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Barnyard Buddies:  What barnyard adventure should I take on next?  |
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GreenMtnGal
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Morgan
Underhill
VT
USA
16 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 11:34:03 AM
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So, we have two alpacas (males) and short of getting more - my hubby probably can't take it right now - house renovation in the works)  - I'm getting twitchy and want something else. We have 50 acres so plenty of land.
Deal is - I'm not into killing things myself. I just don't have the heart (or stomach) for it. Hubby seems to think he could do it but aughhhh.... I'd much rather pay one of those professional with the mobile units than have to deal with any cleanup on our own.
So, here's the criteria. LOW cost / little to no vet visits required. LOW setup / maintenance time. I love the idea of sheep / dwarf goats but I have no time to milk daily and they are just too cute for me to kill. Love the fiber thing but has to be something else for hubs to go for it. So unless there is some other use for them or I'm mis-informed... I have a decent fence system already so I'm not worried about fencing. Horses, while I do plan on it, are just too much time and money this year. What about honey bees? I'm not wild about being stung but something about it seems sort of cool. What's the time commitment there? I could get chickens but we'd have to build a coop... time, blah, blah, blah.
Any suggestions? :) I could talk the hubby into a LITTLE work up-front but not on another pasture pet... unless it's going to provide us with something. |
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FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 1:41:51 PM
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Bees can be expensive to start. Generally speaking, a nuc of bees here in Indiana costs about $89. (about 10,500 bees). Then you have to buy a bee suit, gloves, hat w/net, special tools, frame, and hive bodies. You can probably get a starter kit for about $400 with shipping and taxes. I would read as much as you can before starting with the bees. Two days ago, my husband's biggest hive swarmed and he had to go get it down out of a tree.
At least with goats, you get fiber and milk for soap making. Chickens would give you eggs and meat not to mention hours of entertainment. I'm not discounting bees, we need them desperately, but be sure to do that reading.
Just a thought!!
Lora
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway" -John Wayne
www.CountryFriedAcres.etsy.com
www.farmallchick.blogspot.com
www.farmallchickphotos.blogspot.com |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 3:42:29 PM
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Rabbits?
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, and a few dogs. Looking to add heritage rabbits. |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 5:06:22 PM
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Ducks. In many ways they are like chickens lite. If you don't have a predator problem all they need is a chain link fence about 4 ft. high, a dog house and a kiddy pool. Hardest part of caring for ducks is changing the water. More cold hardy and heat tolerant than chickens. Just as good for egg quantity than chickens and better egg quality, and far fewer health complications.
Ducks also have a lot of personality, and come in lots of pretty colors. The bug control is more comprehensive with ducks, and they are "pickier vegetarians" so will be kinder to gardens, focusing on tender young weeds and bugs and ignoring mature plants and veggies for the most part. The best thing to be said for chickens is how good the meat is... but since you don't really want farm pets for freezer ducks might be a better choice there. Don't get me wrong, duck meat is delicious but I prefer it only in moderation and cooked specific ways.
Khaki Campbell
Anconas
Welsh Harlequins
Cayugas
Buff Orpingtons
(Blue)Swedish
Welsh and Campbells make the best layers... but all of these breeds lay well and are so beautiful!
Ducks are also the perfect excuse to get a pair of geese too!! LOL
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 5:10:04 PM
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Oh Dexter cows are also fantastic farm critters. not *too* much milk, easy keepers and light eaters. Hardy animal and easy calving. Heifers are great for milks, steers great for meat. Dexters are a win/win proposition.
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2012 : 5:31:03 PM
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Well if you get goats or rabbits you won't necessarily have to kill them you could sell the babies. Maybe model horses. They can even be shown. Of course they aren't real but they don't eat either.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
www.nmbarrelhorses.com |
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GreenMtnGal
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Morgan
Underhill
VT
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 07:19:20 AM
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I think a cow is out of the question - assuming they have to be milked twice a day. Now if that was once or twice a WEEK, we'd talk. :)
Anyone raised pigs? From what I'm reading, it's a 6 month commitment and you don't really get attached to them. The cost per looks about $100 for the piglet and then you can get the pig panels for about $25 / each. Then there's the butchering cost which I'll have to look into. Ya get that I'm not into killing things? Maybe I need to toughen up. Ugh.. |
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Megan
True Blue Farmgirl
155 Posts
Megan
Hudson
South Dakota
USA
155 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 08:11:26 AM
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maybe a stock cow, you have something nice to look at, but you breed them to get a calf to raise for meat.... or even mini cows for butcher...
Pigs are a little work if you are planning to raise them, but getting a few to raise to butcher size would be easy...
What ever you raise their is probably a local butcher that can process it for you...
www.rockriverexoticsandkennel.net |
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GreenMtnGal
Farmgirl in Training
16 Posts
Morgan
Underhill
VT
USA
16 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 08:15:46 AM
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Mini cows???? I had no idea there was such a thing!
Wow - this has given me a lot of things to think about! Thanks everyone!!! :) |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2012 : 11:08:42 AM
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yeah, my dexter is considered a mini.
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
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Bella
True Blue Farmgirl
274 Posts
Karen
USA
274 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2012 : 6:42:05 PM
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I love guineas. They are pretty (black and white speckled) and they make a soothing noise. Also, they eat insects and they lay eggs, which some people like to eat. The drawbacks are that they like to roam -- but if you have 50 acres that shouldn't be a problem -- and they will scratch in the garden and in flowers. But, they aren't expensive and you wouldn't have to worry about vet bills. In the historic village of Old Salem, which is close to where I live, there are loads of guineas. There's a building they go in in the evening to perch. They are most likely feeding them in that building. Guineas can just free range, but if you feed them a little they will be more likely to hang around.
"Just living is not enough, said the butterfly. One must have freedom, sunshine and a little flower." -Hans Christian Anderson |
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Barnyard Buddies: What barnyard adventure should I take on next? |
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What barnyard adventure should I take on next?
