Which was the entire reason for starting this thread and spending approximately six hours reading about various animals but mostly chickens and quail. Which is highly irresponsible of me I'm sure. And you know... I'm done arguing with you about it. The price wasn't becoming of the product as they say.
First Farm Animal Recommendation?
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/pine
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There was never any argument...
jimmyj
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And now back to our regularly schedule program....
Start with some poultry, just a few and see how you like it. You will learn as you go. We started with 2 chickens and have over the years had sheep, cows, llamas, alpaca, donkey, goats, pigs. Some are more work than others but if you set things up properly, with safe and secure containment, water, ways to keep things clean and so on the work is really not too bad. And don't be discouraged if and when something goes wrong. It probably will.
Do the poultry, try chickens first and get quail second. It's very rewarding and fun. Oh, and tasty!!!!
Start with some poultry, just a few and see how you like it. You will learn as you go. We started with 2 chickens and have over the years had sheep, cows, llamas, alpaca, donkey, goats, pigs. Some are more work than others but if you set things up properly, with safe and secure containment, water, ways to keep things clean and so on the work is really not too bad. And don't be discouraged if and when something goes wrong. It probably will.
Do the poultry, try chickens first and get quail second. It's very rewarding and fun. Oh, and tasty!!!!
firefighter9208
Platinum Member
Can I jump in here?
Goats: I had Boer Goats for about 8 years. I sold the last one in May and I have never been happier. They are probably one of the hardest animals to raise. They are not native to the United States and if you live in a wet area you will have problems with worms and feet.
Now, if I were retired and could stay at home every day I might have a different opinion.
One of the largest goat breeders here in Alabama was quoted in the Progressive Farmer as say, "Goats come into this world looking for a way to die". At least Boer Goats do!
Chickens: I have had chickens for 2 years. I have an automatic waterer for the summer with a 30 gallon barrel. I fill it about once a week. I have a feeder that holds 25 pounds of feed. Fill it about once a week. If we go on vacation I fill up both and my mother or neighbor gets the eggs. Easy as pie.
I do have a good chicken house with an enclosed run. That I recommend. I have about $1000.00 in the house, run and chickens.
Pigs: We bought two Tamworth feeders last fall. I ground ear corn with a Troybilt chipper and mixed it with store bought pig feed. When I brought them home I put them in a 36x48 pen for the first 2 weeks with a very hot fence charger. They were accustomed to eating in the pen and after 2 weeks I opened the gate and let them out into the pasture. I ran them in a pasture (with goats at the time) that was about 8 acres. I always fed them in their pen and they would come running when I would come out with a 5 gallon bucket of corn. This made it easier to catch them if they need something done, like putting rings in their noses. They had rings in their noses when I bought them to keep them from rooting. As they grew the rings came out and we had to re-ring them.
When they got up to about 300# I put them back in the pen and finished them out the last couple weeks on just ground corn.
I found a processor that would sugar cure my hams and bacon. I sold one of the pigs to some friends and kept the other. This is the best pork we have ever eaten.
I justed called the guy I bought my feeders from and ordered 6 more for this fall. I'm going to do some custom finishing for some individuals that want 1/2's or wholes. I charge $2.50 a pound (hanging weight) and have people lining up to get my antibiotic and growth hormone free pasture raised pork. Yes, $2.50 a pound is a lot for pork, but the difference in taste is worth it.
The good thing about the pigs is that they are only there for maybe 4-6 months and then you get to reap (eat) the benefits.
I suggest you buy 2 (they eat better with competition) and if you don't like it you can go back to buying pork from the grocery store.
As said above raising animals takes a lot of commitment. When we had goats I missed several days of work either with kidding or treating sick animals. I had 10 die one day that got into some Mountain Laurel (Rhododendrum). Regardless of what people say goats can't eat anything. Black Cherry trees are also poisonous to livestock.
If you are going to get goats make sure that you have a good vet in your area. A lot of veterinarians only like to deal with Cows, Horses, Dogs and Cats.
I attached some pictures of our chicken house, chickens, and run....
