BEST AND WORST Livestock for Beginners

[@wyzasukitan]

Really love how one of your determining factors is how easy the animal is to re-home. That’s such responsible animal stewardship, and that’s exactly the type of mentality viewers need to have when considering how ready they are for livestock of *any* kind

[@confidential5743]

Very true, some people don’t realize you’re basically signing an unwritten contract that you’re going to take care of the animal you buy to the best of your abillities. If you don’t you’re basically an asshole

[@cconroy1677]

Unlike cats and dogs, you can always feed people with these animals very easily, they never have to go to waste, even if some people choose to waste them.

[@nicole_heartsblu]

Nalgas bonitas

[@castlebravo2023]

@@cconroy1677 good point, could have added ease of harvest to the list. You can dispatch and dress a rooster while you're ovens preheating. Other livestock, not so easy.

[@whatcouldgowrong6224]

Or just kill and eat the animal

[@ibbylancaster8981]

Dude, I just inherited 56 acres of land that has been in our family since 1834. I’m putting a house for my wife and I and one for my son and grandkids. This is the direction I want to go. I want to leave my grandkids something that will give back to them as well. Thank you for the video. Just found your channel and I will be back.

[@trevorchristmas4386]

Good luck

[@lilithblaire5288]

good luck!! that is absolutely amazing and i wish i had a family that had that kind of land so i could start up something like this. i hope you owning livestock works out!!

[@ammim6797]

That’s such a beautiful blessing! Wishing you the best of luck!

[@Barracuda-bi9ft]

That is awesome!!

[@TheRainHarvester]

Did you have to pay inheritance tax?

[@itsabbsturn1379]

Chickens are addicting I bought 3 now I have 15 . I have had raised chickens for 10 years and I will never stop .

[@MicaelSantana450]

True :D I started with 10 now I've got 60 I had way more, but some have been used for meat

[@cristiewentz8586]

Beware the chicken math! Lol

[@rghrhrhfhfth4336]

YES! I started with 4 just last month .. I’m at 16 and 2 white turkeys ..

[@josh8887]

I tried raising 1000 chickens once and within four months, almost half of them died . Why is this so ? Disease?

[@cristiewentz8586]

@@josh8887 if you tried Cornish cross chickens, the biggest problem is overeating and too high a protein level in their feed. They have such a high feed conversion rate that too much protein can let them out on weight so fast that they have a heart attack. But that's one possible cause.

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

When getting first livestock, you must be familiar with the predator pressure in your area. We have heavy predator pressure from everything from coyote to raccoon to fox to bobcats.

[@geebusgeebus1051]

i have a cat colony outside my house, we've learned the predator pressure over the years from the cats getting attacked. if someone doesn't know the predator pressure in their area, they could feed feral cats and see what cats die from. i know what to do now that i'm planning to get chickens since we've been able to track the predators we have here.

[@user-dm1tv6nl2e]

Just lost 15 chickens 3 weeks out from butchering. Not fun. Will be adding a ton more staples to the chicken wire on the tractor

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

@@user-dm1tv6nl2e a persistent strong predator can get through poultry wire. We invested in hardware cloth years ago, and while neighbors lost chickens to coyotes, raccoons, fox, bobcats, and even dogs, we only lost one to user error (not closing coop up at night.) Even owls, hawks, snakes, etc. A raccoon will pull their head through poultry wire and take just the head. It’s carnage, I’ve seen it 😳

[@user-dm1tv6nl2e]

@@AnneGoggansQHHT may have to just go that route, then. Pain now, less later, I'm good with that

[@Mega_Tron6891]

We had coyotes but 2 German Shepherds got one and ran the others off

[@mckeenjp]

I think it really depends where you live. Here in Arizona goats are extremely easy to have. Our heat kills most of the worms/diseases and the goats freely graze on everything on my property. I have Nigerians, and they are natural foragers so I hardly have to feed them at all.

