Clown Care and Tips

Clown care questions answered

[dovalore]

buggl

[circus-clown-advocate]

i snuck into my clowns tent and dropped off a little guy i found on the road, hoping they accept and raise the baby, will update soon o7

[circus-clown-advocate]

Hiiii! So I have quite a few clowns and I'm preparing to get another three (two jesters and what looks like either an auguste or a vagabond). I have a few different types already (three pierrots, a jester and an auguste) and I started wondering, I don't actually know if all those different entertainers get along? They don't seem to hate each other either but the pierrots tend to stick together, and so do the jester and auguste. Is that normal?

Hi!

I'm going to preface with I am trained primarily in circus and party clown care and I think it's great you love all your clowns so much!

From the breeds described, it seems you have several solitary breeds being houses together. Depending on how much space they have, it may be okay but that explains why your 5 sweethearts don't interact with each other much.

If you already have an auguste, he may get along well with the vagabond/possible auguste bUT without a "white clown" to initiate antics you could be headed for a very morose house. You may want to look into adopting a playmate for your two augustes.

As for your pierrots, it is typically normal for them to pine in groups and not interact much with other breeds.

Everything I have seen in the literature does not recommend housing multiple jesters in the same area, no matter how large. I know this can frequently become an issue for rehabbers and rescues. If the two jesters you're looking at adopting are already bonded (extremely rare but possible) you will need to be very careful introducing them to your other clowns, and I wouldn't recommend introducing them to your first jester as this could lead to competition or bullying.

If possible, see if you can find another home for the two jesters.

If anyone has any more information( @giggle-gaf-rescue ), please join in and good luck, nonnie!!!

[circus-clown-advocate]

<sighhhhh>

clowns lay eggs.

That's how they reproduce. Nesting materials will depend on species' preference.

I know not everyone knows clown husbandry in and out but this is simple clown biology.

[giggle-gaf-rescue]

There’s nothing better than listening to a rodeo clowns harmonica on an early summer evening!

The clown pictured here’s name is Andy, and he’s been a resident of the rescue for going on 40 years now, he helps the newer rodeos get adjusted to captivity and loves to sit back and play a tune.

On occasion he also plays the spoons! He’s not much for tumbling around these days performing but he’s always glad for company.

[campyvampy21]

I was so excited today to find lemon circus peanuts at my local clown supply store! Apparently there are four flavors/colors of circus peanut, who knew! There’s the classic orange, yellow lemon, pink bubblegum, and white vanilla. This is wonderful news for anyone who cares for a clown with color preferences.

My Great-Aunt-in-Law rescued a teacup circus mix whose favorite color is yellow. She’s had issues sourcing a diverse variety of yellow sweets, so these are a game changer. I bought a few bags to send her, I just know little Squirp will love them!

[circus-clown-advocate]

I'm sure your great aunt's Squirp will love those! What an excellent find, thank you for sharing with the community op!

All clowns can eat standard orange circus peanuts (though some breeds should only have them as a treat) but you can always try offering them a new flavor for some enrichment!

[clownology4dummies]

Are jesters supposed to honk? My friend adopted what they claim is a purebred jester but I've never heard of a jester honking. Also they're very small, like a doll, I'm very concerned

lol i had a friend who did this in middle school. no, purebred jesters don't honk (source), and they aren't small (source). what your friend likely has is a teacup breed or mix of some kind, i suspect birthday teacup mix as those are most common, and your friend is trying to seem cooler by claiming they have a jester, kind of like how some kids claim their husky is a wolf to seem cooler and more mysterious. xD

[circus-clown-advocate]

That's almost certainly an party toy breed, anon. I can't say if it's a birthday party specifically without seeing their markings, but all party breeds love honking and are the most common to see as "toy" breeds.

Jesters do not honk. Ever. If a jester begins to honk that's a sign of serious disease and any responsible clown owner would rush their sweetheart to the vet.

[clownomics]

I’ve been lurking on Pinterest for a bit now, but I’ve always been a clown fan (they’re my favorite animal) so now that I can get a clown of my own I figured I’d come over here for some advice. Are there any easy for beginners jester breeds out there? Or scary clowns, I love them both.

Jesters are a classic clown breed, they've been beloved by humans for ages so a wonderful pet choice! they're very playful and active and will even learn what you're into to use for their tricks. They are a little noisy on account of the jingling bells and mimicking or parroting but for a beginner I think a Court Jester is great! They're easy to take care of, not needing too many special treatments, so you can follow the same care guides as for Carnival or Circus clowns if you need help. Scary or Spooky clowns are a bit harder to care for on account of them being carnivores and usually bigger in size (although there are smaller variants that you may find from breeders nowadays but they tend to be expensive and not always ethically bred :( ). If you're okay with ocassionally getting jumpscared by finding your scary clowns where it doesn't belong or silently stalking you at odd hours of the day and night then I suppose you can probably learn as you go considering there aren't too many care guides out there for the breed unfortunately. Personally, I recommend a Court Jester. and remember to adopt rather than buy!

