An apocolypse herd/flock

[Lifesong Farm]

Quote:
If you can't get your hands on any of them I would look into the Colonial Spanish Mustangs. These old Indian ponies are hardy creatures. They haven't changed much since they washed up on our shores.

I've considered it but I wouldn't know where to look for good mustangs. I Love the Arabian loyalty and personality, but it is hard to find the old hardy lines of Arabians.. I lucked out with sammy. I ended up with her, the two of us were both wild and scared and damaged from abuse and formed a strong bond that, from what I understand isn't uncommon with Arabians and their owners. I have had her for over 15 years now and still marvel at her. Other horses have come and gone, but Sammy has always stayed.

There a few breeders keeping the bloolines pure. The gov. didn't succeed in wiping them all out. I plan to go get my ancestral horses the Choctaw Indian Pony in the next 12-24 months. Most of the horses that the Native Americans roder were the Spanish Mustangs/Barbs. Look into the Horse of the Americas registry, SSMR and SMR. The horses have been DNA typed and studied by Dr. Philip Sponenberg. All together there there are about 4000 left world wide. When you break them down into strains (kinda like Polish Arabians vs Anglo Arabians) there are anywhere from 8 to 500 individuals.
I have been scared to get up on my mare because I have seen how she has acted for a trainer that has worked with her in trade for boarding her horses. I am not supposed to rider per Drs. And I have had a nasty spill that has shaken my confidence. The horse had to be euthanized. My mare is 5 this year and has only had 90 days of training. But she responded like a seasoned pro when I got on her. She stood rock still for me where she normally makes moutning a pain and she responded to every command I gave without a fuss. She normally fights the other rider. So this ontop of protecting me from a very aggresive man, protecting my herd, and the fact she is sooooo hardy. I am hooked.

Back to other animals on the homestead. I saw someone mention guinies. I hadn't even thought of them. I would definetely add them for more bug control.

 

[just2rosey]

I just found the thread also. Funny but self-sufficient agriculture has been on my mind a lot lately. We are starting a flock of chickens, and planting a garden for the first time in years. I grew up on a small hobby farm in the midwest and we grew nearly all our own veggies and canned them. I would certainly go back to that. I haven't grown grains before, but my climate is favorable if I had enough open land. I know how to can, I have a gazillion jars and my own pressure cooker. So the gardening aspect with heirloom seeds is a given. As for livestock. That would depend on where I was and how much land I had control of. I am currently only on 3 acres and much of that is wooded. So definitely chickens. I currently have LF Ameraucanas, and a few other breeds/mixes. Lets face it breeds will go by the way side everything you own will inner breed and you will have your own hybrid which thrives where you live. I wouldn't be brooding chicks, I would let the hens do it. I have raised rabbits for meat, so I would certainly go there again. I would also have goats, for milk and cheese, I also believe most people would end up with one mixed strain of goats. If you are living off the stock you are raising, every critter becomes dual purpose, what would you do with all the extra male dairy goats? Eat them. So why bother with meat goats, or just have a mixed/dual purpose breed. My kids and I are lactose intolerant, so no point in getting a cow we wouldn't be able to enjoy the milk or cheese anyway. Cows, and horses require a lot of pasture land, which I don't have currently, but if I could provide for them I would definitely have horses. I am in Virginia, so maybe Chincoteague Ponies, they are hardy and used to living off the land. Pigs are a possibility, if they are self sustaining enough, I would have to research that a bit. Living in a heavily wooded area, I would have to have livestock which has lower foraging/grain requirements.

 

[pdsavage]

I only have 2 more animals I want.Cotten patch geese and Dairy sheep.
I chose dairy sheep instead of goats because dairy sheep will give me meat,wool/skins and milk.
Cotten patch geese are hardy and less agressive.
I belive they will go nice with my Muscovies,chickens and rabbits...

Cotton Patch Goose

http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/waterfowl/cottonpatch.html

dairy sheep
The most common and prolific dairy sheep breeds include the Lacaune, the East Friesian, and Awassi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_milk

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
I've considered it but I wouldn't know where to look for good mustangs. I Love the Arabian loyalty and personality, but it is hard to find the old hardy lines of Arabians.. I lucked out with sammy. I ended up with her, the two of us were both wild and scared and damaged from abuse and formed a strong bond that, from what I understand isn't uncommon with Arabians and their owners. I have had her for over 15 years now and still marvel at her. Other horses have come and gone, but Sammy has always stayed.

