Idiot's guide to animal husbandry...
Discussion
Anyone got any recommendations? It looks like we'll be renting the fields next door (1 acre and 3/4 acre) and although the farmer is a good bloke who seems willing to hold my hand a bit I need to do some research. I fancy some sheep, and maybe pigs, SWMBO seems to want to start some sort of donkey or goat sanctuary 
I fancy sheep. They have lovely faces and never complain. But back on topic, there are various books out there but the only real lesson that works is experience, so get some sheep, one of the more primitive breeds as they tend to lamb easily, not scour, have more resistance to worms and footrot. Use the friendly farmer as a source of advice, and to help you learn to shear, drench them etc.
1 acre would support a mini flock of half a dozen small breed sheep liek shetlands, oessants, jacobs etc.
Ps.....does your SWIMBO appreciate quite how long a sodding Donkey lives, and quite how annoying the sound they make can become?
1 acre would support a mini flock of half a dozen small breed sheep liek shetlands, oessants, jacobs etc.
Ps.....does your SWIMBO appreciate quite how long a sodding Donkey lives, and quite how annoying the sound they make can become?
Edited by Timmy35 on Wednesday 28th August 15:25
Bill said:
Bloody hell, I hadn't even considered shearing 
(Nor lambing mind...)
And yes, having spent a summer camped next door to donkeys she knows my views on the noise.
A few breeds don't require shearing. Soay for example are a small primitive breed who will just moult. And as mentioned above are hard little blighters immune to most of the husbandry issues of a large commercial breed. (Nor lambing mind...)And yes, having spent a summer camped next door to donkeys she knows my views on the noise.
Also primitive breeds will tend to just go off and hide somewhere and emerge a day or two later from a patch of nettles with a healthy lamb.
Choice of breed very important. Large commercial sheep require alot of husbandry and expertise, smallholders like primitive breeds because they are easy to keep and there aims aren't commercial.
I'd get pigs first, some weaners, feed them up and then get them slaughtered. This will, within the space of a few months tell you whether it's for you or not.
You'll need to be mindful of things like a CPH number, tags for the animals, movement paperwork.
It's very rewarding, I'll do it again when I get my property in France!
You'll need to be mindful of things like a CPH number, tags for the animals, movement paperwork.
It's very rewarding, I'll do it again when I get my property in France!
GnuBee said:
I'd get pigs first, some weaners, feed them up and then get them slaughtered. This will, within the space of a few months tell you whether it's for you or not.
You'll need to be mindful of things like a CPH number, tags for the animals, movement paperwork.
It's very rewarding, I'll do it again when I get my property in France!
You'll need to be mindful of things like a CPH number, tags for the animals, movement paperwork.
It's very rewarding, I'll do it again when I get my property in France!
We are going ahead whatever. It's something I grew up with and have always wanted to do myself. We would probably have waited a year or two until the kids were a tad older as we're not in a rush if it wasn't for one factor:The fields are next to our holiday cottage and there's a family who rent a field the other side of us who might take these ones too. This wouldn't normally be a problem but they're noisy, anti-social f
kers who have regular screaming arguments and run a generator for light in winter. I've also had to have words with them about shotgun safety. 
Bill said:
Hooli said:
Get pigs, a nice old version.
No good reason, I just think they'd be more pet like.
Yep, the pig plan was ongoing before these fields became available. Nice pets, and nice sausages.No good reason, I just think they'd be more pet like.
Well if my ex farmer friend is anything to go by you need to be aware that any animal will need supplementary feeding as well as the grass, hay etc that is on the field. He constantly bends my ear about 'hobby' farmers who expect to get a nice fat Calf, Pig, Sheep from just grass and are surprised when the slaughter men won't touch the skinny little things that they get brought in.
Some sort of water supply will be needed as carrying buckets to a field every day and maybe more often in hot weather can get old really quickly. Some form of shelter for the winter months and the breeding season.
Have you considered bees? A couple of hives in a convenient corner may also be a good fit they should give you a decent amount of honey if the weather plays ball. Join your local association for all the info on them. Sell pounds of honey at the farm gate or make mead. Or just use for Honey roasting your hams.
Some sort of water supply will be needed as carrying buckets to a field every day and maybe more often in hot weather can get old really quickly. Some form of shelter for the winter months and the breeding season.
Have you considered bees? A couple of hives in a convenient corner may also be a good fit they should give you a decent amount of honey if the weather plays ball. Join your local association for all the info on them. Sell pounds of honey at the farm gate or make mead. Or just use for Honey roasting your hams.
Bill said:
I'm aware of feed and possible salt licks, thanks, and there's water there. We'd like bees, but were thinking maybe not yet.
Although now you mention it I can't see any reason why not...
A good starter book on bee keeping should you want to look into it further:Although now you mention it I can't see any reason why not...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Keeping-Bees-Green-Guides-...
Our local association recommends it to all it's new members.
ETA. Idiots guide this isn't but you may get some tips from it, and a laugh along the way:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scenes-From-Smallholding-P...
Edited by 951TSE on Thursday 29th August 20:52
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