What livestock is good for a beginner?

[Bossroo]

Ok well I have chickens to provide my family eggs. A dog and a bird. I love them all. So if I use it as true livestock only we want milk. So are you suggesting we get nothing then?

NO, I am not suggesting any such thing... I was born and raised on a farm and had my own farm that provided me and my family a nice income for over half a century, so I just may have learned a thing or two about animal husbandry and animal behavior. Also, just see what OSHA, Workman's Comp., and the Insurance Industry has to say about where farming stands in the rankings of dangerous professions. The cause of most of the injuries is when people see all of their animals as pets and forget that they can injure or kill their owners, their children or visitors at any time. One type of an example: what a person sees as a loving pat on the head of a billy, ram or bull, the animal can interpret it as a threat and will initiate an attack. Treat them humanely and affectionately in an animal husbandry fashion as they were originally domesticated for to fulfill their role. However keep a sharp and wary eye out at all times and even then accidents do happen. Enjoy the farm life !

 

[hikerfrog99]

I see what you are saying. I just really enjoy looking and feeding my animals. I only want to add 2 of something else with my chickens. It has been a dream of mine since I have been little. I will have more hens but feel the need to just have a little more. That is why I asked what everyone would recommend. Not to be used in anyway as a true "pet" that was just a figure of speech meaning this is not to make money. Provide for my family? Maybe. So if you grew up on a farm what would you suggest with your experience? If I was just to go out and buy an animal I wouldn't be here so any and all advice is dearly appreciated.

 

[Bossroo]

I see what you are saying. I just really enjoy looking and feeding my animals. I only want to add 2 of something else with my chickens. It has been a dream of mine since I have been little. I will have more hens but feel the need to just have a little more. That is why I asked what everyone would recommend. Not to be used in anyway as a true "pet" that was just a figure of speech meaning this is not to make money. Provide for my family? Maybe. So if you grew up on a farm what would you suggest with your experience? If I was just to go out and buy an animal I wouldn't be here so any and all advice is dearly appreciated.

OK ... I have raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, goats, rabbits, 5 breeds of sheep ( hundreds), beef and Arabian horses ( I stood 3 stallions at stud, shipped semen all over the country, sold horses to many States and Canada). For your needs to be a docile animal with minimal upkeep costs and minimum space and provide a return at some point. First build the BEST FENCE ( at least 5' tall, heavy wire with small spacing ) around your property, garden and house. Then I would consider 2 or more Dorper ( developed in S Africa by crossing a Dorset ram onto a Persian fat rumped desert ewe , so they can browse on much poorer feed and still gain weight to produce a top grade meat carcass ) wether ( castrated male) hair sheep to start . They are medium sized so easier to handle if the need arises, docile, shed their wool ( price of shearing far outweighs the price of wool if you could even find someone to come to shear just a couple sheep), they eat weeds and brush as well as all manner of grasses very efficiently with little if any grain needed and act more like a goat than a sheep. Since they can't reproduce as they would be fixed, no ram is needed ( a male animal is at least 1/2 of your herd in cost and production). In the end they will provide you with quite a few chops for your family. This way it will provide you with enough experience at the least cost to see if this is a venture you will want to continue. Have fun !

 

[hikerfrog99]

OK ... I have raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, pigs, goats, rabbits, 5 breeds of sheep ( hundreds), beef and Arabian horses ( I stood 3 stallions at stud, shipped semen all over the country, sold horses to many States and Canada). For your needs to be a docile animal with minimal upkeep costs and minimum space and provide a return at some point. First build the BEST FENCE ( at least 5' tall, heavy wire with small spacing ) around your property, garden and house. Then I would consider 2 or more Dorper ( developed in S Africa by crossing a Dorset ram onto a Persian fat rumped desert ewe , so they can browse on much poorer feed and still gain weight to produce a top grade meat carcass ) wether ( castrated male) hair sheep to start . They are medium sized so easier to handle if the need arises, docile, shed their wool ( price of shearing far outweighs the price of wool if you could even find someone to come to shear just a couple sheep), they eat weeds and brush as well as all manner of grasses very efficiently with little if any grain needed and act more like a goat than a sheep. Since they can't reproduce as they would be fixed, no ram is needed ( a male animal is at least 1/2 of your herd in cost and production). In the end they will provide you with quite a few chops for your family. This way it will provide you with enough experience at the least cost to see if this is a venture you will want to continue. Have fun !

Excellent!! All I wanted was 2 and will definitely take the advice of the dorper wether and the ewe. THANK YOU

 

[bonbean01]

We started out with two lambs...one ram and one ewe...both white dorpers. We'd never had sheep before and not a lot of land, but enough for sheep. That was seven years ago...turns out we really enjoy our sheep and right now there are 12 out there. We did want lambs to grow out for meat...and yes, that was hard and still is when we take some in at 10 months old to the processor. Our ewes are friendly and we are definitely hands on...not because they need that much attention and affection, but because we enjoy them. This does NOT apply to the ram...he is a hands off and will slam us if we don't have a hot rod zapper in hand with him...but he does make beautiful babies.

 

[hikerfrog99]

How about 2 females. I am not looking to reproduce. I'm considering all options before my final decision. Thank you

 

[BrownSheep]

I've had the best luck with taming bottle baby ewe or wethers.....Wethers are especially curious and friendly

 

[hikerfrog99]

I've had the best luck with taming bottle baby ewe or wethers.....Wethers are especially curious and friendly

Great! I am in search of some closeby

 

[BrownSheep]

This is the best time of year for bottle babies! Good Luck!

 

[SheepGirl]

X2 wethers make the best pets, males are always the friendliest. Ewes will work too, and will probably be better, just in case you decide to breed (who can resist cute lil lambs? ).