Pāriet uz galveno saturu

Easy Animals to Raise on the Small Farm

If you are curious about where to start with raising animals on your small
farm, hobby farm or homestead, here are a few suggestions, complete with information to help you decide which ones are the right fit for you.
Note: Selling meat and dairy products usually require that a farm is licensed and meet the requirements of its locale. If you are planning to farm for income, find out the requirements before buying the animals.

Chickens

Chickens are a terrific way to start raising animals on a small farm. They're hardy, easy to take care of and don't cost much in terms of setup. A small flock can easily produce enough eggs to meet all a family's egg requirements, and a flock of a few dozen can generate a nice little egg business.
Hens eat food scraps and provide great compost for the garden. On the downside, they're a free chicken dinner for every predator out there, so you'll need to keep them safe and secure to prevent losses.

Honey Bees

Honey bees are another great choice, especially if keeping bees appeals to you. Honey crops can be abundant, and you can harvest beeswax for lip balm, candles, and other products.
Bees help pollinate your crops (and your neighbor's). They cost a good bit to start up, and while they don't require a lot of hands-on care in terms of sheer hours, they do require timely care and attention, and the process takes a while to get the hang of.

Goats

Goats are hardy, useful animals that can browse stands of small trees and shrubs, clearing land for you. They're adaptable to poor pastures, and they produce one to three quarts of milk per day. If your family can't drink that much, you can make and sell cheese or feed the milk to other farm animals.
On the downside, goats require strong fencing.

Sheep

Sheep deliver meat, milk or wool, depending on your needs and the breed of sheep. They require good pasture and protection from predators so they should be kept near the house. The milk of sheep is superior to goat's milk for making cheese. There are several breeds of sheep suitable for small farms. The one that is right for depends on your plans for the sheep. 

Turkeys

Like chickens, turkeys are pretty easy keeping. They can be a bit difficult to raise from poults, but once they are established, they do well. The market for Thanksgiving turkeys is a big one, making them a great value-added product for a small farmer.

Rabbits

Rabbits require a small barn with a dirt floor, pens, and feeders, but they pay off in meat and (with some breeds, like Angora) fur. Rabbits are relatively easy-to-handle animals, but they require regular care, and their specific needs must be met. The U.S. market for rabbit meat is small compared to the European market, where the rabbit is considered a delicacy in many areas. Of course, to get the meat or fur, you have to kill the animals, which may be a big turn-off for you. 

Komentāri

Šī emuāra populārākās ziņas

ALL ABOUT ORGANICS

ALL ABOUT ORGANICS When you choose organic food and other products, you’re helping more than yourself. You’re supporting farmers and producers who work hard to meet the standards because they believe in good health, quality and sustainability. It takes a lot and pays it forward.

How to Start a Hobby Farm

If you want to start a hobby farm, you probably have a lot of questions about how and where to begin. What do you need to know before you take the next step of buying a hobby farm and beginning to farm? What things should you consider as you move forward? What Is Hobby Farming? Before you can decide you do want to start a hobby farm, make sure you know what you're getting yourself into. Hobby farming means that you're not trying to run a  small farm business  where your farming products will be a main source of income. And it means that your goal isn't total self-sufficiency like a homesteader. However, it's also, however, you define it: you could sell some eggs, or broilers, or vegetables, and still, consider yourself a hobby farmer. But if your primary income is from running your farm, you've got a business. Also, many people who consider themselves hobby farmers have money to spend on livestock, equipment, and buildings. In contrast, homesteaders are...

VEGAN BRUNCH RECIPES

VEGAN BRUNCH RECIPES Brunch is a meal that everyone should be able to enjoy, so we’ve got plenty of vegan brunch recipes to get the whole group to the table on time. Vegan brunch recipes aren’t just stand-ins for carnivores, they’re recipes that can hold their own in any mixed-diet crowd. From decadent French toast to beautiful vegetable presentations, vegan brunch recipes don’t need to be relegated to the side of the table. To keep your brunch table balanced, choose a variety of recipes. There are options for those who like something sweet in the morning as well as those who prefer savory. Pancakes always make for an easy vegan brunch option, and tofu is an excellent swap for breakfast eggs. Mushrooms are another excellent swap for meat. They are great in any scramble or hash, and hold their own in bread puddings. Or, you can try using eggplant, a vegan favorite. There are even more vegan brunch options in our  healthy breakfast collection , or start out brunch with a r...