There a few breeders keeping the bloolines pure. The gov. didn't succeed in wiping them all out. I plan to go get my ancestral horses the Choctaw Indian Pony in the next 12-24 months. Most of the horses that the Native Americans roder were the Spanish Mustangs/Barbs. Look into the Horse of the Americas registry, SSMR and SMR. The horses have been DNA typed and studied by Dr. Philip Sponenberg. All together there there are about 4000 left world wide. When you break them down into strains (kinda like Polish Arabians vs Anglo Arabians) there are anywhere from 8 to 500 individuals.
I have been scared to get up on my mare because I have seen how she has acted for a trainer that has worked with her in trade for boarding her horses. I am not supposed to rider per Drs. And I have had a nasty spill that has shaken my confidence. The horse had to be euthanized. My mare is 5 this year and has only had 90 days of training. But she responded like a seasoned pro when I got on her. She stood rock still for me where she normally makes moutning a pain and she responded to every command I gave without a fuss. She normally fights the other rider. So this ontop of protecting me from a very aggresive man, protecting my herd, and the fact she is sooooo hardy. I am hooked.

Back to other animals on the homestead. I saw someone mention guinies. I hadn't even thought of them. I would definetely add them for more bug control.

thank you! i'll look into it. I saved your post. sounds like the Spanish Mustangs have the same spirit, fire, and fierce loyalty i admire in the Arabian along with hardiness.

 

[mrsengeseth]

If I thought that it was going to get to that point....

Goats, for vegetation control, meat, and milk
miniature cattle, meat and milk
rabbits, meat and skin
geese, eggs and meat, and feathers
turkeys, eggs, meat, feathers
pigs, etc. meat

all of these too would be fine at creating fertilizer as well for our large-ish gardens

I already keep chickens, quail and duck. all for eggs, but i could expand those runs/coops for meat production as well, I suppose.

Interesting question.

 

[schellie69]

Quote:
I did some research and people who are lactose intolerant can drink raw cows milk being lactose intolerant comes from the pasteurizing process there is no real lactose in raw milk only pasteurized milk. I wish I had the study but its saved on the computer that died. I did a Google search about raw milk Maybe something for you to look into.

 

[country freedom]

Quote:
Being lactose intolerant myself.....I have heard there that there are two types of dairy cattle..........A1 (not so good), A2 (better for lactose intolerant people).
A2 - Guernsey, Brown Swiss, Zebu are A2 - heard these milking breeds are better for lactose intolerant people - These are exactly the breeds that I want......also I want goats, milking sheep.

A1 - Holstein, Jersey, Ayshire, Devon, Dexter, Shorthorn are A1 - These are a few of the main dairy breeds being used for the large dairies, and homesteading people - I can't have any dairy from these breeds.

Anyone know of any one else breeding Miniature Guernsey, Brown Swiss?

 

[elevan]

My thoughts...

Chickens - a good dual purpose breed like buckeyes...which are also very good foragers...providing eggs, meat and feathers.
Yak - able to ride, plow, pull, eat and use fiber...very good at utilizing a larger variety of plants for food.
Pygmy or Nigerian Dwarf goats - milk, meat and hide...a small footprint and able to utilize a smaller area of land at a time
Pot Belly pig - they are small, require less food and can be stored on the hoof...a smaller amount of meat means less chance of rot...since we wouldn't have refrigeration...
Rabbits - meat and hide / fur...they could be fed grass...

I also have a large pond...so stocked with fish...it also provides a good food source and lots of frogs in there too...

Veggies for me would be corn, zucchini, tomatoes, acorn squash...as they all grow easily with out disease or pest problems for me already.

Fruit...I have apple, peach, cherry and plum trees already.

I also have a honey locust tree which has edible pods and seeds...it's thorns can be used to make blow darts and nails.

We have black walnut trees and hickory nut trees too.

I have a small pond that is loaded with cattails...good for eating too...different parts for different times of year.

I think a greenhouse would be important for growing in the winter months here.

A gun of course for protection and hunting...but perhaps a bow would be better because arrows would be easier to reuse and bullets may become difficult to find.

Tools...hammer, hand saw, shovel, hoe, scythe

Canning jars and lids.

9-volt batteries and steel wool (easy firestarter)

A hand pump for the well...

A good book on medicinal plants as well as an edible plant field guide would be important.

 

[KristyHall]

wost comes to worst, kudzu is highly nutritious and that stuff is everywhere out here.

