Already Have Too Many Animals

big rockpile · #1 08/31/12, 07:37 PM

Asked my wife if we wanted to raise more garden and animals to be more Self Sufficient ? No!

How about just getting a couple Beagles to run Rabbits with I like Wild Rabbit? No! Why? Because we already have 3 Dogs which tie us down.If we get two more you would be able to go me I would have to stay home take care of the Dogs.I want to go too.

You know she does have a point.But we do have three Dogs,does make it difficult.But we can get away for couple days putting out extra Food and Water.Thing is Dogs are easiest but if you have one you might as well have two.If you have any animals you are pretty much tied down.

Don't know just thinking on Line and have no answer.

big rockpile

rags57078 · #2 08/31/12, 07:41 PM

my wife just says go ahead LOL she knows I would prob just bring something home anyway

Oldcountryboy · #3 08/31/12, 09:07 PM

That's one reason why I've gotten out of the livestock business. During the summer I don't want to be tied down as I like to take off and go camping once in a while. You just cant do that if you have livestock to feed and keep an eye on. However, once school starts with the kids back in school and I'm bus driving, I don't mind raising a pig or two for the freezer. But with the cost of feed, I haven't done that in a while either.

SilverVista · #4 08/31/12, 09:28 PM

Rocky, you're just not happy unless you're shopping for a new toy or two! I bet if you quit talkin' about it and just dug up a few square feet and planted something you like, and took care of it till it was ready to eat, your wife would be thrilled and proud of you. But from where I see it, everything you dream up when you're bored becomes a ball and chain for her. Might be time to make friends with somebody who has hunting dogs and go out with them now and again. Keeps you satisfied and doesn't leave Tina dealing with even more than before.

uncle Will in In. · #5 09/01/12, 08:00 AM

Are your legs in shape to follow dogs in and around rocks, hills, and brush for hours? How much does dog food cost for two dogs. How many rabbits are you dreaming of bringing home on an average hunt? How long does rabbit season last each year?
Road kill animals would be a better bargain if you don't get sick on it. Shot guns get heavy, and shells get expensive.
Would be great to listen to a good rabbit hound track a rabbit untill it circled right back to you, wouldn't it?

big rockpile · #6 09/01/12, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcountryboy

That's one reason why I've gotten out of the livestock business. During the summer I don't want to be tied down as I like to take off and go camping once in a while. You just cant do that if you have livestock to feed and keep an eye on. However, once school starts with the kids back in school and I'm bus driving, I don't mind raising a pig or two for the freezer. But with the cost of feed, I haven't done that in a while either.

Yea when I sold all my Animals years ago my Mom said she didn't know what to think because I had always had Stock and Poultry.

What brought on me selling was me being Down and in the Hospital.My wife couldn't take care of things,that is what she is saying now.

Which she is right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverVista

Rocky, you're just not happy unless you're shopping for a new toy or two! I bet if you quit talkin' about it and just dug up a few square feet and planted something you like, and took care of it till it was ready to eat, your wife would be thrilled and proud of you. But from where I see it, everything you dream up when you're bored becomes a ball and chain for her. Might be time to make friends with somebody who has hunting dogs and go out with them now and again. Keeps you satisfied and doesn't leave Tina dealing with even more than before.

Got couple Plots Planted but drought got them.

Can't find anyone with Rabbit Dogs.I use to run them and Coon Hounds.

Quote:

Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.

Are your legs in shape to follow dogs in and around rocks, hills, and brush for hours? How much does dog food cost for two dogs. How many rabbits are you dreaming of bringing home on an average hunt? How long does rabbit season last each year?
Road kill animals would be a better bargain if you don't get sick on it. Shot guns get heavy, and shells get expensive.
Would be great to listen to a good rabbit hound track a rabbit untill it circled right back to you, wouldn't it?

Rabbit Season runs from October 1- Febuary 15

Yelp them little Hounds just bring them Rabbits back.We're allowed 6 per day.

I have one Beagle my Granddaughter gave me but she needs to run with another Dog,she trys running by sight.

Brought up Gigging which starts September 15.Like she says we have plenty of Fish just by Rod and Reel and cost a lot fixing the Boat up with Lights and All.Talked about setting Traps which she agreed on a few to make some Extra $$ and put Meat in the Freezer,if I can get Permits for Federal Land.

big rockpile

DamnearaFarm · #7 09/01/12, 09:41 AM

Why not just buy a few rabbits and breed for the freezer? A lot less work and a lot less feed too.

TRAILRIDER · #8 09/01/12, 09:52 AM

Know what you mean.

My DH wouldn't say a word if I brought home a zebra or an elephant tomorrow. He's good that way. I think they call that an "enabler".

