The Homestead Way of Life

Flocks & Herds 101

A (very) short course on what you need to think about before you acquire animals

1)  Time – Are you willing to devote the time and make the commitment necessary to keeping livestock?  Dairy animals must be milked twice a day, every day, during milking season.  Animals must be fed and given fresh water every day.  Quarters must be cleaned, eggs gathered, wool sheared, hooves clipped, etc.  You won’t be able to just take off for a few days on a lark.  Can you find a reliable person to care for your animals if you must go out of town?

2)  Housing - Can you build or buy adequate housing and fencing for your animals?  There are predators everywhere.  Some animals, like chickens, can be housed fairly simply (corner of a barn or secure shed), but larger animals will require strong fencing to keep them penned in and predators out.

3)  Expense - Will you be able to afford veterinary fees should your animals become ill or need some other kind of attention?  What about grain, hay, alfalfa?  These products can get pricey and the more animals you have, the more you will need to buy.  Dairy animals require a fair amount of equipment for milking.  Chicks require equipment for brooding, etc.

4)  Applicable Laws – Is your area zoned for livestock?  Zoning laws may prohibit you from keeping some types of animals, or limit the amount you can have.  You might need to have a particular amount of square footage per animal, etc.  Check out what types of laws are pending in your area that might affect you in the future.

5)  Neighbors – Many a zoning regulation has been changed due to complaints from neighbors about noise, smell, etc.  Urban and suburban sprawl are reaching deeper into the “country”, so this may become a consideration in the future.  Be a good neighbor, and you probably won’t have problems.

6)  Guts - Do you have it in you to put an animal down, if need be?  We have had to cull older chickens.  We have also had to put animals down after an accident or attack.  You can't let an animal just lay there suffering while you try to find someone to dispose of it. 

From the March/April 2006 issue of the New Harvest Homestead newsletter.

Too late for me...

06:23, 2006-Apr-12 .. Posted by oldpathsfamilyfarm

Aaarrrgh! Why couldn't I have read something like this BEFORE we bought a farm-full of critters? If I had, though, I probably would have chickened out. LOL
Thanks you for posting this-it is exactly the kind of thing newbies (like me) need. Grin.

Blessings from Old Paths Family Farm!

Edited by oldpathsfamilyfarm on 2006-Apr-12 at 09:23

Untitled Comment

06:53, 2006-Apr-12 .. Posted by justme

That's why we don't have a milk cow or chickens or anyother thing that requires time everyday. I'd love to have fresh eggs but I also like to camp. The two just don't mix.
Donna

Committment

05:49, 2006-Apr-16 .. Posted by ThistleCoveFarminVA

is the key word. I raise and breed rare American Curly horses, Shetland, Romney, Merino and cross bred sheep. This is my life's work and I count it all joy...most of the time <g>. Sometimes, it's all drudgery...like when I was retching on my hands and knees in the snow in the pasture and hoping none of the other farmers would ride by and see me.

Thirty minutes later I was thinking I'd die out there and no one would every know until my body was recovered in the spring <g>.

I wouldn't change my lifestyle for anything! I've known since I was 6 years old I wanted to farm and God honored that desire almost four decades later and there's not a day that goes by that He's not given thanks and praise.

Life is hard but it's easier when you're doing what you love!

God's blessings on you, yours and the work of your hands,

Sandra @ Thistle Cove Farm

Thank you!

10:34, 2006-Apr-17 .. Posted by wannabeone

I just can't tell you how much I consistantly enjoy your blog - and your website! The things that you share are either what's been on my mind or something that will come up in the near future that I may refer back to you for.

PLEASE keep up your good work!

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><

Thank you

12:42, 2006-Apr-17 .. Posted by TChannel4

for this entry. We are praying for a small farm in the future and this is eye opening. It doesn't make me not want it and Lord willing we will have one but it does bring up things for me to be equipt for.

God Bless,
Tammy

Better Late Than Never

11:25, 2006-May-11 .. Posted by Pattisea

I wish I'd read this before I fell in love with two cute bunnies. I convinced my husband that I must have them for MOther's Day (2005).

I'd read they could be trained as indoor pets, like cats. For some reason, and I know the blame lies with me, I was not successful.

Now our two sweet boys sit in a cage 24/7. We feed them, pet them, and that's about it. We did buy a harness so we could take them for walks, but bunnies can be stubborn; mine refused to be led ANYwhere!!

Thanks for posting this information. I will use it as a check list in the future. I shudder to think of the consequences if I'd been able to buy the bees!