[@Silverstreamhomecrafts]

I agree it's so variable, I love in a cold exceptionally damp country and goats do not do nearly as well here as sheep

[@kingversace]

Yea true I got goats too and they eat just about anything you give them

[@ThunderStruck15]

I think part of the problem with goats is they get bottle babies, and they don’t have any adults around to show them what to do. We lost one of our first two kids, and someone gave us a wild, brush doe. She was old, and willie as hell. They didn’t eat what they shouldn’t, they didn’t do silly things with horns, they were surprisingly easy for hoof trimming. Your herd matron determines your experience with goats imo.

[@Greenthumbn1576]

Do you sell your babies??? I'm in Arizona as well and we are starting a new homestead and my children want goats.

[@Greenthumbn1576]

Plus I would love to hear some tips from another AZ resident 😊😊😊 if you don't mind

[@Bigcat_-ey5ni]

For sheep and goats if you put broken concrete or rocks in front of their water, their hooves are maintained as if they were in the wild

[@tomluttrell177]

H uhh go no

[@rainacherienne1010]

That’s a good idea. I have goats, never thought of this.

[@matthewharris-davies8368]

Brilliant

[@skylarhough-anderson8066]

Equine should be in its own category. There isn’t really a gain from them except to be ridden, pulling things, pasture pet. They are also a powerful animal and require hoof trims, shoes, a specific diet, can be expensive to train, raise and own.

[@PeterSedesse]

Horse can be replaced by a cheap ATV in every way.

[@officialtwat9430]

Peter Sedesse they really cant dumbass most race horses can be sold up to £1,000,000 or over

[@illbeyourstumbleine]

For a lot of people who want to be completely off grid horses really come in handy for work on the land. Just like they did 100 years ago.

[@elizabethjansen2684]

@@PeterSedesse like to see you plowing with an ATV

[@elizabethjansen2684]

@@PeterSedesse not in my area, very heavy clay soil.

[@4KrystylRose]

As a goat owner, I can attest to the fact that you CAN make ice cream, butter, etc from their milk. Goats are less difficult to breed and birth. So while I don't disagree with miniature cows. I don't think you have an accurate account of goats.

[@123terricam]

I've heard goats are more difficult to take care of too. its because of the fact that they climb fences (you will have to get a more expensive electric one for them not to climb and get their head stuck in) and they can be aggressive. they also eat everything. I don't worry about the worm/parasite thing. that's the same in all outdoor animals. they all need medicine to prevent disease and worms.

[@4KrystylRose]

@@123terricam Goats are definitely fence testers, but you don't have to use electric and cows are more aggressive than any goat I've ever dealt with, and as they are larger, they are generally more dangerous. In general, it's personal preference... Some people prefer goats, others prefer cows. The difference is mainly what issues you have to face as each have their own unique ones).

[@123terricam]

@@4KrystylRose i was thinking of buying goats but everyone i spoke to said that they were hard to care for and i would be better off with cows. (also there are mini cows so you don't have to be concerned about size.) but yeah you're right most people on youtube (with homesteads) seem to prefer goats.

[@4KrystylRose]

@@123terricam I find my goats to be very easy to care for. I don't know why anyone would find them to be difficult. The dairy cow we had years ago was also pretty easy to care for though, so as I said before, it's really just a matter of personal preference. 🙂

[@123terricam]

@@4KrystylRose i agree to each his or her own.

[@isabelc2697]

I would put quail in the easy group. They are small and can be kept in cages, so you can keep them in a smaller place than chickens. They are also quieter than chickens and ducks making them good for people who are technically not allowed to keep livestock where you live. They are also more hardy than chickens when it comes to things like disease. Can be used for meat and eggs. But they are a lot less fun than chickens. They are still wild so they won't be as friendly toward people as chickens would be.

[@jtsdeals]

Cheaper and faster for eggs and meat too. I was able to have Jumbo Coturnix hens in my suburban townhouse backyard without any issues from neighbors. The only daily chores I had were collecting the eggs (which rolled out the front of the cage) and topping off feed. Every few days I would add some shavings on top of their poop (below their cage), fill up the water bucket, and refill a sand bath. Took me no more than 5 minutes a day. For meat, you don't have to pluck them. With a $50 incubator it would be very easy to scale up.

