"Horses or chickens"

[Birch Run Farm]

Wow, I gave up horses just three years ago after growing up on them for 36 years. It just got too expensive all the way around and with working I had little time to ride anyway.

Chickens are MUCH less expensive, even if you have 80 plus like me.

Still, you have a lot more horse mouths to feed than I ever did. When shoeing got to be $160 per horse and hay was $4.50 a bale n(plus all of the rest of the rising costs) I bailed and kept the chickens.

Anyway you can lease some of the horses to help with costs?

I know right now craigslist in my area is FULL of cheap horses, people looking to dump them due to winter and feed costs. I have never seen anything like it in my life. I think you will have a hard time selling even though it looks like you have some real nice horses.

Good luck, I miss horses but not the constant complications.

 

[The Farmers Wife]

Tough choice when you enjoy both~.. but, from my personal experience, horses are the most expensive farm animal to maintain............... this is the reason we don't have any....... I have a close friend who loves her horses to the point that she would not sacrifice them for any other animal.....regardles of the cost....... so I guess you have to decide where your heart is truly leading you~

 

[L&Schickens]

Thanks for the comments everyone.
I think I am just going to wait it out and see what I can do to cut corners in other areas of life to make the feed bill seem not so bad.
All 3 of us love the horses but only the boy and I love the birds. I do feel the chickens will pay for them selves in the long run, where as the horses won't. But we love them anyway.

Anyone want to buy a mini?

 

[lizO]

this is simple. horses v. chickens? Lose the husband. unless of course he pays for above horses & chickens, in which case say you're keeping the horses, the chickens are easier to hide. LOVE the pix, L&Schickens! besides, horses aren't completely impractical: they are much cheaper than a shrink & a gym, and what if there's a major disaster and cars won't run because aliens have taken over the planet or something? then you'll be glad you have your horses!

 

[L&Schickens]

Well, I can't loose the husband. We have been married for 16 years and still like each other.

I do agree about horses and the possibility of "alien invasion" or gas prices going back up. A horse can be useful when no other mode of transportation is available.

Since I don't drink, smoke, or gamble it is hard to think of where I can cut some spending. I also don't need a shrink, yet.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

I don't know if your DH is like mine, but mine goes on a rant like this about once a year and I just let him rant and I listen and agree but in the end I make no changes!

Good Luck to you though if you do have to make a decision it would not be easy. In today's economy selling a horse is just as bad as the housing market, you need to explain to him that you should hold onto them and sell when the market is better. Buy Low/Sell High

Good Luck!!!

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I sold three of my horses (I'm down to just four now) so I could concentrate on my chickens. I'm down to just 47 of those, now.

With more on the way!

However, in order to get hubby to shut up about the feed bills, I sell fresh eggs locally and hatching eggs through my website. I know he was very pleasantly surprised when I showed him my PayPal print outs from April through August and my profits from my hatching eggs. With any luck, this upcoming spring/summer should be even better and the chickens/ducks/geese should pay for their own feed through the next winter.

Just some thoughts...

 

[lorieMN]

L&Schickens :

Well, I can't loose the husband. We have been married for 16 years and still like each other.

I do agree about horses and the possibility of "alien invasion" or gas prices going back up. A horse can be useful when no other mode of transportation is available.

Since I don't drink, smoke, or gamble it is hard to think of where I can cut some spending. I also don't need a shrink, yet.

well.sense yuo dont drink,smoke or gamble dont you deserve a little horse for your good behavior???..thats the way I look at it,I work and try to live a good honest life=therefore I will own any animal I want.BTW,,,those minis ar adorable..​

 

[lorieMN]

Quote:
it really depends on where you live,I get by way cheaper here then what I see other states do,,we bale our own hay,1000 bales this year cost in gas and diesel about $200,and we sold 100 for $3 each so actually made money,this is with our own labor,and makeing hay in 94 degree temps is not fun,but its cool I can still throw 200 bales a day and not DIE..this is loading and unloading by hand the same day..feed,really most horses could get by without,the avarage riding horse doesnt get used enough to need it,I feed ours but we use ours and that runs about $20/month,farrier doesnt cost me anything,my hubby is a certified barefoot trimmer so we do not shoe anything,and most horses can get by without shoes,but the hooves have to be trimmed a little differently and a lot of farriers that only do shoes dont know how to do a correct barefoot trim,our horses go anywhere a shod horse can go and have never been lame,and we do some very extreme riding,we have even had some people that wont ride with us because of this,but too bad,their loss..and vet,we do most everything ourselves as far as shots and worming and injuries,but proper fencing and a clean pasture and stall will cut down on injuries a ton so keep that in mind..I have a great vet,but she has only been out to the farm twice for horse related issues,and that was a coggins blood draw and a gelding.

 

[buck-wild-chick]

Im not bragging but my mom works for a vet and she gets a discount on "treatments" that my horse might need,teeth float,coggins ect... And Another coworker's Husband is a farrier.. So thats that only reason I HAVE a horse because other wise we would not be able to have a horse, due to vet bills and farrier work.