| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 8:26:07 PM
How many of you have relatives/friends who want you to raise animals for them, and what do you do about it?
As soon as people found out we were looking for a farm, a lot of relatives/friends started in with "Well, if I brought a cow and the food, would your raise it for me?" or "If I bring twenty chickens and the food, will you take care of them and butcher them for me?" etc. etc. etc. Before we just kind of laughed about it, but now that we're looking at closing on the actual farm, I thought I would ask what other people have done or dealt with. Your advice is greatly appreciated. I guess I don't mind having a few extra animals around but sometimes I don't think relatives/friends understand that its not just simply about me having a space "available" for the animals. Thoughts?
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 6:44:57 PM
Sounds like excellent advice gals, and I appreciate all your input! :)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| msdoolittle |
Posted - Dec 05 2011 : 5:21:32 PM
Amy,
One of the first things I learned was that it is VERY easy to do too much too soon. I would highly recommend that you be on the farm, doing your own thing for a few years before you take on other people's animals, if you even decide to do that. I am very cautious anytime we add a new animal due to disease potential. I am very freaky about my poultry! So many parasites/diseases are easily transferred, and we have worked very hard to get what we have now.
We discovered that we are really 'poultry people'. We also have a trio of rabbits. We found that we did not enjoy having goats (mine were very loud), guineas, loud ducks, and most recently we have decided that raising broad breasted turkeys is just too expensive for us (we'll stick with chickens). You'll go through a lot of trial and error, but in the process you'll discover your likes and dislikes. I'd hate to think that I was dedicated to keeping an animal for someone else, and then discovering that I didn't like having that type of animal around!
I recently heard of an alpaca breeder who boards other people's alpaca, and apparently makes a pretty good amount by doing so.
I'd just take it very slow for the first couple of years. I wish I would have taken my own advice, LOL!
FarmGirl #1390
www.mylittlecountry.wordpress.com |
| rksmith |
Posted - Dec 04 2011 : 2:10:13 PM
When I've had people ask me to take care of their animals, I just say no (sometimes adding a few more words). I tell them that if they want a critter they better have the room, the time and the money to take care of it. If it comes to my house and I take care of it, then it is mine - end of story. If they ask why not, ask them if they'll take care of your kids.
Rachel
Farmgirl Sister #2753
Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps, if you are not willing to move your feet--Dr. Kioni
http://madame1313.wordpress.com/ |
| Dusky Beauty |
Posted - Dec 03 2011 : 3:09:32 PM
The farm "kennel" business Angela talks about is really impressive. What an answer to a need that was for the family and the community at large. I'd certainly prefer to take in animals than to take in daycare!
Amy, if you really are not of a mind to take friends/relatives livestock and you just want a good reason to be able so say no-- check with your homeowners /farm insurance. Usually they won't even cover something like that. I've gotten out of "can my kids keep a horse at your house?" because my insurance doesn't cover boarding, so I simply can't take in other people's horses, you see?
"The greatness of a nation and it's moral progress can be judged by the way it's animals are treated." ~Gandhi
http://silvermoonfarm.blogspot.com/
"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut. ~Will Rogers |
| sherrye |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 10:55:06 AM
i am in agreement that deals can be made. what i find for us is I trade work for food. scoop poop get a pack of sausage. i also sell to family members and friends and neighbors. i sell at market price. if i am able to save a buck on feed i pass it on to them too. i just sold a pig that goes to butcher on the 5th. half is for my son. i told him you sell the other half for 2.25 a pound my normal going rate. he gets his for 1.85 a pound. he saves i sell the whole hog. it all depends on the situation. i sell jerky beef pork chicken eggs soap pepperoni summer sausage milk. anything i make for us we market right out the front door. we only advertise now and then on craigs. i just sold a future pig off my ad. most are return customers. my time is money. so as the girls have said... keep track it is a business. i make enough to have our food cost us only labor. we have a healthy life style. our families that come here love it here. i am so grateful for our little farm. i would say it has to be fun for you. so i toned down my milking. it was too hard with 4 cows. so i know you are a smart farmgirl. so think about what you want first and have some fun. i am so happy for you to have some dirt. i love my dirt. happy farm days for you sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 10:32:44 AM
Angela, great suggestions. And yes, I think you are right...a lot of people ask because they don't want to see it butchered. ;)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 10:02:00 AM
I just had a thought!!!
I bet a lot of people ask you to do this so they don't have to see the animals about to be butchered!
You could make it a stipulation that they have to pick up the animals and take them to the butcher themselves! That might put a stop to their askin right there!
I know people who love to buy farm raised meat but say they wouldn't raise their own cause they couldn't eat something they have seen alive before!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| natesgirl |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 09:58:59 AM
There's a family in my town that actually has a home business of tendin to others animals. They charge by the week and you must provide the food. They say the charge is for time, water, and upkeep for housin the animals. It's run very much like a dog kennel. They charge extra for 'barnin' the animal in the winter if you want that. They make a very nice livin from it.
Also, vet papers are required to 'bring' them an animal, or they will buy the animals for you from their own sources. If your animal becomes sick they call you and the vet, but you are responsible for the bills and pay them 'vet time', which is $10 an hour to handle it.
You are always welcome to come and handle the vet by yourself, in which case you only owe $2 for the them callin the vet and makin the arrangements. It's a really nice setup and alot of people use them. I think it would be cheaper to do it yourself, but there are alot of lazy or overly busy people.
By the way, if you miss one weekly payment or don't bring the food by when they call, the animal becomes theirs to use or sell. My aunt buys a good bit of meat and eggs and milk from them fairly cheap due to 'abandoned' animals.