[@Caninecancersucksrocks]

Quail are good livestock but not for those trying to hatch them. For inexperienced people, Quail chicks are hard as heck to raise the first couple weeks, and you really have to be on them compared to most chicken breeds. Ducks are utterly filthy animals for brooding, and I personally have issues with butchering ducks as well. Oddly enough, for us it’s chickens and rabbits first, then goats & pigs, finally followed by a couple meat steers bought off cattle farming friends for following behind the goats and pigs in areas we’re clearing. We’re both allergic to regular cows milk, so for us our goats are the primary source for dairy. Zero interest in keeping sheep, bit too fussy and hard to keep for us. Really hoping to find a mini jersey whose milk we can actually drink and use, as that’s the last addition we’ve planned to add...but they’re really hard to find up here in Alberta. Both hubby and I had lots of farm experience prior to starting though, and perhaps that’s what’s made the difference for us? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@Lord_of_Snels]

@@Caninecancersucksrocks quail chicks, especially those of the species most commonly used, the Japanese quail are very easy for beginners the chicks are surprisingly hardy and are very tolerant

[@justaguywhoplaysfalloutsom1104]

I knew a fairly experienced person who owned a 45 acre farm and he bought 100 quail to have as meat birds and they all dies within a week. He raised chickens, cows, sheep, and goats and he had never had that problem. Obviously not great evidence that they are very hard to raise but still i avoid them.

[@Lord_of_Snels]

@@justaguywhoplaysfalloutsom1104 also the person could have overcrowded the bob whites which could be fine for some other poultry but not bobwhites

[@Leelz247]

I started with honeybees. Slowly working my way up. But in my opinion there is truly no easy livestock if you are giving them the best quality of life and utmost care and attention.

[@Beckaboo1982]

First things first...my dad always told us from day 1 as kids..they are RABBITS! That will be so much easier in your mind if you LEARN to separate the 2 and call them what they are appropriately. Bunnies are pets, rabbits are food. That is very helpful from day 1 when using rabbits for a food source especially with kids. And rabbits are a healthy, delicious, easy, grass fed food source for even a city/HOA, suburban yard.

[@nataliedavis1305]

We just finished processing our very first litter. We made sure the kids didn't name them. My 5 year old cried when we slaughtered, but once we put it into perspective that they were never pets, he got over it quickly. Made dinner with a couple last night, and they kids really enjoyed it. :)

[@gregbeaver5244]

@@nataliedavis1305 BBQ rabbit is very good. And rabbits are good for canning.

[@josiepeterson1792]

🤮

[@aunnahr8833]

What does rabbit taste like?

[@prof.brainy8531]

@@aunnahr8833 , they taste like chicken.

[@sumanghosh-pb3dw]

0:51 - easy livestock: (1:35) - chicks (3:14) - ducks (4:33) - rabbits Not part of easy livestock: 6:04 - fish 7:06 - worms 7:45 - medium difficulty livestock: (8:32) - mini Jersey cows (12:30) - pigs, need good fences (14:12) - bees (15:12) - turkeys, quails, pigeons, guineas (15:49) - hard: (16:06) - Nigerian Dwarf goats meat goats dairy goats 16:53 - sheep 18:12 - bulls 19:55 - ? horses, camellites, donkeys

[@KateSitka]

Horses are my ❤️ but they are so high maintenance. Farier, feed, teeth, pasture, stable, tack, training, vetting - basically horses suck up every dollar and hour of spare time you have! If you love them, that’s ok!

[@yeahok2790]

Kate Sitka ain’t nothing wrong with that lol 💜🦄💜

[@Chwiirleader]

Love mine to death but horses are pretty undeniably a money pit

[@patrickmcdaniel2048]

Had some friends that had horses for years, but they finally sat down and added up how much money they were spending on them... turns out they were actually spending more money on the horses than they were for themselves. These are people that grow their own food and their house and vehicles are paid for so basically all they have is an electric bill, but having 6 horses was killing them.

