Wish I Lived On a Farm

I have been talking to my fiance for a bit about us possibly moving to an area where we can have some land and have a small farm. We would raise goats for milk, chickens for eggs, alpaca for fleece, ect. Oh and we'd have to have a horse or two. :) So, anyone that keeps these animals or lives on a "farm", please chime in with your experiences. I'd love to hear the good and the bad, especially dealing with the keeping of the animals.

The worst part that I have dealt with is carrying buckets of water to replace frozen buckets. The fence usually breaks down when it is so cold your fingers are numb or the rain is pounding. I help with my sisters horses and she has to take care of all 16 of them plus other animals no matter what the weather, A minimum of three to 4 hrs a day!! The weather was my biggest challenge. Animal husbandry is a must. Animals never seem to get real sick till the vet is not available. I had one of my borzoi get her side laid open in a blizzard. I was able to stitch her up myself by directions given over the phone. Not trying to scare you, but when you take on several animals it is a commitment. Not only of your time and hard work, but your billfold too!. I still have several animals though because they are a joy to keep. But if you are unable to commit to the work, do the animals a favor and leave them to others. Good luck with your critters. If you truly want it, you will reap the rewards.:)

I'm used to having to care for animals no matter the weather. I had horses when I was younger and I remember having to go out and care for them when it was raining and cold. I would definitely do a ton of research and talk with many many many livestock keepers and vets before ever making my first purchase of an animal like that. This is something I plan to do once I have a house with some land (estimating 5-8 years down the road). I know there would be times (probably many) that I really just would not want to get off my butt and tend the animals but I would get up and do it anyway. I talked to a lady at the last state fair about nubian goats. I'm really interested in those little buggers. They are adorable with interesting personalities. I can't wait till the next fair rolls around so I can go see the goats again.

Well good luck! I didn't mean to sound so off putting, but having done rescue work for so many years you can't imagine all I've seen or heard. Many people do get animals with the intentions of caring for them, not realizing the WORK involved. So many city people are in love with the thought of farm life having no idea what it is about. It never sinks in with them till it is sometimes to late to help the animals. I rescued a pony that had foundered and during all the years they had it, they didn't trim the hooves.
It's good to hear you have knowledge of what your getting in to. When you find a place remember to post pics.:)

I work in a bookstore and I have found tons of books in the animal section that are on the care of various farm-type animals. I can get all my basic information from books and the internet and when it comes closer to the time I would be thinking about getting these animals I would seek out some people that can give me hands on experience before I buy. That way I know what I'm getting into. My best friend's parents have a goat/alpaca farm one state over from me so maybe if they still don't hate me from my highschool days, then maybe they can teach me a bit. :)

My best advice? Talk to people you know that may know someone with a farm and spend the summer helping out on a real farm. It isn't like anything you can imagine. Seriously.

If you just want to have a few animals like you mentioned, I have no doubt you'd be able to pull it off! ;) But a working farm is a lot of work, heartache and commitment.

I plan on having some chickens, geese, and maybe a fainting goat or two. But that really is the extent. I don't have any interest in actually running a farm LOL, just having the space for some animals I really love.

For something small, you just live in the country. Have a small barn, maybe a chicken coop, and that's what I hope to have. :D

Horses are a huge commitment, but my aunt in Cali has something like 11, and it was a blast to be there! Again, best to go work with a stable. Get some experience before you invest thousands into some horses on your own property. It's such a rewarding experience to see all of your hardwork pay off and enjoy it!! :gj:

I can relate to wanting some land and a few animals. I would never want to have a working farm. Just not the personality it takes to do that but I'm into chickens so I can help you there. Chickens are awesome in small numbers. They can be very personable and give you a bonus of eggs and/or meat.

This is my feature length documentary Mad City Chickens. It's on people who keep chickens in the city. A lot applies to people in the country too. We just had the sold out (yea!)premiere at the WI film fest in April and are submitting it to others around the country now.

Here's the movie trailers. trailers
Hope you enjoy!:D
:)

I used to have 3 and I think that is all I would be able to handle as far as horses goes. I don't live that far from "the country" but finding someone who has a farm with these kinds of animals will be hard for me. I don't know anyone, other than my friend who's parents have a farm one state over. The only other chance I have to even see animals like the ones I want to keep is the state fair.

You know, just do your homework and make a plan and start small. Figure out your areas of interest and why you want the animals you do. Do you want just a hobby farm? Or do you want to be producing meat or fiber or eggs or milk or??? I have the horses and we will probably go ahead and make a chicken coop this year as I am interested in knowing where my food comes from. The horses do not produce anything except manure but the workload is the same as other livestock. I like having them and being in tune with the weather and the seasons. Going out day in and day out, living by the schedule of their needs. I think it is a nice way to live.

