What livestock is good for a beginner?

[hikerfrog99]

I have chickens but I would like other livestock. I have thought and researched alot but I would like to hear from others who work with all livestock hands on. I have over an acre of fenced land but want an affectionate animal. What would you recommend?

 

[Support]

You can probably start with goats.

Goats do go well with chickens.

 

[hikerfrog99]

I've thought of that. My fence is only 4 ft high though. How can I

You can probably start with goats.

Goats do go well with chickens.

keep them from escaping?

 

[AshleyFishy]

Could always put a hot wire on the top. Or just get nigerian or pygmy goats. My fence is I think 4 1/2 foot and it keeps big goats just fine.

 

[Southern by choice]

We have Nigerians, Lamancha, Kiko's and New Zealands.... none go over our fencing that is 4 feet high and some live in hotwire tape fencing only.

Goats are very affectionate. Smaller goats like Nigies are easier on the land, easy to handle and manage, eat far less than their bigger kin.
Goats are very "dog- like" and like their people will follow you and love you.

 

[hikerfrog99]

This is great..Thank all of you for helping me make this decision!!

 

[Support]

Great! Glad that we are helping you!

 

[Womwotai]

I'm in a similar situation. Kept poultry for years but only this year added sheep and goats. Personally, I find the sheep the "easiest" (per the subject line of your post). They don't challenge the fencing, they don't try to escape and if they accidentally find themselves on the other side of the fence to their buddies, they try to find a way back IN, versus reveling in their freedom. They are such easy keepers that I bought 40lb lambs and in 6 months, they weighed 110lb just on pasture grasses. We hayed our pasture with the idea that our portion of the hay would over-winter them, but they prefer to graze and only eat the hay when the ground is snow covered as it is right now (so we will end up with left over hay by the end of the winter).

The goats are, as others have said, more like dogs in that they seek me out and follow me around and want my attention. Read: always in my way. They walk in front of me and trip me, and the billy jumps up and puts his hooves on my chest (like a dog) to get attention. He has learned the phrase "Get Down!" and responds immediately. He also tried to "play" with me like he would play with another billy and I had to really go after him to get him to respect me. The past few weeks he hasn't tried that and has actually behaved quite respectfully.

In the end, it really depends what you are looking for. Based on my experience, sheep are easiest. But in your later posts you mentioned also wanting an animal that is affectionate and in that case you might prefer goats.

 

[hilarie]

I've owned dogs and I've owned goats and about 20 other species in between, and I always refer to my goats as big, unruly dogs who, the moment I enter their pen, begin pestering me with questions: Hi! Got any lunch? Can I borrow your cellphone? Can we go for a ride in the truck? Want to play monopoly? Have any gloves you're not using? I'll remove all your labels and pocket flaps if you want (nomnomnomnom....)

 

[hikerfrog99]

I've owned dogs and I've owned goats and about 20 other species in between, and I always refer to my goats as big, unruly dogs who, the moment I enter their pen, begin pestering me with questions: Hi! Got any lunch? Can I borrow your cellphone? Can we go for a ride in the truck? Want to play monopoly? Have any gloves you're not using? I'll remove all your labels and pocket flaps if you want (nomnomnomnom....)

wow I'm speechless lol