[@charlottecomeau1266]

Same! It hurts me mentally when i see people with no experience buy a FOAL and then get surprised when it turns out mean because they have no idea how to train it and are in debt for an animal that can't earn its keep (as a work animal or a pet)

[@dirtygears6607]

The video is about animals you can raise for food, you can’t eat horses.

[@ShesquatchPiney]

I really love that u included "rehomability" for your considerations. I think it's a huge part of animal husbandry that isn't acknowledged enough.

[@HeythGaming]

Chicken: not to dirty My chickens: DESTROY THE YARD

[@viperford6840]

Depends on the chickens. I suggest roadisland reds or red rangers

[@ncowboy677]

Same but that just means the grounds ready for growing! Where ever chickens raged havoc usually becomes the most fertile part of the yard

[@karasprouse595]

and if you get the broiler you can not go 8 weeks. by 24 days in they are dying. But then they are bred to go from egg to slaughter in 22 days.

[@HeythGaming]

kara sprouse I’m not into killing my chickens at 6-7 weeks old.

[@rickyparker7589]

@@karasprouse595 Then you are getting a bad hatchery. I never have had a problem.

[@hairy-dairyman]

We run 500 (full size jerseys). I've wanted to get a mini just to see dads reaction when he finds her in the herd

[@nidohime6233]

Mini what? Ah, a Jersey cow.

[@cyansloth1763]

That’d be so funny 😂 ♥️

[@mwnciboo]

Dwarf Dexter-Jersey are brilliant. But milking them often is borderline viable, because for 40mins work and circa half Gallon to Gallon of milk and cream (sometimes more), you have 2hrs cleaning and sterilisation EVERYDAY. If you are doing something value add like making Cheese it works, but for own consumption you will have too much Milk, and you will spend more on sterilisation and cleaning elements than actually buying Milk, so its a big loss leader if you are doing it for consumption. Thats before you inseminate your cow, to keep her pregnant or buy a bull, then feed, vets bills etc. Unless you are millionaire with money to burn, nothing to do all day and a passion for raising your own food...it doesn't make sense unless you are producing a product to sell but then things become even more complex with additional expenses.

[@Dat621]

@@mwnciboo so are you saying these mini jerseys are not as easy as what Aust is saying ?

[@wetstoffels3198]

@@mwnciboo It depends on your level of technology. Using a bucket and pouring the milk in glass jars, there isn't that much clean up at all.

[@NooskyPoosky]

A good tip if you want to do bees is have a greenhouse. If you like to keep your home garden in a greenhouse, bees are also great to keep in there. I live in Michigan so we can get some tough winters and if you live in an area like me, a greenhouse is great to keep them busy all year long

[@woodspirit98]

I tried bees and put up the electric fence but they kept getting out of the fence. They flew right over it.

[@gigid9606]

do you put the bee hives inside the greenhouse?

[@aust0570]

@@gigid9606 no, honeybees don't do well in a greenhouse. They have trouble navigating. Bumble bees do very well in a greenhouse setting

[@blixten2928]

We tried bees. But we are not that fond of honey, so it was a BIG investment in classes, instruction, inspection and equipment (we spent far more than on our quail!) - and they get a LOT of illnesses - for what?, yeah, more honey than we eat in several years. If you want to sell it, it's more investment. Finally, they out-compete wild bees (except in agricultural areas). So, I'm not so ready to recommend bees....

[@daniel4647]

@@blixten2928 Bees are awesome. Many places it's the easiest way to get lots of sugar, plus they're great pollinators and many plants like apple trees depend on them. Honey also has antiseptic properties so it can be used for dressing wounds and clearing up fungal infections and such. And you can use it to brew beer and wine in places where sugar is not easily sourced. This is how the vikings made all their alcohol. Personally I love bees and I don't think they're hard to keep at all, maybe a little more micromanagement than most other livestock, but they mostly take care of themselves, mostly. And they're not expensive to get started at all, the Warre hive can be built and set up essentially for free, it's easy to build, does well in cold climates, and it looks much better in the garden than those styrofoam boxes. You really don't need classes and inspections or any of that jazz, you can learn anything on the internet and by trial and error, and it's really nobodies business what you do on your land even though bee keeper associations really want you to think they're in charge. Only thing you need to be aware of is the region as some bees are banned in some regions because like you said, they kill or out-compete the native bees that are protected in some areas. There is a channel here on youtube with a guy that keeps bees in plastic bottles, so you really don't need to follow all that professional beekeeper nonsense and you definitely don't have to spend a lot of money. Maybe I just think they're easy because I grew up with bees, but if I can do it's really not that hard because I'm super lazy.