You might even have a written contract like they do! That would scare a lot of family off right off the bat!
Just a sample price: small animal(chicken, rabbit)$1 a day, medium animal(sheep, goat)$1.50 a day, large animal(horse, cow)$2 a day. They offer large quantity discount, but it doesn't bundle for different sizes. Chickens by the dozen are 25 cents a day, 2-11 of them are 50 cents a day. this is per animal of course. The larger animals are less of a discount due to water and housing bein so large. Barnin fee makes the daily cost double and if you want the chickens to be on a light and heat set up for winter egg production it is triple. So many people will pay it and those who don't bring in free meat for them and extra income as well.
They started this years ago when the husband lost his job to try to make the farm payment. It's now the families full time business and their only income. They will also sell the people hay and straw from their farm for their animals care and feed, but they have a limited amount of that due to havin to fence so much of their fields for pasture to provide grass fed meat to those wantin it. That cost double per day and is a pretty popular set up for them.
Hope this info helps you!
Farmgirl Sister #1438
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
| Megan |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 09:17:16 AM
dont worry i know that feeling. I feed my father in laws horse. we agreed to have him over to our place, but all i do is feed and water him. He has to have the food here. i wont trim his feet or any thing else. he thinks that its all a joke, that i trim all my horses feet but wont do his but thats a lot of work for another persons horse that is just a hay burnner. so i would bring any extra animals on your farm that you dont want yourself.
Or make them pay board, like if you want me to take care of it and feed it for you it cost so much a month.
good luck family can be had to deal with
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
| batznthebelfry |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 06:31:07 AM
its amazing who comes out of the woodwork isn't it?....ok I know this is so tough for you & yes the work load will increase......
I recommend you sit down & like a business you figure out the man hours for the extra cow or chickens or pigs ect...even one cow/pig can add time & energy to your day....
what is the cost of your time...& yes they will say but you are out there tending to yours so what is one more cow?....well one more animal eats what amount of food, drinks what amount of water....needed extra amount of land to graze....
How many more bales of hay or grain will you need for that cow?..
.how about an area for it to rest?sleep...that needs to be cleaned out..how much time does that take of your day...plus don't forget you have to haul it out of the barn...how many wheel barrels full are you going to have to move that adds to your day?
If it gets sick will you have a farm vet that can come out? What is the average cost for them to come out...average cost of basic meds for that animal?..You know you will be paying for it first before they get around to paying you back...can you afford to do that & wait til they give you the money owed on their animal you are tending?
What if it dies?...will they want all the money they invested in it back?...will they hold you responsible/blame you & there be a major up roar within the family over it?
If they are slow or not paying for the feed ect can you cover it or want to?....What if they quit paying but then come for the animal after you have cared for it free of charge & want to take it to be butchered, claiming its theirs even though you paid all the bills on it?
Ok now you have a bit of any idea of what it may cost in time & energy for you...now is that worth it?...wouldn't it be better to have a extra cow/pig/chickens on your farm that you tend to but if a family member wants one sell it to them when its ready for butchering & let them come get it & take it to the butcher themselves...plus its cash up front with no waits or promises to get back to you later.
the reason I say this is most family will be good at holding up their end of the deal but others you will see a side of them that normally you never do...this way you play it safe, keep the family peace & no one has any power over you.....this way you know your man hours/feed/medical all at once that you can include in the sale of the animal that you tack on at the end...instead of trying to work out a plan that will work for you & that family member....& don't forget home grown animals are higher in cost to buy so do not let them get away with the " oh but I can get it cheaper at the grocer store ' bit....
Personally this is how I would do it since I know some will take advantage of you & want something for free in the end...this way they have to deal with you at the end of the raising stages & have no say during the other times while its being raised....
good luck honey its a tough one when you so want to be there for family but do it smart for you & your family first.....Michele'
Chickens rule!
The Old Batz Farm
Hen #2622 |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 06:09:22 AM
Amy, look into what a restaurant would pay for an organic pig, or a lamb, it might do the trick.
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| farmmilkmama |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 04:37:49 AM
Good point, Prairie Hawk. I hadn't even thought of that!
Trish - you hit it on the head. I don't think they realize (care?) that all the animals they want to bring over increase MY work load. And I'll bet more than half the people who say "We'll provide the food" will be slow at replenishing the supply and then I'd get hit with the bill. ;)
--* FarmMilkMama *--
Farmgirl Sister #1086
Be yourself.
Everyone else is already taken.
-Oscar Wilde
www.farmfoodmama.blogspot.com
www.thehmmmschoolingmom.blogspot.com |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Dec 02 2011 : 03:31:32 AM
Not yet, but they use us for storage.
How about you buy 20 chickens, and sell them off to your relatives.
Hey Amy, since you're not doing anything else, do chores for me, ok?
We had pigs at another farm, when I was a kid. We leased the land. We gave the owner pork. We also fed his rabbits and chickens as part of the deal.
Let them put their livestock on you land, but make them care for it. Now space really isn't the issue is it?
It always looks darkest just before it gets totally black.-Charlie Brown |
| prariehawk |
Posted - Dec 01 2011 : 9:22:30 PM
Before you accept animals from anyone else, I would make sure they'd been checked by a vet and were disease free. Who's going to pay if one of your animals gets sick from an animal someone else gave you to raise? Just something to think about.
Cindy
"Vast floods can't quench love, no matter what love did/ Rivers can't drown love, no matter where love's hid"--Sinead O'Connor
"In many ways, you don't just live in the country, it lives inside you"--Ellen Eilers
Visit my blog at http://www.farmerinthebelle.blogspot.com/ |
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