Miniature sheep are another option. We raise Miniature Cheviots in a small way and enjoy them very much. We do have a few larger sheep and I have to ask John to help me when we need to deworm or vaccinate them, but I can handle my little Cheviots all by myself. They're friendly, fun to interact with, and they furnish very nice fleece. While I haven't learned to spin (yet!), we've had our fleece made into wonderful woollen bed blankets for ourselves and as gifts for our families.

The trick to either species is buying animals that are used to being handled or to start with bottle babies you can train yourself. Older, unhandled goats and sheep can be tamed but it may take time and effort.

Also, you'd want to choose breeds adaptable to Texas' summer heat. Some of the Swiss goat breeds, for instance, don't 'do' heat and humidity all that well, while Nubians, LaManchas, and Pygmy goats seem to take it in stride. Wool sheep breeds pant in heavy summer heat but given shade and cool water to drink, ours fare well here in northern Arkansas. A friend who has the largest flock of Miniature Cheviots in the country rises them near Casa Grande, Arizona, and they do just fine.

Miniature cattle might be a good choice too. Be sure to read Carol Ekarius' article about Lowline cattle in the May/June 2008 issue of Hobby Farms!

I hope this helps.  :o)

Sue

tsukii (4/13/2008)

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Thank you so much! I was getting nervous, thinking wouldn't be able to have my own livestock, but you've brought back my confidence!
The idea of goats is really growing on me, and I had no idea there were miniature sheep.

Thank you again--Now that I've got a direction, I feel much better

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Oh, there are a number of small, manageable sheep breeds. I'm partial to Miniature Cheviots (visit the Miniature Cheviot Breeders' Cooperative at: http://www.minicheviot.com) but there are Babydoll Southdowns, Shetlands, Soay, even some of the medium-size breeds would be doable for you.

I have only five ewes and a ram but I've kept a number of wethers (castrated males) for fiber and pets. Cheviots are an easy-care breed since they have open (unwoolled) faces and legs and they rarely experience lambing problems. Some people consider them flighty but most of mine are in-your-pocket sheep including my young, home-raised ram.

One of the great things about sheep is that there are literally scores of interesting breeds to choose from. There are something like 60 registered breeds available in the United States alone. My motto is: so many sheep--so little time! Check some of them out at: http://www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-resources/livestock-resources/sheep-breed-profiles.aspx Not all the breeds are up yet but two of my favorites are there: Karakuls and Scottish Blackface. I hope to have a second flock some day and when I do, it'll be one of those breeds!

Sue

There are small or mini breeds in other livestock, as Sue mentioned.  Sheep, goats, pigs, even cattle and horses.

I personally don't know what breeds would do good in Texas though, I'm always looking for animals that can withstand MN winters. 

Dream Big.

Hey Mare Owner, are you a Minnesotan? I'm a Minnesotan at heart! To me, it's the best place in the whole, wide world.

One of the things that keeps me where I am (the southern edge of the Ozarks) is that my goat family is composed of Southern-born, long-eared breeds (Boers and Nubians) that I doubt very much would make the move in comfort. I've discussed this with fellow goat addicts who all say, "Why didn't you start with LaManchas or LaBoers?" 

I love my long-eared beauties but if I had it to do over again, that's probably the way I'd go. It takes some effort to get used to their "earlessness" (and I still prefer LaManchas with cute, triangle-shaped flaps called elf ears) but LaManchas are arguably the calmest, most intelligent of the dairy breeds and they give a lot of yummy milk. Earlessness is dominant, so when bred to Boer meat goats they produce LaBoers. Bred back to Boers, LaBoers nearly always produce earless offspring and this can go on for several generations.

So if you hanker after goats that can take Northern winters, think LaManchas or Mini-Manchas!

And most wool sheep work in the far North.  :o)

Sue

Also, If you are breaking in new ground, I would recommend a couple of pigs.  They really root up that Johnson grass and fertilize too.  Make sure you give them a big tub of water to get into especially in the summer.

Chickens do well-I have had luck with Plymouth Rocks, and Rhode Islands.

We have Great Pryanees for Guard Dogs. Love them.  The coyotes don't come across our place anymore.

Elizabeth

Sincerely,

Gamebird Breeder

We love our Guineas! Over the years predators have gradually whittled them down to two elderly bachelors, so we need to start with keets again soon.

However, I can't imagine a farm without Guineas. Some people object to their noisiness but it's worth hearing them go off at times not to have ticks in the yard and watching their crazy antics is priceless.

One nice thing is that they can really take care of themselves. We feed them scratch and they roost on the low roof of our sheep fold at night (unless it's raining or as it rarely does here, snowing, and then they go inside with the sheep). They hate being kept in a coop, so that's it for our Guinea care.

Sue