In this part of our homage to International Homesteading Education Month, we are going to explore the possibilities for raising animals which will help reduce our own food bills and allow us to make some money.
Our views may differ slightly from others in regards to animal husbandry and animal raising and we do not mean that as a slight of any sort or to start any feuds, it is merely our take on things. We try to offer our animals as natural and comfortable a setting as possible, we treat each animal with respect and compassion, even up to it's last moments alive. For us, they are more than just meat or eggs or milk, they are living creatures that we have taken responsibility for their well being. Our way is not better or right, it is simply how we choose to run our homestead. I guess coming from a large corporation has helped me develop that viewpoint, which I hadn't thought of until just now. For years I was just a cog or employee number and my well being didn't mean squat to the company so long as I kept producing for them, I didn't like being treated that way and I won't treat other living things that way.
Our views may differ slightly from others in regards to animal husbandry and animal raising and we do not mean that as a slight of any sort or to start any feuds, it is merely our take on things. We try to offer our animals as natural and comfortable a setting as possible, we treat each animal with respect and compassion, even up to it's last moments alive. For us, they are more than just meat or eggs or milk, they are living creatures that we have taken responsibility for their well being. Our way is not better or right, it is simply how we choose to run our homestead. I guess coming from a large corporation has helped me develop that viewpoint, which I hadn't thought of until just now. For years I was just a cog or employee number and my well being didn't mean squat to the company so long as I kept producing for them, I didn't like being treated that way and I won't treat other living things that way.
Lions, Tigers & Bears- not quite...
We're going to explore animals on the homestead. If you decide to keep and raise animals on your homestead, it is again going to depend on your individual situation. You are certainly not going to raise a cow or horse in your studio apartment, but what animal or animals are right for you? Are there local regulations about your animals? Do you only have room enough for miniature livestock?
Yes, sheep, goats, cows, pigs and horses all have diminutive counterparts. Check out Miniature Livestock: Think Small and Storey's Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock We recommend reading as much as you can before making a decision. Storey's Guides are some of the best we've found that are readily available.
Yes, sheep, goats, cows, pigs and horses all have diminutive counterparts. Check out Miniature Livestock: Think Small and Storey's Guide to Raising Miniature Livestock We recommend reading as much as you can before making a decision. Storey's Guides are some of the best we've found that are readily available.
Chickens:
There are many breeds and varieties to choose from. If you ask 10 Chicken Keepers about the best breed, you will likely get 10 different answers on the best breed to keep.
Do you want a heritage breed, which will take longer to grow but won't have the health problems that some of the Broiler or Cornish Cross Breeds have? Do you want a Rare? Endangered? Critical Breed? All of which are no longer as popular as they once were and on the edge of extinction? Do you want to raise chickens for eggs? Meat? Both? If you are looking for egg production, you want a "Production" hybrid, for meat it's Broilers or Cornish Crosses. For dual purpose you are looking at one of the Heritage Breeds, like our Plymouth Barred Rocks pictured in their brooder box.
Here are some good resources for choosing your chickens:
Raising Chickens in the City from Mother Earth Living
Best Chicken Breeds for Backyard Flocks, Choosing the Right Chicken Breeds, Enjoy Heritage Chickens and a really cool app that will help you select the right breed for you- The Pickin Chicken App: Which Chicken Breeds Are Right For You? All of which can be found on Mother Earth News's website.Farmstead Chicken Breeds and Perfect Chickens from Grit.
Do you want a heritage breed, which will take longer to grow but won't have the health problems that some of the Broiler or Cornish Cross Breeds have? Do you want a Rare? Endangered? Critical Breed? All of which are no longer as popular as they once were and on the edge of extinction? Do you want to raise chickens for eggs? Meat? Both? If you are looking for egg production, you want a "Production" hybrid, for meat it's Broilers or Cornish Crosses. For dual purpose you are looking at one of the Heritage Breeds, like our Plymouth Barred Rocks pictured in their brooder box.
Here are some good resources for choosing your chickens:
Raising Chickens in the City from Mother Earth Living
Best Chicken Breeds for Backyard Flocks, Choosing the Right Chicken Breeds, Enjoy Heritage Chickens and a really cool app that will help you select the right breed for you- The Pickin Chicken App: Which Chicken Breeds Are Right For You? All of which can be found on Mother Earth News's website.Farmstead Chicken Breeds and Perfect Chickens from Grit.
Ducks & Geese:
A lot of the questions that we asked you to consider with chickens apply to Ducks and Geese as well as Turkeys.
The Homestead Guide to Domesticated Ducks,Natural Pest Control for Gardens with Ducks!,
Raising Ducks: Choosing Breeds, Feed, Housing and More all from Mother Earth News.
Heritage Poultry: Goose and Duck Breeds for Your Farm and Heritage Breeds: Keeping Ducks and Geese from Grit.
The Homestead Guide to Domesticated Ducks,Natural Pest Control for Gardens with Ducks!,
Raising Ducks: Choosing Breeds, Feed, Housing and More all from Mother Earth News.
Heritage Poultry: Goose and Duck Breeds for Your Farm and Heritage Breeds: Keeping Ducks and Geese from Grit.
Turkeys:
Mother Earth News published these articles on Turkeys: Raising Turkeys at Home, Raising Turkeys for Meat and Why the Midget White Turkey is the Perfect Homestead Turkey which happens to be the breed we are looking at for the spring.
