Need experienced opinion on choosing new farm animal/livestock.

hengal · #1 01/10/07, 10:23 AM

I have been thinking about adding a new animal to our homestead. DH and I both love Alpacas, however their cost is way over anything we could afford.

I am looking for something that will not just be a pet, but will be a productive member of our farm family. The alpacas would have been wonderful for fiber (and selling offspring).
Obviously, something that is relatively easy to care for without a huge learning curve. I guess what I'm looking for is a "value added" animal that does more than eat and poo. Right now I have a flock of 20 chickens and due to get more chicks in a couple of weeks. I'm one of those people that don't kill them for the meat - only eggs and pets. I'll probably have Indiana's largest geriatric chicken retirement home at some point in the future, unless I can find the heart, (and someone) to do the deed for me.

Any suggestions for some new additions? (that don't cost a fortune?)

Thank you for your help.

fantasymaker · #2 01/10/07, 10:25 AM

A cheep sheep?

fantasymaker · #3 01/10/07, 10:27 AM

fiber milk meat and draft and fertilizer ,hard to beat a cheep sheep........well no it isnt but why would you want too?

Old Vet · #4 01/10/07, 12:53 PM

Get a pet pig. It will make a reat pet and when it get old enough you wno't want to keep it for a pet but will more than likely get it buthered. You can do this by taking it to a specialy built meat prosesser.

Maura · #5 01/10/07, 12:55 PM

How much are you willing to spend. Icelandics may meet your needs, but they aren't cheap. Do some inquiring and spin up some wool from different flocks to find what you like. If you are planning on selling the raw fleece you will never pay for your hay. If you plan on turning the fleece into roving, you can start to pay for everything.

What about rabbits? Angoras. If you get high quality angoras I think you might do better selling the fleece, or spinning it with wool for a value added product. I had a friend who raised award winning French Angora rabbits. If you are willing to show the rabbits, you can make some money selling bunnies. They are much cuddlier than sheep or goats and almost never butt you.

EasyDay · #6 01/10/07, 12:59 PM

A dairy goat (but get two so they don't get lonely). Then you'll have goat milk to drink, for cheese, and/or soaps.

My little pygmy "Sally" is just like a lap dog. She "paws" my leg to be petted, or crawls in my lap when I'm sitting in the yard. What a little sweetie she is.

hengal · #7 01/10/07, 01:13 PM

I know this sound ridiculous, but I just don't think I could have the pig butchered at any point. I know thats not the smartest way to be but I'm a weenie.

I've thought about sheep. I hear shetlands are a nice breed.

Rabbits - don't know if I could sell any of the offspring around here and don't know if I want a zillion of the buggers running around. How many would I need to keep to get an ample supply of angora?

EasyDay - what kind of dairy goats would you recommend? (DH and both are fond of goats but have never raised our own) Are they pricey?

holleegee · #8 01/10/07, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hengal

I know this sound ridiculous, but I just don't think I could have the pig butchered at any point. I know thats not the smartest way to be but I'm a weenie.

I've thought about sheep. I hear shetlands are a nice breed.

Rabbits - don't know if I could sell any of the offspring around here and don't know if I want a zillion of the buggers running around. How many would I need to keep to get an ample supply of angora?

EasyDay - what kind of dairy goats would you recommend? (DH and both are fond of goats but have never raised our own) Are they pricey?

I raise/show english angora rabbits. I usually have 6-10 at one time and I have fiber coming out of my ears! I have enough for my own use and sell some also. They are harder to sell than a "regular" rabbit.

Country Doc · #9 01/10/07, 02:50 PM

[QUOTE=hengal]I know this sound ridiculous, but I just don't think I could have the pig butchered at any point. I know thats not the smartest way to be but I'm a weenie.

I butchered a hog once and what a mess . My wife said I looked like I was from some horror movie. (The ax, blood, etc)

My vote is for a goat. A wether (castrated male).

Meg Z · #10 01/10/07, 03:39 PM

If you can't have one of the animals butchered, could you sell the offspring for butchering? If not, don't get any animal for milk, because to get the milk, they have to have babies, and most of those get eaten.

I'd second rabbits. You could get one or two Angoras for your own fiber pets. I currently have five and can't keep up with the wool. Or you could breed a small specialty breed for pets. Same for guinea pigs...or parakeets.

Take a look at what you are willing to do, and aren't willing to do. Decide what you want out of the animal. Put them together.

If you simply want a productive pet...get mohair or cashmere goat wethers. One of each. Or a pair of sheep wethers...two different breeds so you have different fibers to play with. Or three. Sheep do bettter at three or more.

In fact, if you get wethers, not only will you not be eating them, you'll be saving them from being eaten. How's that for a good deal?!

