Hello from northeast Indiana!

[USpony]

I just wanted to introduce myself and tell you a little about what we are doing. Six years ago we bought the 6 acre property we live on now with the intention of making it a homestead farm.

My dream for a long time has been to raise quality Dexter cattle for their dual purpose qualities. Due to lack of funds I wasn't able to do that yet. We did raise a couple of beef steers, a bunch of dual purpose chickens, a Nigerian dairy goat, meat rabbits, and a pony (I'm a small adult so I take him on trail rides which he loves).

About 4 years ago I started nursing school and sold most of my animals (or sent them to freezer camp) so I could concentrate on my studies. I will be a registered nurse in 4 months and am very excited about getting my homestead going again. It will be a challenge since I will be working full-time second shift but I'm sure I can do it if I keep my animal numbers at a reasonable level.

The plan is to start with one Dexter cow, be it a weanling (or older bred cow), a pair of American Guinea hog piglets, and 10 Auracana hens. I love working with heritage breeds and feel I should start with registered animals. I don't personally care if my animals are registered but when it comes time to sell excess animals my experience has been that it makes a difference. I won't be ready for my cow or piglets until I pass my state boards in July but wanted to begin putting feelers out there so I can locate Dexter and Guinea hog breeders. Everything in my area is geared toward the CAFO type animals and I haven't been able to find my type animals anywhere close.

I will be doing grass fed with moveable pens and rotational grazing. I know this is long, so thank you for your time if you got through the whole thing.

 

[WantonWoodsman]

Welcome to BYH. Hope you will enjoy your stay here. I wish you all the luck with your career and your new animal friends. Your intro was kinda long...........but it's only because it lacks a certain element. THERE AIN'T NO PICS. No seriously.... nothing wrong with your intro. Once again WELCOME.

 

[Latestarter]

Greetings and welcome to BYH @USpony First, congrats on completing your nursing degree/qualification(s)! We have quite a few X-nurses here on BYH. Nothing to worry about with your intro, it was just fine! It's sometimes difficult to find the animals you want right near your location (which is where by the way? You should include at least your general area in your profile). You might search for breeders or go to the registry sites for the breed you're looking for as they generally have member lists with contact info.

I haven't looked but: http://www.purebreddextercattle.com/ http://www.dextercattle.org/
When the time comes, I hope you'll share some pics of your animals with us. Good luck and make yourself at home!

 

[norseofcourse]

Welcome from Ohio - congrats on becoming a registered nurse! I wish you luck with your plans, I don't see Dexter cattle around here often, and when I do they are very pricey. Hope you find some nice ones!

 

[USpony]

Thanx for the kind welcomes! I am located somewhere between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, just to pin my location down a little.

An amish man not too far from me was advertising a bred Dexter/Jersey heifer. Not sure on the price as I was told about it by a friend. Even though not exactly what I want, I would be sorely tempted if I were ready for her. I am willing to drive about 4 hours or so to get the type of animal I want for a reasonable price.

 

[micah wotring]

Welcome from West Virginia! Great to have ya here!
I believe we have a few active members in/near Indiana. @Pastor Dave I think


~MW

 

[CntryBoy777]

Welcome from NW Mississippi!
Your intro wasn't long at all and was just fine.
Congradulations on the nursing school, our #3 daughter graduates in May.
Your plans sound really good. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't put a great emphasis on registered animals in the beginning. While learning it may end up cheaper to learn on less pricey animals, just in case something happens and ya lose one it wouldn't hit the pocketbook quite so hard. Then, after ya work out your cycles and rotations, ya can move into registered animals....just a thought.
Again....

 

[Pastor Dave]

Welcome from Morgan Co.
I am abt 20 minutes or less SW of Indy.

You are doing my dream as well.
We have our eye on a little farmstead within walking distance. They have chickens already and a small pasture area that has been un-fenced. They also have abt a 3 acre plot that has always been alfalfa, but this past season was too weedy and was ploughed and had corn planted on it. Pretty ideal to what I am looking for, but would prefer 8-10 acres and this one is 5 or 6.

We already raise meat rabbits and grow our own grass hay. My goal is to raise a couple beef calves and sell the second or make an even trade to the processor to keep one and process mine for the trade. Throw in some chickens and a LSGD, and just abt perfect. See, folks on here get into very descriptive narratives.

Good luck on your nursing and farming endeavors! You found a good source to learn and share or just enjoy.
God Bless, Dave

 

[goatgurl]

welcome from the Arkansas/Oklahoma boarder. I so remember those months before graduation from nursing school and waiting to take boards. back in the olden days we had to wait for weeks to get the results now youall get the results by computer at the time. I looked at the envelope when I finally got it in the mail and was so nervous to open it. 30 years later it was quite a ride but I loved it. I am also enjoying retirement tho. I think God puts you where you need to be and I hope you have a long wonderful career. and yes you can manage the hours and a farm too. I have dairy goats, hair sheep, chickens, ducks, rabbits and feeder pigs all on 60 acres. its not always easy but certainly doable. good luck

 

[Calendula]

I'm just a little north of you in Michigan.

I know the Livestock Conservancy is a pretty good resource to find heritage breeders around you. I just looked and they do have Dexter cattle and Guinea hogs, and I know they have Aracuanas. I would like to get some purebred Ameracaunas one day and I use it to find other heritage breeders nearby.