My family was invited to visit Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch last weekend. I have lived in Arizona for over 26 years and not sure why I have never heard of this gem! That is WHY I need to share this little Arizona treasure with you all! The ranch is a perfect family attraction for kids of all ages.
When they opened over 20 years ago, it started as an ostrich ranch but over the years they have expanded to several other animals such as deer, sheep, rabbits, goats, donkeys, sting rays and more! You really get a unique experience here visiting and feeding such a variety of animals.
This is not your typical petting zoo. First of all, it’s very clean with no foul smells. The animals are friendly and you get a lot of time with them as you go at your own pace. The setup of the ranch allows your family to freely and easily move from each animal exhibit. We started at the donkeys and then moved our way to the deer. My daughter absolutely loved the deer! She thought they were so cute and spent several minutes there feeding and interacting with the little babies. We then walked over to the Goat Penthouse and Hole in the Wall Gang...this was hysterical! Pictured here is my husband making a new friend! After the goats you get an amazing close up opportunity with the bizarre looking ostriches and the adorable St.Croix Sheep. Don’t forget to stop by The Little Henhouse but be quick with the feed, they are fast!! Another favorite of my kiddos was the bunny exhibit. These little guys were so cute! Although, keep an eye out for the black Continental Giant…he’s huge!
My husband's favorite attraction was feeding the rainbow lorikeets. You get to go in an enclosed area and feed them. These gorgeous, colorful birds land on your arms and shoulders and if you’re wearing a hat they might end up on your head!
I preferred the Sting Ray exhibit over the others because I think I have more in common with these animals. To feed them you put a piece of squid in between your fingers and they swim by and suck up the food like a vacuum. It almost tickles. Very similar to me attending my local sushi spot!
Expect to spend about 1-2 hours at the ranch. The weather is PERFECT right now as well! What we also loved that is was so close to Picacho Peak State Park. Take the time to visit the park and if your family is up for it take a short little hike to Children’s Cave! There is also a Dairy Queen across the street.
Starting on Nov 16th thru April 20th, the ranch will be open every day from 9AM-5PM.
Kids ages 5 and under are free admission, if they want to feed the animals it is $5 for the food.
Adults and kids are either $10 admission with food or $13 for admission with food plus stingray food. Extra food available at an additional cost.
Location:
Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
17599 E Peak Ln.
Picacho, AZ 85141
Conveniently located off the the Interstate 10.
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Follow on Instagram: @roostercogburnostrich
My family was hosted by Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch for the purpose of this article. All opinions are my own.
