Homesteaders

[lazy gardener]

Last night, hubby and I were doing the math about the savings on chicken feed, comparing FF to dry feed. My feed consumption is 33% less. That is plenty of reason enough to use FF. Add to that the increased health of the birds, and using FF becomes even more attractive, in spite of the difficulty of using it in cold weather. However, an other plus of FF compared to using dry feed, even in cold weather is the fact that they receive much of their water from the ff, resulting in less of a problem dealing with water in frigid weather.

 

[lazy gardener]

Last night, hubby and I were doing the math about the savings on chicken feed, comparing FF to dry feed. My feed consumption is 33% less. That is plenty of reason enough to use FF. Add to that the increased health of the birds, and using FF becomes even more attractive, in spite of the difficulty of using it in cold weather. However, an other plus of FF compared to using dry feed, even in cold weather is the fact that they receive much of their water from the ff, resulting in less of a problem dealing with water in frigid weather.

 

[Raech]

We got our buck this last weekend, named him Otter. If you look up otter rabbit that is what he looks like, very nice looking 4 month old buck. Should be ready for breeding this spring to Toby, the female we are picking up in a couple of weeks, hopefully. We have more snow today and it is still coming down, my tires are bad so i have to wait for weather to clear before i can go out and get pet food. I didn't stock up before the storm hit, so it is on me. Excited for the next chapter in getting my homestead lifestyle started. Rabbits, gardening and canning is all i can do so far, but i am expanding one thing at a time.

 

[GardenNut]

Wow! I'll check with the state forest near me. Thanks @duluthralphie! Thanks all!

 

[GardenNut]

We got our buck this last weekend, named him Otter. If you look up otter rabbit that is what he looks like, very nice looking 4 month old buck. Should be ready for breeding this spring to Toby, the female we are picking up in a couple of weeks, hopefully. We have more snow today and it is still coming down, my tires are bad so i have to wait for weather to clear before i can go out and get pet food. I didn't stock up before the storm hit, so it is on me. Excited for the next chapter in getting my homestead lifestyle started. Rabbits, gardening and canning is all i can do so far, but i am expanding one thing at a time.

One thing at a time is the best way to make progress!

I went to see a lady last week who raises Nigerian Dwarf goats. Hopefully she can sell me a couple of milking does next spring. I was considering a mini Jersey cow, but I'm afraid that would overrun me with milk, even after making butter, cheese, freezing, etc. so I'll try the two does and a beef steer and see how it goes.

 

[teaton]

One thing at a time is the best way to make progress!

I went to see a lady last week who raises Nigerian Dwarf goats. Hopefully she can sell me a couple of milking does next spring. I was considering a mini Jersey cow, but I'm afraid that would overrun me with milk, even after making butter, cheese, freezing, etc. so I'll try the two does and a beef steer and see how it goes.

I would look into the kinder goat breed too. They are a dual purpose goat good for milk and meat.

 

[Raech]

We are looking into getting some steers this next spring once we get fencing repaired. It feels like it takes forever to get things done when you have to work around 2 work schedules, Dad's truck driving long haul and my daycare....its getting tedious at best.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

We are looking into getting some steers this next spring once we get fencing repaired. It feels like it takes forever to get things done when you have to work around 2 work schedules, Dad's truck driving long haul and my daycare....its getting tedious at best.

I feel your pain. We (my 9 year old and I) handle all things chicken except the building part. Hubby helps with that. He also works as the handy man for our neighbors which keeps him busy. And I am a "stay at home" mom of 5. So spare time is non existent at best. We love it though. Cattle are our next investment but like you, we have to get fencing finished first. It seems the work is never finished and the days are ever shorter.

 

[Raech]

especially with winter here lol

 

[Beer can]

I would look into the kinder goat breed too. They are a dual purpose goat good for milk and meat.

Do you have them?

Not many have heard of kinder's. They seem to be the ultimate in dual purpose. Great growth rate and feed conversion, good milk, on the small side so easy to handle, breed multiple times a yr and have multiple kids.
I was on a work schedule that varied hrs and days and no one interested in helping milk so wasn't do-able.
Now that I'm on a set schedule I'm thinking of getting some, DD#2 said she'd help so it might be possible now.