I have a confession to make.  I'm completely CLUELESS about "farm" living.  There, I said it!  Really, I'm not exaggerating.  I have no idea how to pick, raise, milk, gather, slaughter, feed--anything.                                                

Now that you know just how challenged I am, I have a question for all you "experts" (Which, compared to me, would be EVERYBODY).  What animal(s) would you recommend for a "newby" like me?

Any advice is appreciated. 

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by Kitty

I think I took the easy way out with rabbits and chickens, LOL. I recently learned how to slaughter my rabbits. I couldn't kill them tho, I had my 13 yo ds do that for me. He is also the one that showed my how to skin them and clean them. As for the chickens, I keep them for a few years then I sell them to an older man down the street and he kills them. I guess I could learn how to kill them if I had to. I would have to say that rabbits and chicks are the easiest animals to care for. I would check into that if your just starting out. Remember one step at a time. You can find a whole lot of info on the net about raising stuff.
Good luck.
Kitty

• Permanent Link

Posted by farmgal35

What animals do you like? How many acres of land? I raise horses and cattle, which needs plenty of pasturing. We also have hogs and a rabbit. With hogs a lot and houseing for them. But they do get smelly. The two we have are about 450 lbs or better, but we are just learning with them. I think you could probably start with whatever you want. Do research and what they need. Personally, I like horses. I think they are the easiest. But I would do my research and visit a farm or a vet and see what they would recommend for you. Something else you need to ask yourself how much time you have to devote to raising animals. Different animals have different needs and some need more time spent on them. I`m no expert but I know things that I have found over the years. Things that I wished someone would have told us before we jumped in. LIke the hogs, more than what I had bargain for. Good luck. sheryl

• Permanent Link

Posted by deedee06

We are "townies" now, but we lived on a farm for the first 10 years we were married. I would suggest that before you acquire animals, you might ask neighbors which animals they have had success with. You will be surprised at how expensive it is to have animals. When I raised chickens, I was amazed at how pricey their food was as well as the effort it took to keep out predators. Cats are good farm animals because they are independent and keep the mouse population down. I don't mean to discourage you though. I hope you'll have a wonderful time raising animals. Blessings from the Big Sky Country..........Denise (prairiemom)

• Permanent Link