However, we have too many pets. We have four dogs (recently lost one), seven cats, a horse (recently lost the other one), chickens, ducks, geese and a half dozen goats. I probably need a LGD. But I really don't want to get another dog as we have four. Yes, they keep me tied down. Its really hard to leave if you have animals that need milked especially. But if I have one goat I might as well have 12 ; )

Otter · #9 09/01/12, 03:08 PM

You could always borrow my rabbit hound for the season. Seriously. Keep him and hunt him for the season, then bring him home. Last year a neighbor a half mile away hunted him (though close enough that Scooter slept here) and they both enjoyed it, but this year I've got no volunteers.

I worry, because if he gets to hunt bunnies spring and fall (all spring he catches the baby ones, alive, and brings them to my hand) he is a very good dog.
If no one takes him out ... well, he once chewed his way through a wall of the house to take himself. He will go hunting, no matter how he has to get out and do it. I worry about lead and bumper poisoning.
But a hunt every other day or so and he is good and quiet and happy.

It might be a good compromise, to just borrow a dog for the season. I know that Scooter and I will both be happy if I can find someone to take him hunting this year!

**highlands** · #10 09/01/12, 03:59 PM

My wife tells me that she used to be horrified that we had so many animals and wondered what we would ever do with them. We had 10 to 30 pigs, some sheep that went beep, chickens, etc. Now we have over 400 pigs and she says we don't have enough. Customers want more! (She does the deliveries.)

mekasmom · #11 09/01/12, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big rockpile

Because we already have 3 Dogs which tie us down.

But we do have three Dogs,does make it difficult.But we can get away for couple days putting out extra Food and Water.

You think three dogs is a lot? I'm not sure I have ever had only 3 dogs at a time. And I mean ever, in my whole life. My family during childhood always had herds of them, and so do we. LOL
But the best advice is always to keep wife happy. A happy wife leads to a much better life than an unhappy wife.

BamaSuzy · #12 09/01/12, 04:20 PM

At present count I have 10 goats (four "retired" Nubian Boar crosses and the rest pygmy); about 250 laying hens; about 60 ducks; one dog; five cats; and three Angora rabbits....and yes they tie me down....but during my late husband's sickness I'd be out there feeding and watering animals IN THE DARK at 4 a.m. beofre we made the 83 mile round trip for his chemo or radiation...

I only missed on time of feeding and watering them myself in the morning and at night (during that last 14 months!!!) except when we were home on Hospice and that last week son and daughter in law fed them several times because I was afraid to leave him at all....and I was with him when he passed away...

So now I'm still "tied down" with all these animals....but they keep me grounded....I sell the eggs...I sell the goat milk soap...hopefully now I can resume learning to spin....I sell some of the ducks and in the spring some of their eggs....

where would I go and what would I do if all the animals weren't here? I'm not sure but it sure would be even lonelier!

big rockpile · #13 09/01/12, 06:10 PM

My wife does have a point she is wanting to travel.It is hard enough for a person with one Dog,impossible with 3.

We went on a trip one time with four,never try that again and really need to know if they are truly welcome on the other end.

big rockpile

sisterpine · #14 09/02/12, 01:13 PM

BR- We are getting older. And while it is important for us to remain as active as possible: that does not mean just working all the time. It is also important for us mature folks to make our life style fit our physical needs. I would love to have a huge garden and a bunch of animals but I just cant run that much any more. My option is to hire someone....can't afford to do that so then I must down size my desire to fit my ability. You wife is correct, she should be able to travel with you and you both might injoy sitting on the porch and just remembering the animal and big garden times. KC

Oldcountryboy · #15 09/02/12, 10:36 PM

Speaking of dogs! When I was a young lad of five years old, we moved back here to Oklahoma and moved in with grandma. Grandma was a widow and her only companion was a few chickens, a cat, and Grandpa's dog. Grandpa had passed away just about 4 1/2 years earlier. But his old faithful dog was still around. It was a wirehaired terrior of about medium size. Mom would tell stories of how her dad (grandpa) always kept these kinds of dogs around cause they were real good gaurdian dogs and they made real good hunting companions.

In the last five or so years I've owned a rat terrior and it is just like mom said "a real good gaurdian dog" and is probably the best squirrel dog I've ever had. So BR, next time your needing a good hunting companion get yourself something of the terrior family and do yourself a lot of squirrel hunting. These kind of dogs don't trail, they tree by site and they tree very quickly. Most of the time they surprize the squirrel and it will climb up the nearest tree and that tree maynot be close enough to another tree to jump too. So you end up with a definite shot. I've been enjoying some of the best pressure cooked squirrels you can imagine. Better then chicken!