Farm Experience.... How To?

[jtsummie]

I've been following the, "Before you-bring home livestock prepare them" thread and it lead me to ask the question I've been thinking a lot about. For those of us who didn't grow up on a farm how do you gain "Farm Experience?" I' very thought about going to the local 4H club to see if I could hang around and help out, but the 4H thread made me a bit hesitant. I've been a member on here for a while and love to read the threads, but any thoughts on where to go for actuall experience?
Thanks

[Peasant]

I got a full-time job on a farm. In my 5th season now. I've learned a lot about farming, enough to know I probably can't afford to farm full-time on my own, unfortunately. At this point I'd be happy if I could figure out a way to work part-time to pay most of the bills and farm the rest of the time.

If finding a farm job isn't feasible for you, I'd search out small farmers and see if they'd let you volunteer (might search WWOOF listings in your area).

[idigbeets]

Lots of farms hire seasonal help. You can place an ad online. Also, check here for listings and organizations that may also have wanted ads online.

http://www.northcentralsare.org/Abou...ntacts/Indiana

[Callieslamb]

Universityextension services offer classes on farming. The only ones I have attended have been more specific - such as "feeding small ruminents" "how to set up a business" "Field crops" etc. But if nothing else- they should be able to help you as an individual depending on your Extension Service. Just realize that a lot of their information is really to help the bigger guys so not all will apply to you.

[Awnry Abe]

All experience is gained by doing, so just do it. You can get good tutelage by reading a book or the interwebs, --or by talking directly to experience--but if you are like me, it won't sink in until failure is at hand and you say, "Oh. That's what they meant."

[haunted]

It depends on what you are looking for. If you truly want farm experience, as in big time commercial farming, the previous suggestions are good. If you just want to learn to raise a few chickens, plant a garden, etc., you might just kind of talk about it at work or church or wherever and see if you already know someone who is doing that sort of thing. Many would be willing to help you out with knowledge, especially if you were willing to help pull weeds from the garden or clean out the pens!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Look for a mentor who will let you help on their farm before you get your critters. Offer to be the substitute milker for folks with goats. Garden. Read.

[Kasota]

I think it can depend on what kind of critter you want to start with. Chickens are going to be easier than a horse. If you've never had a horse before just bringing one home without knowing how to work with them safely could be disastrous. When I started with sheep I bought some bred ewes that were proven mom's that had not had any lambing issues. They knew more than I did that first lambing season and that was a blessing! Finding a mentor is a blessing! Is there someone in your area you could make friends with who has the kind of animal you are interested in getting started with?

[BigM]

I say jump in a puddle before a lake. Start with one small project, say chickens. Then, once you've gained some experience and feel you've got a handle on it, add to your flock and add in a different small project, say a small garden or a couple of rabbits and do the same. Good luck to you!

[BobbyB]

Think long and hard about what it is you want to do, try or raise. Ask a few location specific questions about whatever it is.

Location specific because, here, I can raise calves in a 3 sided shed even in winter with no problems. I doubt that would work in Michigan in January.

Our rabbits are in open cages with just a roof over them.Even during the coldest spells we had, they were fine.

My chickens are 100% free range. Once I turn them out to fend for them selves, they are on their own. No chicken specific shed for them. They roost in trees and when it rains ( seldom ) they hang out under the shed, boat, big brooder coop or wherever.

Our goats have a 3 sided barn to get under, Karla milks on a stand by the back porch.

Turkeys and ducks are raised the same as chickens.

Fruit trees and vegetables vary in selection from here to yonder. Same with planting times and what you can expect with harvest.

The biggest thing to take away from that bringing livestock home thread is to have a plan before hand, have what you know you will need for the animals you are bringing home including shelter, and then do the best you can with them. That clown just decided to go buy some stock and it appears he didnt have the first thing for them when he got them home.

If you are able to read and then follow the written example, you can do that. ( not all people can )

Some people do better being shown first hand and most do well doing both.

In short, decide where you want to start, research and ask questions, start small and once you get in the swing of things, jump in with both feet.

[Gray Wolf]

You might look into wwoof-usa and getting involved with it. I've heard some good things about it.

[TnAndy]

Originally Posted by BobbyB

My chickens are 100% free range. Once I turn them out to fend for them selves, they are on their own. No chicken specific shed for them. They roost in trees and when it rains ( seldom ) they hang out under the shed, boat, big brooder coop or wherever.

For those that free range, I'm curious about a couple things:

1. How many do you loose to predators ? And how often do you replace with new chicks ?

Ours have a fairly large fenced area, and the only time we let them out of that is when we can be right there with them. Did it once without watching for an afternoon, and lost 5 in a matter of a few hours to coyotes. ( Fairly SURE it was coyote, because one made the fatal mistake of coming back for breakfast the next morning )

2. How does egg gathering work ? (I'd think you'd find them here, there, and everywhere.) And how do you know how old they are ?

We sell our eggs, so they are collected daily from nesting boxes, cleaned, then refrigerated. I wouldn't want someone to get one of questionable age. ( or with a partially developed chick in it....talk about a customer killer ! )

[littlebitfarm]

I grew up in the Chicago suburbs. My first love was horses and when I was 12 I started taking lessons ( paid for with babysitting money). After a couple years the stable let me come earl on Saturdays. I cleaned 12 box stalls and 30 tie stalls. Learned how they were fed, grooming, and basic horse first aid. In exchange I got to ride for an hour in the afternoon for free. Priceless experience in horse care.

