What pet?

[sourland]

Are they expensive? Because I wouln't be able to get farm hay around here, and the vet bills for spay/neuter are really high around here

Where are you located in NJ ? Anywhere in Hunterdon Co. you can get a bale of hay for less than $10. I agree with those who have suggested that perhaps your circumstances/time constraints are not suitable for pet ownership.

 

[Ebony Rose]

As things are in the farming community right now, I'd not be buying livestock that requires hay, and certainly not timothy hay (as it's my understanding that it's pricier). Just saying that most of the farmlands flooded in the USA this year and I expect sharp increases in price this year and next.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Most of the farmlands flooded in the USA this year and I expect sharp increases in price this year and next.

Not most, just a lot. And it's a big country; what affects Texas probably isn't going to do much to NJ. Locally, hay should be fine; we had enough good weather to get in one cutting, and the other's on the way.

I do expect grain to go up significantly. Corn should be planted by June tenth here, and most people couldn't get into their fields until late June/early July. There isn't a cornfield for miles around, unless you count the few scraggling plants the guy up the road planted so's to collect insurance money when it fails.

 

[Skye'sDucks]

Oh no, I meant under $100 dollars for both a bale of hay AND a 15 or 25 pound bag of pellets, I'm really sorry! We sometimes switch between getting a smaller bag of pellets or a bigger one, which is why I put both. I think this last time we got pellets it was a 25lb bag.

Finally figured out the site, lol, and a 20lb bale of hay costs 45 dollars. It's the same price for a 25lb bag of pellets, so yeah, just under $100 dollars for both. We get the good stuff; my rabbits are spoiled on it, ha!

The hay comes in a big box and we just dump it into a Tupperware container and pull out what we need.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Not most, just a lot. And it's a big country; what affects Texas probably isn't going to do much to NJ. Locally, hay should be fine; we had enough good weather to get in one cutting, and the other's on the way.

I do expect grain to go up significantly. Corn should be planted by June tenth here, and most people couldn't get into their fields until late June/early July. There isn't a cornfield for miles around, unless you count the few scraggling plants the guy up the road planted so's to collect insurance money when it fails.

You are very lucky. We are still waiting for it to stop raining long enough to cut our hay. We may get only one cutting of low quality stuff this year. Thankfully it's good enough for our usage.

Lots of fields here in Wisconsin aren't planted as these should be because of the constant rain. We may have to lower our numbers if the price of feeds go too high because of it.

 

[cassie]

This may sound snarky, but if you think a setup for a rabbit is expensive, I am not sure you are ready for any pet. All of them need some accommodations in the way of shelter and fencing or some way to contain them and all of these cost money.

 

[MochaDuck]

https://pethelpful.com/pet-ownership/Low-Maintenance-Outdoor-Pets

 

[cassie]

A rabbit would be your best bet. They can get along without a great deal of interaction, they get along alone, they are inexpensive to care for, they do not need to be vaccinated or neutered, and they are fun. You might be able to find an inexpensive hutch on craigslist. I once had a big New Zealand buck and he was a great pet. On occasion I would allow him to hop around the yard under my supervision, and he didn't mind being picked up and petted.

 

[Jurassic Wolf]

This may sound snarky, but if you think a setup for a rabbit is expensive, I am not sure you are ready for any pet. All of them need some accommodations in the way of shelter and fencing or some way to contain them and all of these cost money.

What I want to do is get a 4x8 run with a 2x3 dog house inside. There's a place nearby called r&g sheds that will build anything you ask for. Something like that would probably cost $500-1000

 

[clembone]

Here is a googled list of outside pets to consider:

Fish
Cats
Snakes
Lizards
Birds
Rabbits
Rodents
Chinchillas
Chickens
Insects
Turtles