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

Been reading this for 2 days so now it's time for me to put my two cents in. Okay, more like a dollar fifty. Here's my long post:

A couple people wrote they plan to use goats for lawn-mowing ... it won't work. I've never seen a goat focus on grass. They are browsers, so they'll eat your trees, bushes, shrubs, and everything else they can possibly reach. They also can be used for meat, milk, and wool. A Nigora is a miniature (nigerian dwarf) crossed with an angora, so although it doesn't provide MUCH meat, it will provide some in addition to delicious milk and angora wool. As to the Nubians, they eat a LOT more than miniatures so you'll need to take that into consideration. I don't plan to ever get a nubian again, although I love their big floppy ears and sweet personalities.

Others have mentioned pigs ... while I would LOVE pigs, you need a very very sturdy pen for them. And they are difficult to hide (size, smell). Cows are high maintenance but you have lots of room, go for it. Gotta look into yaks.

Also have to comment to those who said "a cow" or "a goat" ... you'll need more than one. You need a male to have your girl have babies and thus, milk. And you might not be able to find a breeder to service them.

Personally...

Couple of dogs to pull their weight guarding. Male and female. A hairy breed so I can spin their "fur". Good breeders. Quiet and obedient. When they stop doing their job, even if I can't eat them myself, I'll trade to someone who hasn't known them as pets.

I'd focus on bantam chickens and quail. Easy to care for, provide eggs practically daily. Good for hiding in your garage if necessary (except them loud squawks proclaiming "I laid an egg" or a rooster crowing). For bantam chickens, I've got egger and silkies (hoping to figure out how to make candle-wicks from the silkie's "feathers"). If I could keep the chickens outside, I'd get the quietest chickens, that go broody, great at egg-laying and fertility, great at foraging, and so forth. Dual purpose not required. Egg laying is.

Becky3086: If you have a few broody silkie hens, they'll incubate the quail eggs, as well as any other egg (well, almost!) that you set under her.

Also, rabbits (good lean meat, and the angora type provide a silky fiber for spinning). Could also tan the hides.

Milk? If I really think I'll need it, I'll stick with my Nigora goats (due to be born any day now!). Two does and 1 buck in one pen, and an unrelated 2 does and unrelated 1 buck in another pen. (Right now we have only 2 does and 1 buck plus a wether). Keep track of who breeds with who, and if you plan it out, you can keep your closed herd going on for years without weirdness happening with inbreeding. But ... I'm thinking I'd rather do without this. I can make milk from soybeans or almonds or rice.

Perchie.Girl: I agree. As Americans, we eat too much animal protein. An egg or two for breakfast, almonds for lunch and beans for dinner ... covers an entire day's worth of protein.

As to plants ... definitely veggie garden and fruit/nut trees and bushes. I do the three sisters (corn, winter squash, vine beans) and what I call the "three cousins" (mammoth sunflowers, vining cucumbers, and melons). We have a wonderful garden room so there I'll grow year-round there some herbs, bell and hot peppers, tomatoes, greens, strawberries, carrots and a few others.

We already grow amaranth ("pigs weed" ... nobody but us and the chickens and goats would bother it), millet (chickens and goats love it, and so do we). I plan to experiment this year with rice and quinoa.

Still need to plant elderberry bushes for eating, medicine, and to make elderberry wine. I wouldn't sell or barter it from my home tho because people who desperately desire it will get drunk and demand more. Those who are thinking about doing the still might want to keep that in mind too.

To CalicoCallie: I dehydrate almost everything instead of canning. That way it doesn't matter if my rubber gaskets get a little old. Can re-use anyway. We're working on building a solar dehydrator (screening and frames) for when we don't have electricity to use my electric driers. Also good for large harvests.

Dawnwind58: books and absolutely music! We have a little collection of children's musical toys: drums, recorders, etc. Can't imagine life without music. And reading ... probably 2000+ books both fiction and nonfiction. Classics, foxfire, encyclopedias, etc. Even have art supplies for creating a little beauty.

Sorry, but one more thing to point out: if you really think something's going to happen soon, you can't just say you'll get around to it. Milking a goat (especially one who doesn't want to be milked) is NOT easy and really requires patience and practice. What if you've never been through a goat kidding before, and when one happens in the middle of the night (usual time!)? If things have degraded drastically, you can't light a lantern or turn on a light because people will see. How do you help her if she needs it? Do you have all the supplies to assist? How can you keep her from screaming? Did you know that the screams of baby goats (kids) sound like human children screaming?

It's obvious I've given a lot of thought to this. Not necessarily because I believe the end of the world is coming, but because I believe that lots of other people do. That equals panic equals self-fulfilled prophecies equals societal degrading. And being self-reliant.

Okay, I think I'm done now.