Basically, we want to be self sustaining. We want to grow our own food. We are vegetarians so we won't raise animals for meat for our consumption, but our animals would like the organic, homegrown meat for themselves. (chickens, quail, ect) We want to grow our own vegetables and fruits, raise goats for milk (maybe even a cow), and chickens for eggs. I like the idea of not only knowing where my food comes from but having to work for it too. I think I would be much healthier for it and also I would be more satisfied looking at my dinner plate and saying "Man, did I work hard for this meal." I'm starting small already. My fiance and I are venturing into growing a few vegetables in our backyard this year and seeing how that goes. :)

If you do decide to get into chickens, be VERY careful!!!

VERY, VERY!

They are extremely addictive...but oh, how wonderful those fresh eggs are. Round out your egg basket...get light/med/dark brown egg layers, as well as "Easter Eggers" and tinted layers, and a couple of white egg layers to boot.

We started with Cochins, Turkens & Silkies, and now have Ameraucanas, Australorps, Brahmas (light & dark), Barnvelders, D'Uccles, Faverolles, Hollands, Sussex, Sebrights & Wyandottes as well. (I think that's everyone?!?!?!?)

And remember this, above all else...Silkies are minions of the devil, no matter how cute & innocent they appear to be. :twisted:

PERIOD!

:D

I actually have no idea what any of those are as far as chicken breeds. We'll have to do a bit of research to find out what kinds of chickens to keep.

if you are truly wanting to look in to owning land that is zoned for livestock I would look into Arizona. Its really is a buyers market right now. I just bought a place, large property, zoned for horses and live stock and at a price that was outstanding.

If you do happen to look in to AZ as an option, spend a day or two in Sonoita. right around fall we have the fair and livestock show, Sheep and Alpaca fiber contest and anual Hen and Rooster show.

I do have to agree with Blu that it is hard working with live stock but once you get the hang of it and dont over do it on the animals, the ends are very rewarding.

Good luck on what ever you deside.:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by KLG

If you do decide to get into chickens, be VERY careful!!!

VERY, VERY!

And remember this, above all else...Silkies are minions of the devil, no matter how cute & innocent they appear to be. :twisted:

PERIOD!

:D

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I totaly agree. I have way to many as well. as for the slikies I couldnt agree more. They are cute, fluffy and just funny looking but mine are little pains, they get out, you cant catch them because they are so fast and they peck hard for such little birds.

Chickens are as addicting as snakes! :D and there are over a hundred varieties to choose from.

I never had any problems with my silkies and could always catch them easily. Probably because I handled all my birds as chicks. So, they where not afraid of me at all. They make good mothers, too. I guess they can be a little special ed at times but it was just funny to watch them.

Good luck with your veggies. Are you going to try any herbs? They are a great addition to the kitchen and pretty easy to grow. :)

http://www.youtube.com/user/tarazod

We are trying out sweet corn, cucumbers (for making pickles), and carrots. When I get the chance I'm going to the store to get mint and rosemary.

Have fun! If you like pesto, basil is a fun one too.:)

I'm sure you already know this but just in case...;)

...with the corn you have to have a bunch together say like in a square area (not one line) in order for it to pollinate properly.





http://www.youtube.com/user/tarazod

Thanks for the advice on the corn. I always thought you put it in a row. :D

Well it is in rows when you have a big field. :D

...but in the home garden you've just got to make sure that the pollen gets spread around because you won't have a ton of it. A square is a good way to do that. If you are short on space you could do rows but they should be a least say 4 rows together.
:2cent: :)

Thanks a lot. We are starting all our veggies from seeds because we just love to make life difficult. hehe. I'm about to plant the seeds in the next hour or two and I'm crossing my fingers for good seedlings. Should I cover the egg crate (I'm using the egg container to start the seeds) with plastic to keep the humidity in?

Yes, covering the egg container will help a lot.

Just make sure they aren't too wet, so they rot. Kind of like reptile eggs. LOL!

Allrighty, I was raised on a farm all of my life till now we moved to Texas and to a city so no farm. I am an FFA member now and have a heifer, I had a lamb and a pig. Pig is bacon now, and the lamb is a range magget! I dont like goats for anything exept as pets. You have to have quite a few for meat and milk. And for milk you have to keep the goats preggo as well as cows. And you can't just buy a cow or goat expecting it to produce milk, its got to be a certain breed. Chickens a great but smelly... LOL. They taste good. And you will need a whole herd of llamas for fleece. Horses are awesome aswell, but are the most finiky outof all the livestock. I like cattle andpigs. That is for sure something to get into. Good luck its alot of fun!

Well, I doubt you will have this problem, but my mother's horse ranch in the summer has had this problem. Sometimes it gets so hot and dry in the summer the squirrels try to drink from the horse trough. Unfortunately, they end up falling in and can't get out. :( So they drown in the tank and then it has to be drained, scrubbed out and refilled. I always wondered if we could have built a ladder or something so that they could have gotten out.