[@Lady_Lavandula]

I would never recommend horses to anyone who doesn’t have extensive experience with other people’s horses, but even then I wouldn’t recommend them lol. They are wonderful but are super demanding, have to be trained by people with years of experience, can be dangerous to handle, have high nutrition needs, get injured and sick much easier than other animals, need care multiple times per day, and are an ungodly amount of expensive! You will also need lessons to learn how to properly ride. Camelids are great, i would not recommend crias for first time owners but if you get older ones with handling experience they are great. Ours are just pets though. 😂 Chickens will always have my heart as the absolute best animal anyone can own. There’s no competition in my eyes.

[@TallCFarms]

Wow. I've had horses since the early 80's and they're the easiest animals I have right now. I haven't had a vet bill other than yearly vaccinations in over a decade. 'Course, mine are on pasture, not kept in stalls, so they don't get stressed (colic), eat lots of hay, less grain (colic) and even with the weather changes (colic), they're happy. I spend more right now to feed the chickens/turkeys. I do agree, though, horses are really not for a beginner. Overcare is more of a problem as far as health issues.

[@Lady_Lavandula]

@@TallCFarms I forgot about this comment! It’s so nice you have lots of pasture for your horses- it’s the best way for them to live no doubt! Unfortunately, we’ve seen countless horses get abandoned, rehomed, and unloved after their long years of riding and working when their bills stack up and usefulness goes down. Or, many inexperienced owners buying a young horse for a kid and having to rehome it for various reasons. I mostly wrote this to dissuade all but the most dedicated from owning horses. For some, horses are a great fit and even easy! But not for many. We run a boarding facility so the care involved is quite a bit! The vet is seemingly always out for the older horses and they all seem to try their best to injure themselves. 🤣 We run round the clock feeding, blanket/flymask/fly spray cycles, bringing in and out from pasture, paddock/stall cleaning, making sure water isn’t dirty/knocked over/frozen, many different grain mixes and ratios for working horses, keeping up stock on bedding/hay/and grain, managing compost bins, and more all while getting attitude from the owners and even some horses. 😂 Taking care of the chickens and llamas is a cakewalk compared to our horses!

[@matildah1048]

would you say the same about ponies? i have always loved ponies and people generally say they are easier but if you have an opinion please let me know! thanks

[@Lady_Lavandula]

@@matildah1048 I have never personally worked with ponies, but they are likely just as demanding as horses in all respects except possibly slightly reduced feed cost. When I took lessons I was told ponies had more attitude- but I can’t verify that claim. But if you truly love ponies, do your research, find a mentor near you to learn from, and have the funds/time, they may be great for you!

[@bch5513]

Usually the cheapest thing about horses is buying them...

[@anyaoberkirsch7015]

As someone who's had horses, you're spot on. They're so hands on. Feeding, worming, float teeth, shoeing, brushing, exercising. And they never stop pooping! Ever!!! Now that said... I'm crazy and plan to have horses again when the time is right.

[@charlottegreen9581]

As a hunter Jumper my horses are less livestock and more pets. They do require a lot of work but are so worth it for people who actually love them

[@oneperson5760]

It's amazing so many wild horses manage to live without us!

[@biancat7761]

Very much a love/passion thing. It's not a sane project

[@elijahhmarshall]

My grandma had horses, and visiting her always meant spending quite a lot of time, just to take care of 2 horses. Of course, they were pets, and not farm animals.

