Who lives on your farm?

[strssdmom]

Hello all! I know we don't all live on farms, but I am curious what animals live on your farm/property.

We recently moved out to the country and now have 10 acres of land.

Where we lived before we had just under an acre and we had 25 chickens (24 laying hens and 1 roo), 3 dogs, and 3 cats.

NOW, with our 10 acres, we have 22 laying hens (2 got eaten), 1 grown rooster, 15 bantams, 26 (10 week old) chicks, 35 meat birds chicks, 2 guinea chicks, 3 goats, 8 horses, 4 pigs, 4 ducks, 4 dogs, and 3 cats.

What is the most difficult part about having your animals?

What is the most fulfilling part about having your animals?

I think the most difficult part about having so many animals is trying to find a schedule that works for the animals, but still allows time in the day for me to relax. Some days it seems like I am feeding and cleaning until it is time for the night time feeding. I struggle to get all the outside chores done, the inside chores done, homeschool my children, and still find time to just relax and enjoy it.

The most fulfilling part about having animals is know my children are eating healthy. The children are learning about hard work, healthy food, and getting an experience of a lifetime. We love having the animals here. It is great when we can get chores done and just sit back and enjoy all the happenings of the farm. I also love it when people ask if they can "out to the farm" with the kids for the day. We love sharing all of the life experiences with other peoples children.

 

[horsesandboots]

I have 6 large dogs.
2 horses.
1 cat.
6 mallard ducklings.
2 african goslings
1 embden gosling.
An array of turtles ranging from red eared sliders and soft shells. (In my large pond)
3 Belgian Mille Fleur D'Uccles
Always options to add more animals!!!


The biggest challenge having so many animals is cleaning up after everyone! Animals and humans alike!!!!!


The best part of having the animals (fur kids) is knowing my daughter is getting the proper educational value so that she will be able to live her dream as an all animal veterinarian!!!!!

 

[Going Quackers]

Well, we have the typical dogs/cats. then we have horses, sheep, ducks, chickens and rabbits. We also keep fish(pond & basic aquarium) and some parrots/budgies.

Hardest part? keeping up with all, plus.. things don't always go right.. that lovely old saying if you have livestock you have deadstock. Rough winter...

Best part? watching new life, the animals bring a sense of real in a world that seems anything but lol

Good luck with your farm!

 

[cibula11]

1 Border Collie
2 cats (one prego, so we'll have kittens soon)
2 mini donkeys
14 chickens (5 barred rock, 9 RIR)

Hardest part: keeping everything going in the winter or when it's cold. Chores are fun, but not in below 0 temps. (Although now, my focus has been on saving my garden from my hens).

Best Part: watching each one evolve, change and adapt to you and their environment. Each has it's own special purpose and relationship to you and it's gratifying to see them in their specific roles on our farm.

 

[Mister B]

4 hens (Astralorpe)
1 Roo (same)
14 Golden Buff chicks (4 weeks)
3 Rhode Island Red chicks (same age)
1 Barred rock chick (5 weeks)
1 Some kind of chick 6 weeks
1 toy Yorkie (thinks he is the chick mama)
1 Some kind of goat
1 Neighborhood friendly dog (he likes to "help")

Hardest part? When animals die and you don't know why. I had more goats, but several died and I sold all but this one. I don't know what killed them.

Best Part? Watching them. It's like an aquarium. I like to just go out and watch them. I also like selling them and seeing my work get turned into money. Usually I turn it into more stuff for the animals or more animals.

 

[donrae]

We're on one acre.

2 horses
2 big dogs
several porch/barn cats
a number of chickens that shall never be divulged as it could be used against me lol. Okay, with all the new chicks, I'm around 60ish birds.
1 milk snake

That's it for now. We've had goats and pigs in the past, but they're in the freezer currently.


Hardest part here is the MUD. I hate mud. Our property is in a lowlands and I call it the swamp. Winter is difficult to manage all the mud. I'm investing a lot of money in decomposed granite this year, we'll see how that goes. Did I mention I hate mud?

I streamline chores so the day to day isn't too much work. Deep litter in the coops, big feeders and waterers that don't need to be filled each day, horses on pasture, things like that.

Best part....lost of best parts! Right now I'm a grinning fool, just got 27 baby chicks in the mail. Just thinking about them makes me grin

. Then, I can go watch the momma hen with her chicks, and just love her maternal instincts. Watch the roosters taking good care of the ladies, and watch the ladies be cranky old ladies. Smelling a horse, and scratching my mare's belly and watching the funny way she contorts her head and nose cause she likes it so much. Having friend's kids over and watching them marvel at the eggs and chicks and horses. Watching my farmdog be very protective of our friend's special needs daughter. Having folks enjoy my colorful eggs so much. Eating bacon and eggs raised on your property. Having a garden others envy, boosted by my horse and chicken manure.