Chris
Goats: I had Boer Goats for about 8 years. I sold the last one in May and I have never been happier. They are probably one of the hardest animals to raise. They are not native to the United States and if you live in a wet area you will have problems with worms and feet.
Now, if I were retired and could stay at home every day I might have a different opinion.
One of the largest goat breeders here in Alabama was quoted in the Progressive Farmer as say, "Goats come into this world looking for a way to die". At least Boer Goats do!
Chickens: I have had chickens for 2 years. I have an automatic waterer for the summer with a 30 gallon barrel. I fill it about once a week. I have a feeder that holds 25 pounds of feed. Fill it about once a week. If we go on vacation I fill up both and my mother or neighbor gets the eggs. Easy as pie.
I do have a good chicken house with an enclosed run. That I recommend. I have about $1000.00 in the house, run and chickens.
Pigs: We bought two Tamworth feeders last fall. I ground ear corn with a Troybilt chipper and mixed it with store bought pig feed. When I brought them home I put them in a 36x48 pen for the first 2 weeks with a very hot fence charger. They were accustomed to eating in the pen and after 2 weeks I opened the gate and let them out into the pasture. I ran them in a pasture (with goats at the time) that was about 8 acres. I always fed them in their pen and they would come running when I would come out with a 5 gallon bucket of corn. This made it easier to catch them if they need something done, like putting rings in their noses. They had rings in their noses when I bought them to keep them from rooting. As they grew the rings came out and we had to re-ring them.
When they got up to about 300# I put them back in the pen and finished them out the last couple weeks on just ground corn.
I found a processor that would sugar cure my hams and bacon. I sold one of the pigs to some friends and kept the other. This is the best pork we have ever eaten.
I justed called the guy I bought my feeders from and ordered 6 more for this fall. I'm going to do some custom finishing for some individuals that want 1/2's or wholes. I charge $2.50 a pound (hanging weight) and have people lining up to get my antibiotic and growth hormone free pasture raised pork. Yes, $2.50 a pound is a lot for pork, but the difference in taste is worth it.
The good thing about the pigs is that they are only there for maybe 4-6 months and then you get to reap (eat) the benefits.
I suggest you buy 2 (they eat better with competition) and if you don't like it you can go back to buying pork from the grocery store.
As said above raising animals takes a lot of commitment. When we had goats I missed several days of work either with kidding or treating sick animals. I had 10 die one day that got into some Mountain Laurel (Rhododendrum). Regardless of what people say goats can't eat anything. Black Cherry trees are also poisonous to livestock.
If you are going to get goats make sure that you have a good vet in your area. A lot of veterinarians only like to deal with Cows, Horses, Dogs and Cats.
I attached some pictures of our chicken house, chickens, and run....
Chris
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aczlan
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Can you post a picture of the waterer? That sounds like something we could use.
Thanks
Aaron Z
dooleysm
Platinum Member
Yes, I'm very interested in seeing that part of the setup too!
SELKIRK
Member
Let me throw out a wild-card. How about Honey Bees? Best way is to hookup with a local beekeeper. Most are very willing to help out.
Selkirk
Selkirk
beppington
Elite Member
I'm no pro farmer, but to me goats are easy, & very flexible. Make sure your fence is sufficient. Don't get so many that they eliminate your vegetation, & you won't have to feed them much, if ever. They do need a water source & a bldg of some kind; They go in every night. They're generally a very manageable size, most being much smaller than cows/ horses. If you get at least 1 male & 1 female, you can sell off the babies for a few $ if you want. They can be pets. Or you can eat them. I guess they can be your pet until you get hungry :laughing: :confused2:
beppington
Elite Member
You mean they can't east just anything. Which is true. We found out the hard way that azaleas poison them. Trimmed some azaleas & thru the cuttings in for the goats. Those 4 goats flailed all around on the ground, writhing in obvious pain. We thought 2 were gonna die, but they all pulled thru. Guess they didn't eat quite enough to kill them. Needless to say we felt horrible about that.
Not be be cruel, but the good thing about goats is they're (usually) cheap, so a death isn't gonna break most people.