, hopping, and even playing tag with each other
• Sheep have rectangular pupils that give them a wide field of vision, allowing them to see almost 360 degrees around them

Kids

• Baby goats are called Kids
• Kids can stand and walk within minutes of birth
• They nurse for about 6-8 weeks when raised by their mothers
• Goats have a gestation period of about 5 months
• Kids are naturally social and enjoy jumping, climbing, and exploring
• Goats communicate through vocalizations called bleating, and each baby goat has its own distinct call that helps its mother recognize it