[circus-clown-advocate]

Hi, just wanted to clarify that you absolute cannot care for a jester the same way you care for a circus clown.

Circus clowns are social and need to live in troupes of three or more individuals and have a diet much higher in sugar than is safe for ANY jester.

Court jesters need more meat in their diet than circus or carnival clowns do and they require wine on a regular basis, which should never be given to a circus clown! Court jesters are solitary and will follow their "monarch" around telling jokes and making insightful quips about the monarch's behaviors which may become irritating for inexperienced owners.

While op is right; jesters are a classic and beloved clown breed. They are not a good choice for a first time clown owner.

[kikothedragoncat]

Please for the love of GOD

BATHE YOUR HOBO CLOWNS

Do they love dirt? Yes, absolutely. Do they HATE bath time?? Of course. But in no way does that mean you can neglect it!

Sure, hobo clowns don’t need to be washed anywhere near as much as a circus clown, mime or pierrot, but it’s basic hygiene. Too often I see these horrendous takes where people say “But my hobo loves the dirt!” “It’s good for their enrichment!” “Hobo’s are more distressed when they’re clean!”

NO NO NO NO NOO!!! JAIL!! STRAIGHT TO JAIL!! I’m literally throwing peanuts at you!!!!

Just because your clown might fight back against bath time with the determination of a wet cat doesn’t mean it isn’t good for them, and certainly does not mean you get to skip out on that chore. Do you WANT them to have problems with their skin?? Rainbow rash is unbelievably common in hobos because owners just don’t take the time to look after them properly and it’s so sad to see.

You can keep them calm with a harmonica and reward them afterwards by letting them sit by the fire with a brandy, and they’ll probably forgive you. Be an adult, put on some handling gloves and squirting flower-resistant goggles and get scrubbing!

Say it with me:

Look after your fucking clowns!

[circus-clown-advocate]

hello! anon from before again here to update! my clownlet i found out was was infact a circus clown which is good because i have found out my circus keeps ... juggling the baby? obviously i want them to bond with their baby but i cant help but worry, my mime doesnt seem to mind so this is normal right?

Hello again, Anon!

Yes, this is absolutely normal circus clown parental care and there is no cause for concern as long as your mime is not becoming stressed. Circus clowns juggle their young to help develop the youngs sense of balance and desensitize them to inertia.

It is critical to a circus clownlet's development and very healthy.

Congratulations on your new circus sweetheart! May you enjoy many pratfalls from them in the coming years!

[clownology4dummies]

Hey, I'm looking to adopt a clown! I'm a beginner clown owner, and I don't want my clown to get upset or have a bad life. Do you have any tips?

Also, should clowns be kept alone or in pairs like rats? Most clowns I've met have been really social and friendly but I've heard some people say that it's better to keep them alone

whether your pet clown is more suited to living on its own, with another clown, or in a troupe depends entirely on the breed.

for example, mimes are often solitary or in pairs. same with rodeo clowns and birthday breeds.

jesters are primarily solitary. do NOT try to get a jester to perform antics in a "troupe" of other jesters or heaven forbid other breeds of clown.

circus clowns prefer a troupe of three or more, but you have to keep an eye on them, because if they get a hold of a clown car (common “enrichment” for circus clowns despite recommendations against it) you can very quickly have some unintended breeding (source). three clowns get in the car, ten get out. next thing you know, your local shelter is overflowing with circus clownlings.

teacup clown breeds are unpredictable as they are often mixes, and depending on the breeds they are mixed with, their needs vary significantly. many assume that due to their size, you can have more, but again, depending on the mix, that is not always the case. for example, a teacup jester mix should almost always be solitary regardless of how small.

as far as tips go, i highly recommend reaching out to your local clown shelter, asking to volunteer or to simply visit with the clowns, and learn more about their needs and behaviors before seeking to adopt. clown shelters tend to have lots of learning resources on hand as well, so it doesn’t hurt to ask.

hope that helps! :•)

[circus-clown-advocate]

Anon, if you're looking for a good "starter" clown I would recommend adopting a party clown from a shelter. As a breed, they are very even tempered and do well in pairs or solitary (as long as you can spend at least 7 hours a day with them!).

I would not recommend circus clowns if you're starting off as they MUST be adopted in trios or more (with very rare exceptions). I also agree with C4D's warning about teacup breeds.

If you have any more questions about party clowns specifically, please ask!

[cuteypatooty]

Sooo I may have made a mistake when adopting this creature…does anyone know what these things eat???