Heritage Turkey Breeds for the Rural American from Grit. This story from One Green Planet helps underscore our passion for Heritage Breeds, Thanksgiving: A Time for Gratitude, Celebration, Peace and Reflection?
Heritage Turkey Breeds for the Rural American from Grit. This story from One Green Planet helps underscore our passion for Heritage Breeds, Thanksgiving: A Time for Gratitude, Celebration, Peace and Reflection?
Hatcheries:
Directory of Hatcheries and Poultry Breeders
While we have not used or researched all the hatcheries on that list, we have used and highly recommend Ideal Poultry in Texas. The customer service was top notch!! The chicks were well packed, we didn't lose one of them and our order arrived in about 24 hours. We have not used Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio, but given that all of the reported 2014 cases of Salmonella were attributed to them by the CDC, we would suggest caution if ordering from them.
While we have not used or researched all the hatcheries on that list, we have used and highly recommend Ideal Poultry in Texas. The customer service was top notch!! The chicks were well packed, we didn't lose one of them and our order arrived in about 24 hours. We have not used Mt. Healthy Hatchery in Ohio, but given that all of the reported 2014 cases of Salmonella were attributed to them by the CDC, we would suggest caution if ordering from them.
Rabbits:
The Guide to Raising and Breeding Rabbits for Meat, A Beginner's Guide to Raising Rabbits and A Better Way to Raise Rabbits from Mother Earth News.
Grit offers us this article, Raising Rabbits for Profit.
Breeders Directory:
State Rabbit Breeders Index
Grit offers us this article, Raising Rabbits for Profit.
Breeders Directory:
State Rabbit Breeders Index
Sheep:
With sheep, your desires are going to rule your decisions. Do you intend to produce sheep for meat? Wool? Dairy?
Mother Earth News provides us with:
Raising Sheep: The Basics, Selecting and Raising Sheep for Wool and SHEEP BREEDS.
Heritage Meat Sheep Breeds from Grit.
Breeders Directory:
U.S. Sheep Breeders Online Directory
Raising Sheep: The Basics, Selecting and Raising Sheep for Wool and SHEEP BREEDS.
Heritage Meat Sheep Breeds from Grit.
Breeders Directory:
U.S. Sheep Breeders Online Directory
Goats and Miniature Goats:
Raising Goats for Meat and Milk, Raising Goats for Fun and Profit and Dairy Goat Breeds from Grit.
Raising Goats: Strategies for Success and How to Raise Healthy Goats from Mother Earth News.
Breeders Directory:
Goat Breeders Directory - All Breeds
Raising Goats: Strategies for Success and How to Raise Healthy Goats from Mother Earth News.
Breeders Directory:
Goat Breeders Directory - All Breeds
Cattle and Miniature Cattle:
Heritage Cattle Breeds, Common Dairy and Beef Cattle of North America and Raise Small-breed Milk Cows from Mother Earth News.
Breeders Directory:
Beef Cattle Breeders Directory | American Cattlemen
Breeders Directory:
Beef Cattle Breeders Directory | American Cattlemen
Pigs and Miniature Pigs:
From Mother Earth News, we bring you: Raising Hogs on the Homestead, Raise Your Own Pigs and How to Breed Pigs.
All About Pigs and Pig Lingo published in Grit.
Breeders Directory:
Breeders Directory Page - The Pig Site
All About Pigs and Pig Lingo published in Grit.
Breeders Directory:
Breeders Directory Page - The Pig Site
Horses and Miniature Horses:
History of the Great American Horse Breeds from Grit.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Farming With Horses from Mother Earth News.
Breeders Directory:
Horse Breed Associations
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Farming With Horses from Mother Earth News.
Breeders Directory:
Horse Breed Associations
Livestock Feeding: Grazing, Foraging and Feeds:
This is a critical area of the care and management of your livestock, the feeding. If you want be able to market your livestock as Organic, you're either going to have to grow your own or make sure the feed you select is certified organic by the dealer. A Guide to Livestock Feed and Forage by Grit offers some great suggestions on foraging, fodder and feeds. Feed Stores Offer Livestock Feed to Farm Animals also by Grit offers a somewhat nostalgic view of a rural feed stores, highlighting a New Mexico feed store.
Mother Earth News provides us with the article DIY Sprouted Fodder for Livestock, walks us through growing your own fodder which is a project we will be undertaking in the very near future.
Mother Earth News provides us with the article DIY Sprouted Fodder for Livestock, walks us through growing your own fodder which is a project we will be undertaking in the very near future.
A Guide to Seasonal Considerations:
Caring for livestock in the summer months can be a bit difficult, especially in climates like the South Western U.S. here are a couple of great articles:Summer Livestock Management Basics, Beating the Heat in the Dog Days of Summer and Summer Heat Stress and Cooling Tips for Backyard Chicken Keepers, which can apply to all fowl from Grit. For Winter considerations Grit provides these informative articles: Caring for Livestock in Winter and Planning Key to Livestock Surviving Cold Weather.
You've perused the articles and all the choices and possibilities have your head about to explode, well just wait. In the next blog we will be talking about some of the varieties of vegetables, berries, fruits you might be able to grow on your homestead. Because there are so many breeders and associations we chose too focus on those in the United States. If you happen to live in another part of the world, a quick internet search should reveal the breeders nearest you.
We want to thank you for checking out our blog and spending some of your time with us!!
We want to thank you for checking out our blog and spending some of your time with us!!
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