what should I wear?

[puppyloomp]

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Hi! I'm starting an internship at a farm animal rescue (it's mostly goats, pot belly pigs, chickens, turkeys, and rabbits with a few other random birds thrown in; there's no horses or cows or sheep). I'm not sure if I need to wear long pants and I emailed the woman who interviewed me asking if I need to (since at every other place I've worked with animals they've asked me to wear long pants, but nothing was specified here) but she has not answered and now my first day is tomorrow!

Is the general rule of thumb to wear long pants when working with these animals? I've never worked with birds at all before so I have no idea. I would just wear long pants but it is going to be 108 degrees tomorrow so I don't want to wear them unnecessarily. I think either way I'll bring the other (ie if I wear pants I'll bring shorts along) but I just don't want to look really stupid if I show up wearing pants when it's not necessary and it's 108 degrees out or show up wearing shorts and look dumb since you're supposed to wear pants working with these animals.

Also, if I do bring pants what type should they be? Jeans would be super hot but I'm not sure if yoga pants or running pants are protective enough. Sorry I know it seems I'm making a big deal out of nothing! I'm just really worried because of the weather haha

 

[StartingoverVet]

coveralls are most appropriate.

ANd I don't think wearing shorts is appropriate on the first day unless you are told otherwise. YOu are trying to make a good impression... better to be conservative first and adjust.

Pants also provide some protection.

 

[that redhead]

I wouldn't wear yoga or running pants. I think jeans or shorts are fine. Personally, I always wear long pants to the barn (hay is stabby, nail ends might rip my jeans but not my leg, etc) even in the dead of summer. But that's up to you and I don't think they'll fire you or anything for bringing something cooler like shorts. But yoga pants seem too unprofessional.

As for coveralls, I disagree. We wear them all the time at school for large animal, but at 108F I don't think its necessary.

 

[equineconstant]

When I volunteered at the zoo in summer--in Louisiana, so you know it gets hot--I wore longer shorts (knee-length or therabouts, not short ones) and a (uniform) polo. Have you been to the rescue before? Being dressed similarly to what they were wearing would be your best bet, if possible. Maybe you can check a website or something to see how they dress, if you haven't already seen it in person?

 

[BlackDog17]

Definitely not yoga or running pants, that will look extremely unprofessional. I would say wear a clean pair of jeans (no obvious holes or stains) and just throw a pair of shorts in your bag or car so you can change if you find out it's okay.

Most animal jobs I've had didn't necessarily require pants, but they were just a good idea for protection and durability. Jeans were always my first choice unless the job required something different. The ones that did allow shorts usually required that they be khakis of a certain length. Running shorts, cutoffs, short shorts, etc look too unprofessional if you're working anywhere that's open to the public, so I would wait and see what your coworkers typically wear before going to work in shorts.

 

[puppyloomp]

Thanks guys! I'll just wear jeans tomorrow and bring a pair of shorts along. The rescue is not generally open to the public (you have to make an appointment first/they have special open house days) but I haven't really been told anything about what's going on tomorrow so I don't know if people will be visiting. When I went to interview both the women I met were wearing what looked like black stretchy pants (so probably yoga pants) but I have no idea if that's typical for them and that's why I was considering it but I'll just wear jeans and then ask them what's appropriate when I'm done tomorrow!

 

[bunnity]

I always think it is weird when the undergrad/high school volunteers wear shorts to New Bolton when everyone else is wearing khakis. I'm the least dress code-y person ever but there is so much in the way of hay/poop/dirt/meds around that I think long pants are much more fitted to a barn setting.

 

[ChittyBang]

I volunteer at a farm animal sanctuary (Woodstock Farm Animal Sanctuary) and I just wear jeans, waterproof shoes/ boots, sunscreen and a t-shirt (in warm weather).

 

[cowgirla]

I always think it is weird when the undergrad/high school volunteers wear shorts to New Bolton when everyone else is wearing khakis. I'm the least dress code-y person ever but there is so much in the way of hay/poop/dirt/meds around that I think long pants are much more fitted to a barn setting.

This.

If it's too hot for jeans, get a pair of lightweight khakis. I've got a pair of Cabelas and when I wear them, it feels like I'm naked. They are light, breezy, and super comfortable but at least its a layer between my skin and whatever might be laying around. You can try a discount store like TJ Maxx, or most major hiking/outdoor stores will carry something similar. The cabelas were dirt cheap. I've got the same pants in Columbia/North Face but don't want to ruin them around the barn I'm a huge fan of outdoor style brands because they are built to be comfortable in whatever type of weather they are geared towards + they tend to hold up pretty well.

 

[kernel]

I always think it is weird when the undergrad/high school volunteers wear shorts to New Bolton when everyone else is wearing khakis. I'm the least dress code-y person ever but there is so much in the way of hay/poop/dirt/meds around that I think long pants are much more fitted to a barn setting.

This.

If it's too hot for jeans, get a pair of lightweight khakis. I've got a pair of Cabelas and when I wear them, it feels like I'm naked. They are light, breezy, and super comfortable but at least its a layer between my skin and whatever might be laying around. You can try a discount store like TJ Maxx, or most major hiking/outdoor stores will carry something similar. The cabelas were dirt cheap. I've got the same pants in Columbia/North Face but don't want to ruin them around the barn I'm a huge fan of outdoor style brands because they are built to be comfortable in whatever type of weather they are geared towards + they tend to hold up pretty well.

Agreed. I would feel naked and suuuuper uncomfortable wearing shorts, even in the heat. I know being hot and shvety sucks, but when you're around farm animals, you'll want the protection/coverage.

If jeans feel too casual, you might try to find some lightweight work pants. For instance, I wear Carhartts. I have a lightweight pair for the summer and double fronts for winter. If those are too pricey, there are other copy-cat brands that sell pants for less (like cowgirla said, try Cabela's or another outdoor/farm&ranch store).

 

[cs5910]

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