California - Northern

[cherylcohen]

If one was looking for a nice property to raise goats, sheep, and chickens (about 10-15 acres) where would everyone suggest? We just moved here from Alaska a few months ago so I do not know California very well. I would like to start looking for a place to call home/farm so we can settle down. I would like to stick to Northern California is possible. Thanks all!

Clayton has some wonderful properties, not really to close to bart though

 

[lawatt]

Davis has an Amtrak Station. There is a train that runs from Sac to the Bay area so somewhere close the there would be good. You should also be able to have a lot of clients for Dog training too. So, look at Vacaville, Dixon, Winters, Woodland and even the south end of Capay Valley.

The Sonoma area might work too but I do not know how Amtrack and Bart works there.

no Amtrak or BART here, although the SMART (commuter) train is in the process of being built -- that will extend down to the Larkspur ferry landing, but still not easy to get from there to Emeryville, at least at this point. the North Bay is a bit public-transportation-challenged...

 

[PetRock]

Brentwood is a wonderful family oriented town and they are busy extending some kind of Bart line to Antioch. There are some good deals on homes due to foreclosures, etc. Just make sure you look outside the city limits. Brentwood was a farming community but now doesn't allow chickens inside the city limits.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I personally would like to be a little out of the way, but my husband works in emmeryville at the moment. He is hoping to telecommute maybe next year. So perhaps close to a Bart or Amtrak line.

I am not sure much about the bay area or what your budget would be but I would take a few days and just drive around areas you think are close enough.
There is some nice land south of Livermore or North of Fairfield / Vacaville if you want the hills. Tracy to Brentwood if you want more of the flat land farm feel. I am not super familiar with other parts of the bay area though.

 

[PetRock]

The Brentwood area is mostly flat farm land. It is functional land and not what I would call pretty. It sure can't hold a candle to the Placerville area. If I had a choice and my DH could find a job at least in Sacramento, we would move to Placerville.

 

[cherylcohen]

In a couple years we will be moving to the santa cruz/los gatos etc area in the hills with 5 acres... but until then we'll have a backyard flock...

 

[Hangtown Farms]

The Brentwood area is mostly flat farm land. It is functional land and not what I would call pretty. It sure can't hold a candle to the Placerville area. If I had a choice and my DH could find a job at least in Sacramento, we would move to Placerville.

we do love Placerville though I also love the Coast Range. Up by Cobb mountain or way up north of Santa Rosa by Mendicino national forest.
Santa Cruz mountains are nice too. Or take the back way from San Rafael to Petaluma through the Doug fir forest's

 

[Hangtown Farms]

I am so sorry for your friends loss. I'm not sure where you live but, I would be willing to send them some eggs to hatch... Or even incubate some for them.
I don't ship chicks. They would have to pick them up. Just let me know if I can help ease the pain.
I had a bear devastate my flock a few years ago. It was a devastating.... I had dead chickens scattered all over my property .... It was awful ....
Molly
P.S. did I mention we made bear Salami....LOL

I remember you mentioning that. Up until this fall I had only lost 1 chicken. Now in a span of a month 7. Until you have a predator issue it is hard to understand I think. Sure you figure you will loose a bird here or there when you live in the hills but it is tough when you loose a large number.
I love all animals including Hawks. I have hit 2 owl's and a hawk and a deer driving to work in my time up here and it literally ruined my day. The deer ran off but the owl and hawk where completely killed. I guess I dont look at a predator coming back to pick off my flock one by one the same as the random free meal.

 

[PetRock]

we do love Placerville though I also love the Coast Range. Up by Cobb mountain or way up north of Santa Rosa by Mendicino national forest.
Santa Cruz mountains are nice too. Or take the back way from San Rafael to Petaluma through the Doug fir forest's

I love the Santa Cruz mountains, too. In fact, I prefer the climate there to Placerville's but property is so expensive there. My DH has been working for UC Santa Cruz for almost 5 years now and commuting home on the weekends. We thought that we would move down there within a year of him starting but the housing market took the huge dive where we are and, although housing has dropped in Santa Cruz, it is still more than we want to pay for what we want. Sometimes I feel like we are stuck in limbo. George pays $775/month for a studio apartment that is the size of a hospital room and that's a good price for Santa Cruz. It is crazy!

 

[debs_flock]

Have some friends that were going to try and re-locate it, didn't work at all. 22 is best, quick and the trap won't be smelly.

Just make sure you remove them ASAP. The muscles quickly relax (think sphincter muscle which retains the discharge), the smell will leak out! Not a spray, but you'll be dealing with it for quite some time.

If I remember correctly ...I set 90 chicken eggs ..

plus some of Debs quail eggs..oh and two show girls eggs she added. Thank Deb ..AKA.. " enabler "

Who me?

If one was looking for a nice property to raise goats, sheep, and chickens (about 10-15 acres) where would everyone suggest? We just moved here from Alaska a few months ago so I do not know California very well. I would like to start looking for a place to call home/farm so we can settle down. I would like to stick to Northern California is possible. Thanks all!

If you like the foothills, I'd avoid El Dorado Co and I've lived here since '77. It's pretty regulated, permits are atrocious, etc. Much nicer and less expensive to each side (Placer & Amador). Amador seems to be the least regulated, they don't even have a car smog program tied to registration, irritates the heck out of me. Your best bet is to take many day trips, then get onto each County website and poke around their rules, etc.

The Brentwood area is mostly flat farm land. It is functional land and not what I would call pretty. It sure can't hold a candle to the Placerville area. If I had a choice and my DH could find a job at least in Sacramento, we would move to Placerville.

It is a beautiful town, like I said, I've lived and worked here since '77. I first starting coming in the 60's when my parents bought property here for a retirement home. I grew up in San Jose.

Deb