She has "fighting chickens" (OK, is one of the few places where cockfighting is legal) and they have on occasion managed to defend themselves from other predators.

We also had one pig for a while, which was a great deal of fun. He made great ham.

At one point my mom had cows, but they gave and sold the cows after they learned to jump the cattlegard.

It's a lot of cleaning! Unless you have alot of land and can let your animals live-out.. in that case, your pastures still require maintenance depending on how large they are and how much poop is being produced.
Cows are relatively messy and very destructive on land, though. And their manure is unlike "dry" goat/horse poop.. very splatty! But the goats and poultry shouldn't be that bad on your land.. though goats are huge escape artists!
Chickens are interesting. We have 2 roosters now but want to get some hens. Eggs will be everywhere! If you don't want eggs, though, beware that they'll sometimes sit around and rot and smell unless you collect them maybe daily, and give them away or sell them.
I will type mroe tomorrow.

Building a farm or ranch takes a dream and patience.
Find a piece of land that has year round water going through it and that you have water rights to.
Find your land in an area where the weather is conducive to what you want to raise and grow.
Finding your land is the biggest deal and comes way before thinking about the different types of chickens (btw, do you like the austrolorps Kara?)
If you and your huni can get through the land looking and purchasing intact, that is the entire battle.
Ooops, then there is all of the fencing and refencing and H-braces and refencing.
Building building building.
Do you like to get away sometimes.....not if you live on a farm. It is really hard to find a good ranch hand.
BUT---if this is your dream then follow it. Hubby and I have done it once and we're doing it again because we love it and because we believe in it.
Oh yeah, stock up on heirloom seeds (fix them in a container with nitrogen; they'll last a long time)
FOLLOW YOUR BLISS :D:gj::D

Well it is tomorrow :)
Chickens do need space. Our two are actually free-range now, and thus they do not produce any odor or require cleanup. But there is the occasional pile of chicken poop that you have to step over. They spend most of their time outside, so it disperses. They roost in the barn in the rafters, and yes, their poop does build up under those spots. I just rake it up into the horse manure cart. But a lot of chickens = a lot of waste! I was at one farm where they roamed free; POOP was on EVERYthing in that barn! I would recommend a nice fenced in area that is predator-proof. "Chicken wire" is not really that good because some animals like weasels can fit into it. Wire grid fencing stuff with half-inch holes is good. Chix can fly too, so they'd need a fence that goes all around!
Horses require alot of cleaning if they live-in!! But many, many great keepers leave their horses outside 24-7. Even some members of the one forum I go on, that live up in Sescatchewan, leave them out. Mine stay out all of the time unless the weather is realllly bad, and in winter I bring them into their box stalls most nights, to prevent undue weight loss. They need hay, hay, and more hay, and more hay after that. Unless you have top-notch grazing.. that does need maintenance too.. but now is the best time to own horses for us. They eat "for free" out in the pasture! They do have a run-in shelter that they almost never use.. and horses Do need shade in the hot summertime.
Different horses "keep better" than others. Some need alot more feed than others to maintain weight. Teeth, age, and deworming all play into that.. geez, horses are more of a philosophy than a hobby!

Thanks for all the information. We probably will not be getting land for a few more years mainly because of how expensive everything is. The cheapest plot of land we have found that sounded decent for its size was $47,000 for 10acres. Not to mention we know jack diddly squat about building anything and we'd have to build shelters for all the animals and set aside some space for a house. And most land available has no access to water or utilities like electric or anything of that nature.

I would recommend fainting goats. They are useful to play endless pranks on visiting city folk.

I do not like fainting goats. The way I see it, in nature, a fainting goat would probably not last long. It would get scared and faint, leaving itself vunerable to predators. Therefor, the fainting is an undesirable trait.

When I keep goats I will keep one of these breeds: Nubian, LaMancha, or Nigerian Dwarf. Actually the dwarf goats are iffy for us as well because we've heard they can have difficulty with pregnancy and birth due to their size.

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Originally Posted by Jay_Bunny

I do not like fainting goats. The way I see it, in nature, a fainting goat would probably not last long. It would get scared and faint, leaving itself vunerable to predators. Therefor, the fainting is an undesirable trait.

When I keep goats I will keep one of these breeds: Nubian, LaMancha, or Nigerian Dwarf. Actually the dwarf goats are iffy for us as well because we've heard they can have difficulty with pregnancy and birth due to their size.

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That trait probably was "man-made" but it could have come from nature too. Possums play dead for a reason.

McKinsey - I love my Australorps! They're still young & haven't started to lay yet, but they have nice personalities & seem to be very confident birds that are fun to interact with. :)