Meg

Old Vet · #11 01/10/07, 04:44 PM

holleegee The reason I sugested the pig is that they are so cuite when young but the older they grow they will become a pest or at least a proplem. When they are ful grown you will be gald to do something with them.

Ohio dreamer · #12 01/10/07, 04:48 PM

How about bees? You can use and sell honey...nothing to butcher...very little care needed. You might even be able to "rent" them out to a local orchard in the spring for pollination.

holleegee · #13 01/10/07, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Vet

holleegee The reason I sugested the pig is that they are so cuite when young but the older they grow they will become a pest or at least a proplem. When they are ful grown you will be gald to do something with them.

I didn't say anything about a pig???

Lisa A · #14 01/10/07, 05:52 PM

Goats are much easier than sheep, I think. Our sheep are timid and flightly
and jumpy but the goats are friendly even the shy ones. You could start
with fiber goats like pygoras (that's what we started with after chickens,
and they are a great learning goat), and avoid some of the problems with
milking - milking isn't for everyone, it's a commitment, and it's taxing on the
goat so you need to be more on top of health issues.

With Pygoras (and probably angora and cashmere), unlike sheep, you can
shear them easily with clippers - sheep require SERIOUS skill to shear or
you're at the mercy of a pro. And if you want babies, in general goats
have less problems in birthing than sheep (although not no problems, but
we haven't had any). Get de-horned (disbudded) though!

rabbitgal · #15 01/10/07, 07:21 PM

Get Angora rabbits!

I got my first ones (English) this past fall...they're such sweet bunnies, very gentle.

They are not a low-maintenance animal though. They have to be groomed regularily. Purebred German Angoras give the most wool, about 4 pounds of wool a year. Not all of it is prime wool, but the prime stuff sells for about $4 - $5 an ounce.

Liese · #16 01/11/07, 05:20 AM

Dear Hengal and Others, Getting animals for your homestead is a serious commitment and that is why you are in a quandry-you intuitively know this is not a simple act. As Buddhists my husband and I have dealt with and continue to face the "no kill" issue because for us it is a way we express our relationship with everything; living your beliefs thru work is wonderful. We have a small herd of Dwarf Nigerian Dairy goats, we purposefully looked for a breed that we knew we could sell the boys for pet homes when wethered. We have a small flock of Jacob sheep, the boys when wethered will always produce wool and in fact better than the ewes. Shetland sheep could also be a good choice. We have 2 llamas thru the Southeastern Llama Rescue, the gelding is the guardian and the female has a nice fiber. If you are patient and follow different forums about each kind of animal you are interested in then not only will you get a feel for what is a good fit, for you, your farm and your area but you will find them at what you can afford. Take your time, get your fences ready and it will happen. We are new to farming - only three years-so far this is working for us, with a few bumps in the road to wake us up! All the best, Liese, Piedmont region, NC

Silvercreek Farmer · #17 01/11/07, 09:53 AM

You may enjoy keeping ducks or geese for eggs, or perhaps some of more exotic birds, if you already have chickens you probably know the basics, it would be simple to step up to the other birds and add some excitement.

hengal · #18 01/11/07, 10:08 AM

Boy - I sure appreciate all the ideas and input from everyone! After talking with DH last night and doing more research, I think we are leaning towards fiber goats. We are true animal lovers and are careful to take the upmost care and responsibility for all of our animals. Besides providing something for the homestead,they provide us with so much love and enjoyment that they are part of our family. Thats why we want to be careful to get something that we can care for properly.

Matthew -
We got ducks and 1 goose last year for the first time. What a hoot they are! We'll be adding some more in the spring

Thank you all again so very much! I just love these forums and the people - I know if I need help all I have to do is ask!

dbarjacres · #19 01/11/07, 10:44 AM

Hey Hengal, head on over to the goat forum if you're serious on them! You could go with a couple angoras, as you'd have goats and you'd have fiber. I don't know anything about them, but sure someone over there does.

And if you'd like production goats as well, try nigerian dwarfs or a mini breed (mini manchas, mini nubians, etc.) that way you'll have a good market for your offspring, for breeding, pets, and milk, where as on full size dairies, most male animals head for the table. You'll be able to get milk and drink it, make stuff, like cheese, butter, yogurt, soap, and just enjoy your goats!

Make sure you buy the best you can so you can get HEALTHY animals! Auctions are cheap, cheap, cheap, but also carry so much sickness. Good luck!

Lisa A · #20 01/11/07, 02:02 PM

Goats do take more fencing than sheep! And can be more destructive if
they get out. We use field fence and electric to be sure - electric's not
on all the time, but it keeps them from getting too interested in exactly
what they can do to fences. Our worst damage from a breakout was
actually sheep, since we didn't watch them and the fences when they were
put in a new area and they didn't make any noise during the breakout.