Rodeogirl's herd journey

[rodeogirl]

Wow its been a wile since I've been on here. To be honest I forgot about it. But my plans have changed a bit I'm probably going to start with 12 acres unless I can find cheap land. I'm planning on starting off with about a dozen chickens that would give me a good start on the amount of eggs my son and I use. I may even get some rabbits for meat. Then work into the bigger live stock.
I'm also really big on the idea of all the animals I get need to have more than one purpose. For example I can use chickens for the obvious meat and eggs but I can also use the feathers for down blankets and sell them to fly fishermen.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Khaki Campbell ducks will out lay the chickens, and serve those same purposes, too. It would also give ya a variety in the freezer to choose from...they lay when chickens slow way down in the colder temps and less daylight hours. They don't demand a very big structure and eat the same pellets the chickens do. It's good to hear from ya again...and just how could ya forget about all of us here?....

 

[rodeogirl]

Khaki Campbell ducks will out lay the chickens, and serve those same purposes, too. It would also give ya a variety in the freezer to choose from...they lay when chickens slow way down in the colder temps and less daylight hours. They don't demand a very big structure and eat the same pellets the chickens do. It's good to hear from ya again...and just how could ya forget about all of us here?....

I will look in to the ducks I might end up getting both. I'm sorry for forgetting about yall but I got a little cought up with the self-sufficient threads and started a second job so it's a little hectic at my house right now.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Awww....Life does go on, that's for sure....ya wouldn't feel welcomed back if I didn't give ya a little grief over it...
Having raised 4 daughters I surely understand being busy. I just wanted to give ya something to think about...some eat duck and some don't...I like it and sure do like having them. I hope things turn out real well for ya. How's the little man, by the way?

 

[rodeogirl]

I havent had the pleasure of eating duck uet but I can't wait to try it (I'm game for about anything).

How's the little man, by the way?

He's being a little monster. He just turned 4 and got a little spoiled for about a week. So now he thinks he can have anything now. But other than that he is doing just fine.

 

[Bruce]

I agree with @CntryBoy777's suggestion to start with chickens, they are very easy and take almost no time daily. I haven't done ducks even though we have a pond behind the barn simply because I don't want to deal with winter water. The chickens have a 5 gallon "cooler" with a heater in it and a pump to continuously circulate it through a pipe with nipples. All I do is add a gallon or two of water every so often.

In fact I just completed a project suggested by @CntryBoy777 for having a reasonably large water source in the barn for the alpacas rather than having to carry it down from the kitchen every morning. All they need is clean water in a heated bucket so getting that "locally" will make things easier, especially when there is snow or ice on the path down. Keeping open water for ducks Oct/Nov through March/April would be a challenge. They would be great fun the rest of the year though

 

[CntryBoy777]

We don't put the pool out for the ducks below 30°, and have a 3gal drinking bucket we put warm water in 2-3 times during the day depending on temps...I don't deal with ice very much and the ducks do just fine without the pool until warmer temps come....they will eat snow....

 

[Bruce]

My heated rain barrel isn't big enough for alpaca AND duck water! Do you change it 3 times daily because the get it dirty?

 

[CntryBoy777]

No, only when it is cold enough to freeze...a duck only has clean water when ya change it and they mucky it up immediately....

 

[rodeogirl]

So my goals for me getting my own property has changed a bit.
So these are my revised goals
By at least 12 acres of landBuild tiny house or buy trailer house from one of my friends
Build small barn and feed shedBuild a 2 bedroom plus Loft cabin and rent out the trailer house for extra income or sell. Or if built tiny house uses for camper when my little boy does fair
Build large mechanical shed
Build a large house
Build large barn
I am wanting to start this in 5 years.