What to do when you have to leave the farm?

[GFamFarm]

I've got a question that has been bugging me. I want to start to raise pigs and am also in the National Guard. What do people do when they have to leave their animals for a few days and dont have anyone to take care of them? My wife is also enlisted so she will be gone too. Do you just through out extra food or hire some high schooler to feed them for you? Its the only thing thats keeping me from re-enlisting. I could be gone for just the weekend or 2-3 weeks all at once.

[Awnry Abe]

First of all, thanks to you and your wife.

I don't produce pork, but for every other livestock operation, I just load up for as long as I need. You may need to make some long-term feed and water dispensers. When you do enlist help, make the task a short and sweet as necessary so the help can get on with their own chores/life.

[Whisperwindkat]

We hire someone to stay at the farm. It isn't cheap and so we don't take many vacations. For a couple of days I suppose the livestock would be ok with plenty of hay and water, but then there are the dogs who would not be. We are going to be gone in March for 4 days and we are paying a young man 200.00 to stay here at the farm at night.

[1shotwade]

I prefer kind of a barter. I've got neighbors like everyone else, some good, some bad.One neighbor is a cabinet maker,another is a mechanic. The one has to go out for the day so the other runs up to his place and fires his wood burner for him. On the other side, the other plows the snow from his driveway every time.
If I have to be out of town I set up food and water for that period and my son or one of the neighbors will come over and change out frozen water ,feed the dogs, and chickens and fill the woodstove once or twice a day. It takes all of 15 minutes if everything is ready to go. I push what snow I can for them with my atv,share my sorghum and honey with them and we always trade of produce each year.Lost year I gave away 40 watermelon and 35 muskmelon. It all works out as long as you are not trying to get the best of the deal.


Wade

[wwubben]

I have a neighbor that does chores for anyone in the neighborhood who is gone for a while.He takes freewill pay.He gets everything from cash to meat or whatever.No matter what you do-----your livestock needs to be checked every day.

[spur]

First off let me say thank you to both you and your wife, I appreciate the service you folks do for us!!If I were in your position I would make friends with someone that will be there every day and better two times a day to keep after your animals. Doesn't matter what kind of animals you are talking about. I see what happens around here every day and couldn't imagine what the place would be like for three days by it's self. Best to get someone long before you know you will leave. It takes a while to get someone organized to take care what needs done in a manner the critters are familiar with. Dogs and cats are likely to do much better if they have the opportunity to meet and become familiar instead of meeting a caretaker the first time they need fed or left out. Before you show someone your routine for feeding ,have a written list of what and how things are done. When someone new is trying to remember how much feed different animals get it is easy to get off track. If you have different animals ( cattle, hogs, sheep, chickens ) hang there feed schedule and amounts on each pen. I know all this sounds like a lot to go through but if you are a responsible animal person/homesteader you will take the time to do this right.
The last thing I have to say isn't something you are likely to welcome but it needs said. If you and your wife both are considering a career in the Guard the possibility of being gone for extended periods on short notice is always in your future. Becoming homesteaders or animal care givers might not be in your or the animals best interest. Now every one can tell me how much of a butt I am for discouraging someone with a homesteading dream!!

[blooba]

Originally Posted by spur

The last thing I have to say isn't something you are likely to welcome but it needs said. If you and your wife both are considering a career in the Guard the possibility of being gone for extended periods on short notice is always in your future. Becoming homesteaders or animal care givers might not be in your or the animals best interest. Now every one can tell me how much of a butt I am for discouraging someone with a homesteading dream!!

Yea, what happens when you get deployed for a year or 2. Not all deployments give you plenty of advance notice.

[BigHenTinyBrain]

I have to say that I agree with Spur. If you are not sure you'll be able to provide care for your animals then perhaps you should reconsider getting them. Being gone for a weekend now and again is one thing, but if you were to be gone for 2-3 weeks, both of you at once, that is putting quite a bit of strain on a helpful neighbor or costing you quite a bit to find a farmsitter.

Our goats and chickens will do fine for a day or two in warm seasons with extra feed and water, but pigs don't work as well- if you feed them extra they will just go ahead and eat the extra right off the bat (in my experience, at least) leaving nothing for the remaining day(s). And in cold weather we need someone to be available to check water buckets at least twice a day, even though everyone has heated waterers.

[mrs whodunit]

You have a neighbor or friend who will help you out when needed.

I am the friend.... I cow sit LOL

She gives me all the milk I want ...I cow sit when needed. Win Win