Later, after college, I found a professor that would board my horse in exchange for labor. I learned to build fences and roof pole barns. Don't know how much barn paint I applied. Gathered experience with cattle, goats, and chickens. Learned to drive a tractor and bale hay. Once again, priceless experience, and I got to keep a horse I really couldn't afford.

[BobbyB]

Originally Posted by TnAndy

For those that free range, I'm curious about a couple things:

1. How many do you loose to predators ? And how often do you replace with new chicks ?

Ours have a fairly large fenced area, and the only time we let them out of that is when we can be right there with them. Did it once without watching for an afternoon, and lost 5 in a matter of a few hours to coyotes. ( Fairly SURE it was coyote, because one made the fatal mistake of coming back for breakfast the next morning )

2. How does egg gathering work ? (I'd think you'd find them here, there, and everywhere.) And how do you know how old they are ?

We sell our eggs, so they are collected daily from nesting boxes, cleaned, then refrigerated. I wouldn't want someone to get one of questionable age. ( or with a partially developed chick in it....talk about a customer killer ! )

We try to have 50 hens and pullets all the time. That number fluctuates constantly, but is always between 50 and 60. My main predator is hawks. And they seem to like big roosters and ducks the most for whatever reason but will grab a hen as well.

There is a feed store in San Antonio that keeps chicks all the time. Since we found that, we usually buy a half dozen pullets a month and keep them coming along that way. When they are about 3/4 grown, I turn them out. What we like about this is , feed costs are not enough to make us catch our breath at any one time. And a few at a time is easier for the kids to tend to. We mix breeds and buy an occasional rooster and this keeps fresh blood in our flock all the time.

I also raise pullets for people that want them laying age and we always have extras that stay here. Right now we are raising 15 RIRs for a buddy and I filled out the order with Buff Orpingtons and White Rocks for ourselves since the hatchery minimum order is 25

For the most part, the hens have nests they use regularly, but we have to keep our eyes open because some hen always finds a new place to lay and there are always several more that think it is a good place to lay too.

Karla sells eggs too and any eggs we find that we are not sure on age, she floats them and we use them here.

[Phil V.]

What part of the state do you live in? I live in Noble county. It's the northeast part of the state. If you close to me we could hook up and talk.

[bja105]

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

All experience is gained by doing, so just do it. You can get good tutelage by reading a book or the interwebs, --or by talking directly to experience--but if you are like me, it won't sink in until failure is at hand and you say, "Oh. That's what they meant."

Yes, just do it. Don't let the internet experts tell you you need $50000 of facilities to see if you like cattle, goats, or chickens. Start small and cheap, see if you even like it before you spend too much.

In my experience, most advise you get is wrong or not applicable to your situation.

Also, while I love YouTube, at least half of the How To videos are made by someone doing something for their first time!

My Dad was a trucker. A age 21, he learned trucking by buying a truck. That can't be done now, according to the experts.

[highlands]

I didn't grow up on a farm but I'm farming. I researched by reading and then started slowly, gradually adding to my skill sets. Don't take on too much all at once. Get good at things by doing them a lot.

-Walter

[BobbyB]

Originally Posted by highlands

I didn't grow up on a farm but I'm farming. I researched by reading and then started slowly, gradually adding to my skill sets. Don't take on too much all at once. Get good at things by doing them a lot.

-Walter

Nearly all " farm " animals require the same things as a general rule. Food, water, a means of containment, and shelter. Different species would need vaccinations, wormers, and various things.

Start with something like chickens or rabbits. get used to caring for penned animals. Then if you are comfortable with that, move up to something larger. Whatever you do, do not overwhelm yourself.

[FarmboyBill]

Get on U TUBES and search out any subject that your interested in . Youll likely find AT LEAST 2 doz vids of people whose doing whatever it is that interests you and are willing to make a vid of how they do it. Theres vids for EVERY farm animal or job that I can think of. From How to shoe a horse, and/or harness it, and/or feed/groom it.
How to raise a garden. Not only in general, but in specifics. If you cant grow carrots, theres vids showing you how OTHER people successfully grow them, and anything else.
How to use farm implements.
How to build barns and sheds, and how to out of recycled materials
Just anything that anybody would be interested in doing in becoming a farmer/gardener/homesteader, they have vids of people already doing it successfully.

IF you believe that it costs to much in equipment to farm, check out the vids about horse farming, OR type in 1920s/1930s tractors farming. Youll see many people still useing 50+ year old equipment to do small farming, and do it successfully.

IF you can think of an excuse as to why you think that you cant learn to be a farmer/gardener/homesteader AFTER watching all the U Tubes ive mentioned. ID LIKE TO HEAR IT>

[jtsummie]

Thanks to everyone for your responses! It's good to hear success stories from people that learned all on their own.

Originally Posted by FarmboyBill

IF you can think of an excuse as to why you think that you cant learn to be a farmer/gardener/homesteader AFTER watching all the U Tubes ive mentioned. ID LIKE TO HEAR IT>

I agree, EVERYTHING is on youtube. It's a great learning tool. Thanks for all the responses.