An apocolypse herd/flock

[centrarchid]

I think even 3rd world countries would be affected. Most of those populations import at least some staples and virtually all import technologies needed for transport, food storage and in many cases fertilizers. They would feel it. Only populations that would not iin very short term feel effects are hunter gatherers and they might be affected by technological advanced populations dispersing in search of food. We are way over planet's carrying capacity if technology failure abrupt.

 

[mame1616]

Quote:
What a great video, although it was difficult to watch because none of the sound bytes matched the speakers as they spoke. Thanks!

 

[Lifesong Farm]

Quote:
Hence my original statement sometime back. You shouldnt keep what you cant feed without supplementation. Here in the desert I would probably have a difficult time keeping Poultry at all. Except maybe Guineas. The only Equid that thrives in this country is in the Ass family. There are a few places up here that have perminent pasture but those are already in use.

agreed. It is why I am carefully researching what cattle and sheep i want before buying. I had though zebu but I want them to be able to forage in winter and zebu need to be protected from the cold, so I am looking at the Guinea Florida Cracker cow. It is a great forager, and being in Alabama, it will be suited for my area better.

I am looking for lines of sheep that are being bred to perform without constant worming. Even the hardier katahdin often need to be wormed to thrive.

I do not shoe my horses, and they rarely need their hooves trimmed. They forage well in the forest while maintaining good weight and health, almost never need worming, and have given me a great respect for good hardy horse lines that are not bred to rely purely on hay and grain.

Look into the Piney Woods cattle. (Florida Crackers are in the category) they are good tri purpose breeds. They are small and hardy and they don't cost much to get started with. I am not really looking at sheep so I can't help much in that area. I am allergic to them so I am sticking to goats.
My horse is pretty much the same as yours. She stays fat off of grass and hay and anything else she can forage and I only trim her every 20 weeks if she is not being rode. otherwise she keeps them worn down pretty well.
Guinea hogs are a small hardy breen of pigs that I have researched if I get pigs.

 

[stormylady]

I agree and have given alot of thought lately, you never know whats going to happen later huh. But basically the same as everyone said, chickens,ducks , geese , turkey for meat , eggs, and feathers, Goats, same reasoning, rabbits too.
Don't think I would keep a cows or steers, may keep a mule or horse for transportation. but all those animals can be self suffient if they have too. and if I'm trying to stay off the grid Im not going to the feed store to pick up animal feed . So that would be an important factor in the selection of animals I would take, I would definiatly take my dogs for protection. for me and the livestock.

 

[stormylady]

Quote:
Don't eat the dogs. You will need them for Zombie protection.

I don't have to worry about the zombies. Apparently my kids "have a plan".

Amen to that !! LOL If anybodys knows how to handle a Zombi its the kids of today.

 

[pdsavage]

Quote:
What a great video, although it was difficult to watch because none of the sound bytes matched the speakers as they spoke. Thanks!

Great video one I hadnt seen yet thanks...

 

[flocksalot]

I keep seeing people mentioning that those in the city will have more difficulty in raising food. When I lived in an Apt. ( the first 19 years of adult life) I grew alot of different things in pots. Almost anything can be grown in a pot, but the easiest is tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, peas, beans, edible flowers, potatoes, lettuce, spinach, onions, radishes, and herbs. My deck/patio was always covered with vines and flowers. When self watering containers were produced I bought quite a few, but before that I made my own with large pails or dishpans. I have even grown corn in a pot. You just plant it in a big square. I think a large dish pan or storage container holds 25 to 36 stalks. If pets were allowed, which in my case was a must, you could have a couple of meat rabbits or even keep a couple of banties in a cage or small ducks. I would let them run around on the deck and eat the bugs off my plants (and sometimes the whole plant but beggers can't be choosers). An extra pot of dirt for a bath and you are all set. Even today where I have plenty of acreage I still tend to grow some stuff in the house. I usually start some tomatoes in July so we have fresh tomatoes over the winter. I just can't stand the store bought stuff. I also move or start some cold hardy stuff in the greenhouse. I keep it fenced off from the chickens or they would eat everything, but they love anything I am willing to throw over the fence. I will admit on occasion I can't help but throw perfectly good produce their way. I even pull extra things out of the freezer for them. What I can't grow over the winter I have frozen or canned. I can enough for us, my older son and his roomates, and our old neighbors from town. Pantry raiding should be a sport. They would all do very well. My husband keeps saying he wants to live a simpler life. He really doesn't mean all the gardening, growing, canning, freezeing, animal husbandry, but hey I have my own ideas of simple. And if he really doesn't want to do it he shouldn't be eating any of it. The Little Red Hen tells the tale. My young son understands it very well, but then he claims all the poultry as pets. That is currently 74 chickens with 75 on the way next week and 26 more in June, 25 turkey to arrive next week along with 6 ducks and 4 geese. For a 7 year old he is excellent at taking care of his small

flocks. I hope what I have taught him helps him survive in the future. Seriously he will probably have to take care of his fathers family too.

 

[KristyHall]

Quote:
agreed. It is why I am carefully researching what cattle and sheep i want before buying. I had though zebu but I want them to be able to forage in winter and zebu need to be protected from the cold, so I am looking at the Guinea Florida Cracker cow. It is a great forager, and being in Alabama, it will be suited for my area better.

I am looking for lines of sheep that are being bred to perform without constant worming. Even the hardier katahdin often need to be wormed to thrive.

I do not shoe my horses, and they rarely need their hooves trimmed. They forage well in the forest while maintaining good weight and health, almost never need worming, and have given me a great respect for good hardy horse lines that are not bred to rely purely on hay and grain.

Look into the Piney Woods cattle. (Florida Crackers are in the category) they are good tri purpose breeds. They are small and hardy and they don't cost much to get started with. I am not really looking at sheep so I can't help much in that area. I am allergic to them so I am sticking to goats.
My horse is pretty much the same as yours. She stays fat off of grass and hay and anything else she can forage and I only trim her every 20 weeks if she is not being rode. otherwise she keeps them worn down pretty well.
Guinea hogs are a small hardy breen of pigs that I have researched if I get pigs.

thanks i'll look into it

 

[hippiehen]

Hmm this has been such a fun thread to read!

I would keep chickens who are active foragers and can take the heat, like catalanas. Instead of horses I would keep Mammoth Jacks.. because I like them.

I'm not sure about cattle, which is funny because I live on a cattle ranch... But when it's drought conditions like now there's not much you can do but sell them.

I think I would stick to mainly native (or naturalized) livestock for my area like spanish goats, rio grande turkey, bobwhite quail, mexican doves. Of course we have white tailed deer, axis, feral hogs, ect to rely on as well and rivers and streams full of perch and bass (ok when there's rain!!).

Our soil isn't the best but there are loads of wild fruits that grow here in the hill country.




...Oh, and some camels.

 

[dawnwinds58]

Quote:
I wish I could find a good breeder doing the same with hair sheep. I have heard rumors of some but ever lead I have looked into peters out. I am a big fan of hair sheep, and I'm crazy over lamb, sheep cheese, and just the personality of the silly things.

If you find a source of the American Blackbelly hair sheep give me a holler. I've been looking for a starter flock for about 4 years. When I find them they are too far away. The worst act like I shouldn't eat mutton and just raise the 'sweet things' for pets to "decorate" my land and OF COURSE only sell to like-minded pet owners. I'm sorry, they're food. Good-lookin', hair fiber producin', meat producin' stock that forage well and have natural defense in their coloring. I'm a bit more country than that as the man says.