Swamp wallaby (© Helma van Dijk)
For minimal 2 to maximum 5 animals Bennett’s wallabies and types of the same size at least 200 m2 meadow, stay within 16 m2. The smallest species as the Tammar and Parma wallaby 150 m2 meadow and 10 m2 in residence. For larger species such as Mountain and Giant Kangaroo Kangaroos minimal 2 to maximum 5 animals 300 m2 meadow in residence of 20 m2.
As for each animal, both the indoor and outdoor stays are cleaned regularly. The pasture should be regularly cleaned of manure as possible.
Give the kangaroos/wallabies in advance a private pasture without other species. Where the kangaroos and wallabies separately run on a suitable plot in combination with proper nutrition are rarely problems.
A rule of thumb states that a whey for Bennett wallabies and similar types of large, min. 200 m2 (preferably more) is sufficient for keeping 2 to maximum 5 animals.
If one fence will always netting wire of 2 m high. Never electric fright and/or barbed wire in the field, this one would have to be put on the outside to keep out cats and other animals. Parma and Tammar wallaby’s 1 meter small mesh netting (1×1 cm mesh size) against the netting wire to. Remember that many species of kangaroo just underneath the gauze escape or to open gates. Jumping over a fence at 2 meters will not easily happen. It is certainly advisable to put a piece of the netting in the ground. Always make sure that at least on two sides (better 3) of the meadow is not poisonous shrubs or a fence provided for the animals to provide a safe and secure feeling. It is also necessary to have sufficient shady places for example by trees (no conifers) to provide shade shelter the animals in the summer months. Protect the trees to prevent eat off the bark by putting netting around them.
A draft free stall must be present to protect animals from cold weather and frost. Size in residence 16 m2 for Bennett wallabies and species of similar size. Windows in the shelter dangerous for specific the wallaby species. When panic they can jump through it, so windows should rather be not be made out of glass and they need a good shielding mesh. Hay rack, food- and water bowls, animals need to have fresh drinking water. For the winter months a heating lamp or stove (infrared is a very good and save option), preferably equipped with thermostat. Ensure that water can’t freeze, possibly make use of special heating elements. It is generally admitted that in particular Bennett’s are hardy, yet this does not mean that this is an ideal situation. Under good healthy conditions they will manage fine, but then it is necessary to have food and housing in good order.
Remember that these animals only flourish in peace and security and therefore does not belong in front/rear gardens and especially in urban areas!
Never use straw or sawdust (pine wood) as a ground cover.
Red Kangaroo with joey (© Helma van Dijk)
*In ancient reference books is often read that kangaroos die of jaw disorders of oral mucosa and throat. This is especially true if one gives the animals straw and ears of our cereals bearing awns. They hurt the oral mucosa, which easily leads to infections. Since we know this and provides a versatile and sensible selected foods, especially soft and good quality hay and alfalfa/Lucerne, such deaths are virtually non-existent. *
Sawdust contains so many pollutants that it is totally unsuitable as a ground cover for rodents, animal park and zoo residents. But also their carers run health. So eat horses and donkeys in varying amounts of sawdust/wood chips and the harmful effects of Abietine acid on horses under discussion. Sawdust (wood chips, wood shavings) is largely made of coniferous wood (spruce and pine) in Europe, which contains many toxic substances, including the carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbons (phenols) and Abietine acid. The intensive contact with rodents and rabbits with their ground cover has huge implications for their health and wellbeing. Various types of sawdust (wood chips, wood shavings) that are used in the Netherlands and in the shop are recently (2005) examined the concentration of Abietine acid in Wageningen and the results were nothing short of shocking. As the investigation was sawdust from pine, spruce and fir trees, and contained varying but significant concentrations of Abietine. These harmful substance is risk of liver function and liver diseases, respiratory problems (pneumonia) and increases the risk of cancer for animals that live in this sawdust.
‘Threshed hay’ is a quite a good ground cover. Now I use threshed hay for some time and this suits me fine. Threshed is grass hay in which the seed is extracted from the stems and remains as residual material. The grass stalks remain for a long time lying on the land. Nutrients are lost and it includes cracking still taste. The process ensures that the threshed hay gets a high dry matter content. This property makes it possible to absorb moisture well. Conclusion on the one hand takes the good moisture on the other hand, it is not palatable to the animals. Apart from the fact that it is not tasty, it also contains no toxic or other harmful substances. So it is very safe to use.
It is therefore by no means dangerous at the same time, it is a soft material and it is warm enough for the animals. Threshed hay is finely chopped and made into large bales.