When visiting Tucson, AZ you will have to make a stop at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. People often wonder what there is to do in Tucson, and the answer is this! Family-friendly and all ages approved, this ostrich ranch is a must when visiting Tucson, AZ!
When you purchase your admission you receive cups with food for the different animals, coins for the shooting range or the rabbit food, and if you upgraded to the stingray feeding you will receive chips that are good for 1 feeding.
The ranch has been open and operating since 1999. they started with a couple of chairs, and folding table, and a pop-up tent. It is 3 generations of family that run and operate the ranch. Knowing they are a truly family-owned business is so welcoming.
To purchase tickets or for more information on the ranch, visit their website and enjoy all they have to offer.
*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, BUT I will receive a small commission, which helps keep the blog going and my coffee cup full. Thanks, friends!
Experiences at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
When you are ready to start, a man will explain everything to you and give you a good idea of what to expect. It is all laid out in an easy-to-follow trail and you will meet animal after animal. Keep an eye out for Smiley the donkey. She is the superstar of the whole ranch and will give you a beautiful teeth-filled smile! There are also signs pointing and leading you where you need to go. The exhibits you get to visit are:
- Little Donkeytown
- Parakeet Perch
- Goat Penthouse
- Hole in the Wall Kissing Booth
- Ostrich & Deer Feeding
- Little Henhouse, shhep show, & Bunnyville
- Lorikeets & Ducks Feeding
- Stingray Bay
- Giftshop & Shooting Range
There are also tortoises if you are lucky enough to see them. When it gets cold, they will hide where the heat lamps are.
Little Donkeytown
The first stop at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch is Little Donkeytown. You take the pellets of food that came with your admission and feed these adorable mini donkeys. Some are babies and some have been there for quite some time.
If they put their heads on top of the railing, you can try and shoot a pointer into their mouths!
This was a great stop to go to first so if you have younger kids they can get comfortable feeding the animals.
Parakeet Perch
With the food you receive with your paid admission, you get a popsicle stick covered in birdseed. At the Parakeet Perch, you will stick that through the fence and wait as the most beautifully colored Parakeets will come and perch on the stick, nibbling off all the seeds.
Watching them fight over who gets to sit on the stick is the funniest thing to watch.
Are you a bird fan? I wasn’t before coming here! Now I can’t wait to go back and see them again.
Goat Penthouse
Goats are known for climbing to high points on mountains, and that is where they prefer to eat! With the penthouse, you put your food into the container and then use a pulley system to wheel it up to the goats.
They excitedly await the food to drop into their feeder and are just as eager to watch you do it again and again!
And don’t worry, they are safely secured so no goats are harmed!
Hole in the Wall Kissing Booth
You are in for a real treat with the handsome goats at the Hole in the Wall Kissing booth. If you are brave enough, take a long piece of pellet food and stick it between your lips.
The goats are more than happy to take it from you and give you a sweet, slobbery kiss as thanks for the food! Have you ever kissed a goat?
Deer & Ostrich Feeding
Next, head over to the deer feeding. These animals are so calm and gentle.
But they definitely get full fast because some didn’t want food at all. But mostly came over for the pets and scratches.
There were so many signs on the Ostrich fence that said “Not responsible for accidents” and “Ostriches bite”. You simply place the pellets into a plastic tub that leads to the other side for them so there is less chance of you getting pecked!
If you are brave, you can put some food on your hand and place it flat in front of them to have them eat from you. Would you be brave enough?
Little Henhouse, Sheep Show & Bunnyville
In your feeding cups, you get 3 coins to feed either the chickens, bunnies, or the ducks. You can either hand feed the chickens or place it in their containers for them to eat out of.
The bunnies were so sweet and soft. But don’t get your fingers in their mouths or they will nibble on you!
The sheep were so beautiful and fluffy and just stared at you until you fed them some food!
Lorikeets & Duck Feeding
Lorikeets were my absolute favorite. You get a cup of nectar with your admission and they tell you that they will take the lid off themselves.
What I did not expect is just how many would fly ON to you to get that food. At one point I had 5 or six. But these birds were so beautiful and very loud!
If you don’t have a cup, they want nothing to do with you! This exhibit is what helped with my bird phobia and I didn’t want to leave!
The ducks were right outside and you could either hand feed them or leave it right by the water and they will help themselves.
Stingray Bay
If you choose to upgrade your admission to add the stingray exhibit to it, you get to feed them and if they let you, pet their backs. Spoiler, they are very slippery!
When you walk up, they hand you a small cup of food and instruct you to hold it between two of your fingers like a piece of spaghetti. Simply put your hand under the water and they will come to you.
I promise it does not hurt one bit. It feels like a slow vacuum as they come to suck it off your hand. They do not have any teeth, so that is how they get the food into their mouths. It is the strangest feeling.
Giftshop & Shooting Range
Last but not least is their gift shop and shooting range. They have so many amazing items to choose from including stuffed animals, coffee mugs, and more. But what was the neatest thing there is hollowed out Ostrich eggs!
The shooting range takes tokens, which you can get at the front desk. Have fun in the Wild Wild West as you try and shoot at targets.
But watch out for the gator who will generously spray you with a stream of water if you aren’t paying attention!
We had such an incredible time at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch and we can’t wait to go back! My favorite exhibit was the Lorikeets! Have you been? If so, what was yours? Let me know down below and we’ll connect.
If you go and visit them, make sure to let them know I sent you. You are going to have a great time.
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FAQ About Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
They are located 26 miles north of Tucson on I-10 exit 219. Turn left off the freeway and turn left on E, Peak Lane, before the state park entrance, just after the freeway entrance. 1 mile to the end of the road
$15 with stingray included or $12 without. That is for ages 6 and over. Age 5 and under are free. You can purchase food for your 5 and under kiddos for $6. Tokens for additional food and the shooting range are $1 each.
The majority of the ranch is outdoors. That is where 99% of the animals are. Inside is where you’ll find the stingray exhibit, gift shop, and shooting range.
They do not require it since the majority of the location is outdoors, but they recommend it indoors.
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Welcome to Kelsey Farley and thanks so much for stopping by! If you have visited the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch I’d love to hear about it. Share your experience on Instagram with hashtag #kelseyfarleyblog and tag me @kelsey.farley so I can follow along and share your photos on my page/stories. Make sure you subscribe before you leave so you can snag your FREE Daily Plan Tracker. I hope it inspires you to take control of your day and make sure to tag me when you use it! I love you guys, and I’ll talk to you soon.
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