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RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

sammyd — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:14:58 GMT

I would say to start with whatever you feel the most comfortable with.
Chickens are pretty easy but require a bit of set up with a brooder and coop.
We chose calves first since I grew up on a dairy farm and our little place all ready had fencing and a small shed.

We bought 2 acres and we started with 2 holstein bull calves 7 years ago. the next year we added 100 meat chickens and 30 laying hens.
Then went on to add 100 or so rabbits and then 20 or so goats.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

wenchie — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 13:29:23 GMT

chicks! We just started raising them. I never thought we go so crazy over them. There are so many beautiful breeds. We were going to have 4 little silkies.........well we were going to have 17 and planning on more!

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

Plowpoint — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:45:32 GMT

Sheep

(Note: Shortest post ever made by Plowpoint)

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

the bird lady — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 17:23:13 GMT

Hello reading that you only have 4 acres please remember that bigger animals eat hay. If you have farmers around to buy from it's not a big deal. Do you have a way of picking it up round or square bails. Large round need equipment to move it. If the farmer delivers you have to figure in the extra cost of the delivery. I'm telling you this as my friend got some sheep and no way other then having it delivered. I dropped some off in her yard 1200 lb. round bales she pushed it closer to the barn with her vehicle. I offered to move it with our backhoe but she had a wood pile in the way to where it would be closer to the sheep so know she will have to carry it in a sled. I have sheep,goats (escape artist) chickens, guinea's,peacocks and rabbits. My daughter has horses. Also 1 meat cow he will be in the freezer come spring. When you get animals think about what you want them for pets or food. My sheep and goats are fiber animals, chickens are egg layers one rabbit is angora the other is a someone else didn't want. Yes I have sucker on my forehead. My peacocks are ornamental and the guineas are my bug patrol. I live on 40 acres but ZERO hay field. This past summer I raised meat chickens and yes I would do it again also found a hatchery to get Cornish game birds. The taste is unbelievable. I have bartered my chickens and eggs for different items once it was even to get a small motor fixed.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

LindaB — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:47:32 GMT

We've had chickens, ducks, horses, sheep, goats, and alpacas - love 'em all. Chickens are probably the easiest, but they all require care. Of the larger animals, I'd say alpacas are the easiest. They do need to be sheared every year (like sheep and some goats); they need periodic toenail trimming (easier than the goats and sheep, and something I'd never attempt with a horse); gentler on the land than hooved animals and not hard on fences.

I'd second the advice to visit farms and see what appeals to you; they've gotta make you feel like scoopin' poop is worth it. And there's no law that says you can't have 3 of these and 4 of those - you just shouldn't have a single one of any of them. And make sure each individual animal you select is easy to handle.

Linda, EasyGo Farm, Hillsboro OR

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

Sugar Oak Farms — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 14:43:24 GMT

Chickens are always nice to have. They lay eggs for you and are easy to maintain. They are also very good company! I highly recommend getting chickens. A good hatchery is Hoffman Hatchery in Gratz, PA. Their website is http://www.hoffmanhatchery.com/.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

NEAlaMADhouse — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:34:20 GMT

Debbi, I completely understand animals falling from the sky! We live on top of a sparsely populated mountain and have that issue with dogs and cats. As my neighbor says, we never have to buy dogs or cats - we just sit around and wait for them to be delivered to our doorstep!

We've been lucky. The ones we've adopted have turned out to be wonderful pets, or at least good mousers for the barns.

As for other animals to start with - let me just say, "I love my goats!" We started with some $50 Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy "starter" nanny goats that were already bred, figuring we would get our feet wet without a huge investment or the original hassle of dealing with a billy goat. The nice thing about them is they are not rough on the fences. They are small and easily manageable.

The only issue we've had is that our babies are so small they walk right through the fence! Thankfully they don't wander far and our Great Pyr is usually around to nudge them back into the fence and keep away predators.

Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

jrus1stcav — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 12:36:32 GMT

We started our farm this year.

We started with 6 laying hens for eggs. Then we tried 6 meat chickens and learned to butcher them ourselves.

Next we got goats, we have 2 boys and 5 girls with 1 in milk that I milk once a day and make cheese and icecream with the milk.

Last month we added in 2 piggies. We feed them some of the extra goat milk each day. These will be butchered in Feb.

Just remember to do your research and then give yourself time to get adjusted with taking care of the animals before adding a new animal into the mix.

Good luck!!!

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

Debbi — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:12:19 GMT

Needless to say, yes a dog. Although around here, they just fall, from the sky, into your yard. I think little fairies drop them off. It's easier for me, that way...

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

cweick — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 08:41:35 GMT

What about a dog?

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

Debbi — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 15:18:37 GMT

We started with a chickens and goats. After we had extra milk and produce, we bought weaner pigs. The trick is, do your homework first. And start small!

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

Tobiasrer — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 21:33:31 GMT

I agree, couldnt imagine a small farm with out chickens!
Pigs can be another great animal, they eat your scrapes can till the garden in the fall and spring adding fertilizer.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

Mare Owner — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 21:53:34 GMT

Chickens are the gateway animal. :) You can start with just a few, and stay simple or get elaborate with how you keep them, but they are very easy to keep.

They need a simple shelter and food/water daily. They can be kept well w/o heat lamps or heated water.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

av8rwife — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:14:05 GMT

No farm is complete without a couple chickens. We bought ours when they were a day old and they are 7 months old now. I absolutely LOVE them, they are very entertaining and social. So you need to have more than just one. Good Luck and have fun.

RE: Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

ShearPerfectionRanch — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:22:25 GMT

We settled on sheep, but ultimately it's a personal decision. I'd visit small ranches with different species and see what you feel most comfortable with. You may want to do a combination of species. Once you've decided the species then you need to decide which breed or crossbreed you want. And, I would follow the same process, visit farms that have them before making a decision which one is right for you.

Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase for our new family farm

maust — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 17:37:40 GMT

Recently purchased 4 acre farm house. Looking for ideas of what type of animals to purchase that are low maintenance.