want to add more animals, need advice on self sufficiency!! #43

[Lifesong Farm]

I took my wether (Oberhasli dairy goat) to be processed last Wed. I was supposed to pick the meat up tomorrow but that isn't going to happen. When I do pick it up I will know how much meat I got out of him. However I just added up the cost of raising him. I kept him for 8 months. There were 4 months he didn't need feed and 4 months he did. Hay cost about $5 a month for me because of a round bale. I also vaccinated him with C/D&T for about $1. Total cost of raising him was about $25 after the treats. I currently have to pay to process my goats and that cost $75. If I was set up to process that would be some really cheap meat considering considering male goats are in the same class as a roo.

 

[Raiquee]

No problem Ema, I love talking about my dreams! Haha. We are on less than an acre now (I think it's half an acre) but I am very SS for the small space we have. I'd love 50 acres! If you ever want to talk more, just shoot me a PM. I love chatting about stocking the freezer. It's almost become an obsession of mine!

I grabbed you a few links off our sister site, Sufficient Self. Check that site out if you haven't already. Here is Freemotion's piggie thread. She fed those pigs free of cost for I think 2 full months before butcher. She also utilizes things from her other animals that she can't eat all off (whey, she makes a lot of cheese) and brought down her feed bill a LOT. Good thread to read through and through!

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=4831

Also, here is a bee-keeping thread Beekissed started over there, that has a lot of good blogs and websites attached to help you get started.

http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=644

I like the idea of raising pigs and not having to really overwinter them. I mean butcher depends how big you want them and how fast they get that weight. But, you can usually butcher Nov-Dec and they are good weight. Plus, snow is your friend if self butchering

Have them in a paddock you need plowed up and then plant an orchard or even just plant with a pasture mix and rotate your herd

Now we have a large chest freezer...and i'd rather have it packed then not (not so efficient!)

 

[Beekissed]

One of the reasons I suggested hair sheep instead of goats is the fact they seem to have very little health problems, are little to no maintenance and they are thrifty feeders....which means they convert grass and browse(they love this as much as goats)into meat(lean meat) in a very efficient manner.

You have only to visit BYH to be scared off owning goats forever....I never knew that goats were so fragile and prone to illness, birthing problems, birthing deaths, etc. I'd never invest money in an animal that requires so much money and effort to produce so little benefit. Goats were much hardier back in my day and every farmer seemed to have a few staked out on a chain in an area needing brush reduction...not now, though.

 

[Hound]

Goats are far from fragile and I have found them to be profitable. As with any animal good management results in good figures at the end of the year. I've always found sheep to be 'looking for a place to die'. Goat meat is also considerably leaner.

 

[Ema]

Quote:
that is funny....I have been lurking on BYH and sufficientself lol, I should make accounts already and stop lurking....I lurked on here for liek a year and half or more before joining lol.

I was just having a conversation about goats versus sheep with Dh and I called the goat farm and I am supposed to visit them this weekend with the family. they also have sheep there as well so I can see what I am getting into before I venture into it. :-D but they did tell me sheep are way easier than goats!! lol....the lady was laughing s she said that 9/10 times if there is an issue with an animal its usually one of their goats lol.

 

[Ema]

Quote:
me too, me too!!! lol...yes I have 50 acres but half of it is wooded, we started when we bought the farm in making trails etc in the wooded parts, so we are thinking as we expand we might have some friends come over and fell some of the land back so we get more room as our farm grows.

thank you for that link, really appreciate it.

going to go browse through those links right now

 

[MyKidLuvsGreenEgz]

We bought this little 2-acre property out in the boonies last March. By April we had 2 goats and 10 day-old chicks. Now we have 4 goats and 14 chickens. Until our nubian dried up last week, we got about a half a gallon from her a day but she's really mean to our miniature goats so we're selling her.

It was originally our goal to be self-sufficient but turns out me and my 14 year old autistic kid won't eat anything we actually knew, so it's eggs, dairy, legumes, nuts and seeds for our protein. Oh well.

The soil here is really horrible (mostly sandy loam which = sand) so it will be a while before my gardens work well. I love raised beds tho so maybe this year, it'll be better. Had a great harvest of tomatoes last year, and brought the plants (containers) in before the first frost so they are actually still producing.

Know what I need to do different in the future. IF we stay here. Marital problems may force me and my kid back into apartment living which is NOT what I want. Can't imagine giving up my chickens! Or home-grown produce that's never been near pesticides, or goat milk (which my kid is addicted to) without antibiotics or hormones.

sigh. time will tell.

 

[chocolate m'scovy]

Quote:
Hang in there, green egz.

Country living is good for you, even if you don't factor in the food. I hope you can keep that little property of yours.

As far as self-sufficiency goes, Hound was right. You will pay more to raise everything naturally. Though, green egz, eating a lot of plant proteins isn't necessarily bad either.

When people were raising their own food, they didn't eat as much meat as we do today. Eggs, milk, your occasional steak or chicken, veggies, and you have it made.

We have meat and dairy goats, just a handful, but we're looking forward to more goat kids and more freezer filler.

I do recommend pigs for kitchen and garden scraps.

Oh, and BTW, Ema,

. I hope you get better soon.

 

[Ema]

Quote:
well I hope all goes well so you can stay put exactly where you like to be. I have never tried goat milk, I guess If I get goats I will have the chance to try it and see.

 

[Ema]

chocolate m'scovy :

Quote:
Hang in there, green egz.

Country living is good for you, even if you don't factor in the food. I hope you can keep that little property of yours.

As far as self-sufficiency goes, Hound was right. You will pay more to raise everything naturally. Though, green egz, eating a lot of plant proteins isn't necessarily bad either.

When people were raising their own food, they didn't eat as much meat as we do today. Eggs, milk, your occasional steak or chicken, veggies, and you have it made.

We have meat and dairy goats, just a handful, but we're looking forward to more goat kids and more freezer filler.

I do recommend pigs for kitchen and garden scraps.

Oh, and BTW, Ema,

. I hope you get better soon.

thank you, I am getting there...slowwwwly!!

I am super anxious for spring now, to be honest, just want it to be here already so I can start building and then go get my new additions :-D​