Establishing a homestead is no small feat. The work and time that goes into preparations and developing skills are tremendous, especially when you want to have a self-sustaining farm and a place to call home where you are in charge and completely self-reliant. It is the dream life for many preppers and survivalists, but achieving it must be accomplished in pieces through rigorous planning.
When deciding to start your own farm, the excitement can force you to leave rationale behind. You want to dive right into gardening and purchasing livestock. In the rush and because of the overconfidence, you wind up blowing through a significant portion of your savings and buying cattle and hogs that equate to a more considerable expense than you anticipated.
Homestead living is about learning to live within your means and providing for your family and the creatures that provide for you. Therefore, before you go to that local cattle auction or pick up a couple of baby piglets, consider what animals are necessary for a rudimentary education in farming life. In most cases, you will not want to start with cows and pigs.
START WITH POULTRY
The first animals to purchase for your homestead are chickens or turkeys. Poultry is relatively easy to care for, and they do not require a significant expense upfront. Chickens are the preferred beginner farm animal because they are easy to live with, provide food through eggs, and are profitable.
Caring for poultry is also easy and cost-efficient. Hens can eat anything from table scraps to proper chicken feed, meaning food will not require a significant portion of your budget. Additionally, hens and chickens are family-friendly animals, meaning they can make excellent pets.
Finally, chickens are low-maintenance animals. While you will need to clean out the coup every once in a while and provide them with plenty of fresh water, you will rarely hear a balk out of them. They really are the perfect animal for beginner farmers and homesteaders.
Turkeys are similar to chickens, but they will get significantly bigger. Additionally, the mortality rate is higher among turkeys.
CONSIDER HAIR SHEEP
First-time homesteaders often want to double down on animals that can produce and become meat. Shetland sheep are popular choices because they provide wool and meat, meaning a family can cut costs and increase profits in two ways. However, Shetlands require a significant amount of upkeep, requiring regular shearing and more feed than other animals like poultry.
However, hair sheep represent a safe animal for beginners. While you will not get wool from this breed, you will save money on feed during the summer because hair sheep are natural grazers. Additionally, they are easier to care for than pigs and goats because they do not challenge fences; they are more docile.
If your only reason for looking into sheep is to sell wool products, consider that shearing is becoming a rare trade. In some areas, shearers won’t even come to your farm unless you meet specified minimums, like 20 sheep.
PURCHASE DAIRY GOATS
Many homesteaders are interested in producing their own dairy products. Instead of purchasing cattle, which require a significant investment, focus on dairy goats. You can make any dairy product with goat’s milk, and the taste is similar.
Goats are easier to care for than cattle and more manageable. Consider that an average cow weighs between 500 and 1,000 pounds, depending on breed. Compared to the average weight of a goat — between 85 and 125 pounds — it is easy to see why goats are preferred.
What animal would you buy first?