➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Kiki]

Thank you! This is really helpful. Disappointing but helpful hahah

I almost wonder, since they aren’t cheaper anyway, if it would be better to just get some full size ones?

JK of course. Definitely can’t afford one right now. But maybe eventually haha

And oh boy! Is laminitis expensive? I haven’t really read much on it but have seen it come up a lot. Also, everything I was reading kept saying to feed grain and hay? But I thought minis got fat really easily? So do they even need grain? And also most said feed a few times a day, even for the hay, but I read something a while ago that said it was better for horses to have food available all the time rather than only feeding a few times a day because they need food moving through their system constantly? So I was gonna feed hay free choice? And/or have them on the grass a lot. Whether I get minis or full size horses. Or is that a bad idea? I did read that they shouldn’t be on the early spring grass cause of laminitis but is it otherwise okay? I’d rather do what’s best for the horse, not just what’s most convenient for me, so if feeding free choice is best I’ll do that or if not I won’t. I did also read feeding hay at ground level rather than in a hanging hay net or whatever was best and better for their back and everything cause it was a more natural position so I was gonna do that too. But I’ve read feeding on the ground is bad cause they can ingest sand and dirt and stuff and get sick? So I was gonna get one of those hay pillow things or something that go on the ground and use that instead.

Told you I research everything ever

And thanks, that makes sense. Sure it would be fun having them close by in a stall but I was just thinking it might save on shavings? Since I probably wouldn’t need them in a run in? But if it’s safer for them to be in a stall, I would do it. Our property is also pretty small though, only about 2.5 acres, with only part of that yard (even though the yard is HUGE), so I can easily access the horse(s) either way, no matter what type of the shelter they have. Not like we have huge acreage where they could go run and hide in a pasture haha but I might just build like a shed or stall or something haha we have foxes and coyotes so idk if those would be a threat to minis? Those are the largest predators we have but our coyotes are HUGE haha

But this is all just hypothetical. I don’t think I’ll get a horse anytime soon. Definitely a bit out of my price range atm but still like to plan in case or ask questions haha

Maybe I should just get goats or sheep instead.

Keeping a horse costs about what an apartment does to rent each month.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Keeping a horse costs about what an apartment does to rent each month.

OMG really!?

Although.... how much of an apartment? Like a super cheap $400 to $600 one? $800? Or like one of the crazy over $1000 or $2000 ones!?

Or is just a metaphor to say that I should get an apartment and not a horse?

 

[ShrekDawg]

I’m probably overthinking it lol

 

[Kiki]

OMG really!?

Although.... how much of an apartment? Like a super cheap $400 to $600 one? $800? Or like one of the crazy over $1000 or $2000 ones!?

Or is just a metaphor to say that I should get an apartment and not a horse?

Not a cheap apartment.
And yes...that too.

 

[ShrekDawg]

But I’m having trouble adding it up in my head haha cause I didn’t think feed and stuff cost that much but maybe there are a lot of other expenses I am missing. Probably the latter.

 

[Kiki]

But I’m having trouble adding it up in my head haha cause I didn’t think feed and stuff cost that much but maybe there are a lot of other expenses I am missing. Probably the latter.

Feeding the horses cost me alot.
I don't even like to see the feed store receipts for the horses.

I actually started keeping a spreadsheet of every penny we spend on the horses.
I've only been doing it since April of last year.
I think we have had both horses for at least 15 years now.
I get sick just thinking about
What we have spent in one year.

I don't even want to multiple that by 15.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Not a cheap apartment.
And yes...that too.

Oh wow that’s crazy!! I think I was way off on my estimates haha what costs so much!? The farrier? Board? Hidden vet bills?

Yeah.... I think I should probably avoid any big purchases/commitments for now and just focus on the apartment haha still working on saving. Though I actually have like close to or maybe even slightly over $5K right now. But I still need way more.

I’m thinking I might even hold off on the dog idea too. I might be able to take one with me but dogs are expensive too and also it wouldn’t be fair to one.

At least with quail and chickens or even other livestock like sheep or goats, I could probably rehome fairly easily, and they wouldn’t get too attached to me like a dog or horse would.

I think I’ll stick to small livestock for now.

Or maybe just poultry.

And try to volunteer or work somewhere with horses or do lessons or lease or something. Idk yet. Leasing is pretty crazy too at least around here. Some areas are cheaper but I live in an expensive area sadly.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Feeding the horses cost me alot.
I don't even like to see the feed store receipts for the horses.

I actually started keeping a spreadsheet of every penny we spend on the horses.
I've only been doing it since April of last year.
I think we have had both horses for at least 15 years now.
I get sick just thinking about
What we have spent in one year.

I don't even want to multiple that by 15.

Oh wow that’s a long time!! I didn’t realize you had horses haha I mean, I know you’ve talked about the horse eggs and stuff but I guess I figured you leased or something haha And they sound super expensive!

Is hay expensive there? Here there is tons of good quality hay around for what I think is pretty reasonable? And we have a lot of grass they could eat haha do you think that would make it cheaper at all or is it still crazy? Do you think they even need grain?

I probably won’t get one for a long time but just trying to plan haha

I didn’t think they were so expensive.

 

[sdm111]

I may be off but i think my sister's horse costs about 300.00 a month just to keep. Any vet or farrier is on top of that

 

[sdm111]

At the ranch there's a vet they all use and they say she gives her services at a reduced cost.