At Lebenshof Odenwald e.V., around 50 animals have found a "FOREVER HOME".
Chickens, rabbits, turkeys, cows, pigs, goats and a dog live together here in a peaceful community. A horse is housed on another location with other horses of the same species.
Every animal has its place in the group. We are always fascinated by how the animals come to terms with each other and how they have learned to communicate in different ways. Every day we observe how rabbits and chickens, pigs and turkeys meet at eye level and spend the day together. These moments are wonderful and magical. The peace, contentment and serenity that the animals radiate is infectious and simply feels good!
The sanctuary is financed purely by donations. We therefore welcome any support for the animals in the form of donations and sponsorships.
We have created a living space for eleven cows. There is enough grazing land around the sanctuary for our cows to stay on the meadows all summer long without having to move. The grazing areas are shaded by woodland, a stream and a spring that always provides fresh water. A shelter has been built as winter quarter, which can be used by the cows all year round. Even in winter, the cows can move around on a large wooded and fallow area.
There are also two male goats at the sanctuary, which are very people-oriented and cuddly. They live together in a herd with friendly female goats that are privately owned by the farm family.
Two more goat kids moved in in March 2023. These are currently still being bottle-fed. When they are big and strong enough, the two little boys will be integrated into our goat herd.
Four mini pigs will find everything they need to feel at home at the sanctuary. Starting with large green areas for sniffing, digging and eating, as well as the opportunity to wallow in the mud and crawl into a straw bed for a good night's sleep, which they meticulously prepare themselves.
Our turkeys, like all the other animals, enrich everyday life at the sancatury. The three turkey ladies are courted and protected by Wendelstein the male turkey. All four of them take every opportunity to get close to people and to be pet and cuddled.
We had already planned to add ducks to our farm in the future. But the fact that this happened so quickly and that two ducks moved in directly in March 2023 was a surprise for us too.
Now we are stepping on the gas: we are damming up the stream so that the ducks can swim and splash around and, of course, more of their kind will soon be joining them.
The sanctuary is home to 15 hens and a rooster, who has his hands full with his large flock.
Our ten rabbits enjoy the large run on the meadow, the opportunity to dig holes and the company of the other animals.
A dog also lives on our sanctuary and delights people and animals every day with his loving nature.
A male horse also belongs to the large sanctuary family. He is kept at friends place, so that he can live happily and have the company he deserves.
Would you like to find out more?
On social media, you can follow our work with the animals, see the progress of the projects and get to know all the individual animals.
Lebenshof Odenwald e.V.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lebenshof_odenwald
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lebenshof.odenwald
Joar Berge
Instagram: www.instagram.com/moustache_farmer
Facebook: www.facebook.com/moustachefarmer
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@moustache_farmer
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@moustache_farmer
In his book Kühe kuscheln: Wie die Tiere und ich ein neues Leben begannen (Only available in German) Joar tells in a touching way about the founding of the sanctuary Lebenshof Odenwalds e.V.