Keeper for a Day Experience

This experience aims to provide you with an understanding of the principles of animal husbandry and care through working on the Animal Unit at our Broomfield Hall campus. 

We currently have over 47 species of animals that require our care. As part of your role, you will assist with preparing the animals’ food, cleaning, health checking, exercising, handling, providing enrichment, and much more. 

You will get to work on all sections of the Animal Unit and gain valuable insights into what it is like to work as a zoo keeper.  

Please ignore the date shown on the booking page as the experience is run at different times throughout the year.  If you would like to put a note on your booking form with a desired date and then contact jonathan.taylor@derby-college.ac.uk, we will do our best to accommodate you. 

You need basic literacy and numeracy skills plus some basic knowledge of animal care.  You should be aged eight years or over.

The course will cover:

• Feeding the animals
• Health checking the animals
• Cleaning their accommodation
• Making enrichment for the animals
• Maintenance of the Animal Unit
• Exercising the animals
• Handling the animals

The course involves a practical experience on the Animal Unit at Broomfield Hall. 

You will be required to supply your own boots or wellingtons, preferably steel toe-capped. Alternatively, you can borrow some from the Animal Unit. 

There is no assessment.

Derby College Group offers a range of one-day, weekend and evening courses relating to Animal Care, as well as a wide variety of other land-based topics – please see the Derby College Group Part-time Prospectus for a full list and details. 

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or animal.unit@derby-college.ac.uk