[circus-clown-advocate]

Pure helium, wall insulation, motor oil, and circus peanuts (FRESH ONLY) are all good foods for balloon dogs. You must feed them a variety of foods.

Sprinkles should only be given as a treat and only if they are novelty shaped.

[campyvampy21]

I can’t believe I have to say this, but PLEASE do not leave diet sodas out to try to poison stray or wild clowns! It is highly unethical and also ILLEGAL in most states! Diet soda is very unhealthy for clowns, as it lacks the essential sugars and fats they need, while containing enough fake sugars to make them believe they’ve been fully nourished! A clown can and will starve themselves to death with a full stomach if they’re given too much diet soda.

This is not the first time someone in my neighborhood has tried to poison the feral Juggalos, but if I have anything to do with it, it will be the last. Someone has been leaving multiple bottles of SUGAR FREE Faygo Cola around the neighborhood where clowns like to frolic. No education or polite conversations have had results, so I will have to escalate.

If you have an active a clown infestation, there are resources! They can be trapped, spayed and rehomed or released in other places! There’s even services that link feral clowns to farms in need of pest control, entirely for the purpose of placing ferals in safer locations! I understand clown euthanasia as a method of population control could be warranted in some niche scenarios, but to “euthanize” feral, wild, or homeless clowns via starvation is absolutely disgusting and evil behavior. Rest assured that I will be placing hidden cameras on my property and reporting whoever is responsible to the proper authorities.

I’ve began taking my walks earlier in the morning and later at night to try to find these soda bottles before they’re consumed, and replace them with full sugar faygos instead. Unfortunately, there’s been times I was too late. I found these bottles this morning, already empty. My heart goes out to those poor Juggalo clowns.

[circus-clown-advocate]

Honestly, this is just so cruel!

Clowns don't even cause harm to local environments, at least not more than the human population already there!

Not to mention the harm this can cause to native clown populations!! Op, thank you for being vigilante and looking out for your juggalos, if you can I think it would be good for you to go ahead and trap and rehome your local strays if you can. There are several clown rescues that would be able to help you, depending on your location. That way your neighbors won't be able to hurt these sweet babies anymore.

[circus-clown-advocate]

Any tips on helping my horse warm to my rescued Rodeo Clown? I thought they’d be naturally compatible, given their breeds, but even brief introductions through fences have left my gelding shaken and panicked. My clown isn’t taking the rejection well at all, the poor thing is just laying in his sand pit and fidgeting with his lasso.

I don't have much advice for the horse side of things but your poor Rodeo! You can try giving him a horse plushie that resembles your gelding to play with, used horse blankets that smell like the stable to comfort him, and a hobby horse so he can practice a new routine.

He may also enjoy romping about in hay, jumping barrels, or doing trick shots with his lasso for you. Make sure to give him lots of attention and encourage him with applause and whistles. As a rare treat, you can offer him a little beer when he interacts with your horse to build positive associations. He is going to have a hard time with the rejection, especially if he doesn't have anyone else to play with. I highly recommend setting up a playdate with your local rodeo clown care group or circus clown group as the two species usually get along well.

It's wonderful that you have the ability and desire to provide proper enrichment for your Rodeo! Hopefully someone in the notes will have tips on how to introduce your two sweethearts.

[creatureonmylawn]

Creature Identification?

There’s been a little rodent I’ve spotted hiding in the bench on my patio and I can’t seem to tell what it is.

It runs away when I get close and makes this dog toy squeak? This is a cropped picture, I was standing quite a bit away. Any suggestions help.

[circus-clown-advocate]

Looks like a classic doll clown to me, though I may be wrong.

It could be a mix breed of rodeo and doll since it does seem to have some farm animal influence in it's markings.

Can anyone else help?

[circus-clown-advocate]

have you ever had to find out what clown you have? my circus clown and mime just had a baby and now i gotta play with the baby with different things to figure out which clown type it is

Hello, sorry about the delay! Hopefully by this time your clownlet's markings should be starting to develop. While I am not a mime expert I do not they tend towards stripes, unicycles, and mirrors. Mimes are much quieter than circus clowns and are usually more solitary in behavior.

Circus clowns on the other hand love bright colours, prefer polka dots, checkered, or obnoxious patterns and adore having troupemates to play and perform with.

Circus clowns develop a red nose (some circuses may also round off though not all!) around 6mo old and you will notice their feet growing much faster than the rest of their body throughout childhood. I know a mime's face typically becomes paler with black triangular markings as they age. This feature is very distinct when compared to circus clown markings (brightly coloured, unlikely to be as symmetrical).

As your baby is a cross, I can't say for certain what traits it will exhibit but be sure to offer them access to silk scarves, juggling balls, cream pies, seltzer bottles, a unicycle, a mirror, and a beret so they can follow their instincts. If you have any other questions, please reach out!

[harpiboo]

the fair 🎈