[@icmull]

Horse people are insane. I grew up with horses and most of my girlfriends were horse people. Glad my wife is happy with dogs. God horses are expensive. I agree you have to be obsessed. My mum lets young girls come over and help and 9/10 give up after mucking out stables etc. But 1/10 becomes even more obsessed and begs to muck them and pick their feet. For me thats begging to do chores.

[@danielmaybee68]

I’ve always wondered why so many inexperienced suburbanites want goats these days! Goats are nuts & spend all day trying to get out...I have a miniature Jersey cow, way more docile & super easy to contain

[@danielmaybee68]

I don’t know ab urs but my chicken coop is hardl what I would call elaborate & way easier to build than any length of fence that will keep in a goat...as for goat meat it can’t compare to even dairy cow beef

[@danielmaybee68]

Also just give them a layer pellet & chickens are fine...sounds like ur making it way harder than it needs to be..

[@eggyolks3274]

For us where i live its just so much easier to find dairy goats rather than dairy cattle 😅 theyre always for sale and go cheap for like 60 bucks...

[@SageandStoneHomestead]

My goats have never tried to get out.

[@judylloyd7901]

@@danielmaybee68 Some people love goat meat 😊😊

[@michellecaudle9413]

My parents have chickens and it’s so nice having farm fresh eggs

[@HORSESNDOGS9]

That's the life! I pray for a husband who'll want to take on homesteading with me!

[@madtabby66]

I gave up because I was tired of running a predator buffet.

[@teddybearaf1477]

@@madtabby66 why not get a guard dog we have a Paranese dog he watches the chickens and goats at night

[@madtabby66]

@@teddybearaf1477 because we tried 2. First one wanted to kill the birds. Second one was more terrified of foxes than the chickens were.

[@teddybearaf1477]

@@madtabby66 okay then sorry

[@dimasjunior237]

Here in Brazil we have native stingless social bees. They are definately easy. Tastier honey as well.

[@frostylichqueen3551]

That's amazing!

[@GoodmanMIke59]

I've been keeping bees 6 years. You have a link on these bees?

[@truejoie]

Neat!!

[@sssfvcsdgddbh1419]

Bom dia! Conterrâneo kkk

[@dimasjunior237]

@@GoodmanMIke59 If you search for "stingless bees" you can find videos from Australia, India, South africa... there are not so many species in those countries as there are in Brazil, but you can get the ideia. If you search "abelha sem ferrao" you can find some videos in portuguese from Brazil. Look up "abelhando mundo afora" and "meliponario vila velha" channels.

[@craigmeagher1992]

I feel quail is more easy to an awkward in between easy and medium level of difficulty. They are easy to care for. Requires very little space. Can hatch 4x as many eggs in a incubator that you may have if you've done duck or chicken eggs at least once. Feed is easy to get. Very easy to source eggs for hatching. Hands diwn the easiest animal to butcher(even easier than fish). Fast turn around for meat at only 8 weeks like broiler chickens and pekin ducks. The only reason I'd say they would make it close to tye medium area is they are potentially hard yo rehome and can be difficult but not hard to find already hatched birds. I enjoyed them when I had them

[@Homesteadyshow]

I have plans to try Quail soon!

[@hermithag]

@@Homesteadyshow I think your children will enjoy quail. They aren't friendly, but fun to watch, easy to care for, compost dirty bedding and eggs are really pretty.

[@SeriouslyNJoy]

How much do you fed ducks?

[@horseblinderson4747]

@@SeriouslyNJoy medium ducks eat about a pound of feed a week about double a mature layer, or about as much as an 8 week broiler.

[@ThirdLawPair]

The economics of quail is off the chart! 10-12 laying hens can fill up a cheap incubator with 120 eggs and you can incubate and sell the chicks every 20 days. I sell my chicks for $40 per dozen and they are reserved for months in advance. They produce more value in less space and eat less feed than any other animal.

[@arachyd1]

I loved having ducks. Muscovy ducks don't need a pond - they actually become waterlogged and can sink. Provide a wading pool you can empty daily and they're happy. They also are people-friendly, very good parents, dual purpose (good for meat and eggs), bug killing machines and almost silent. Compared to noisy, egg-pecking, garden-destroying chickens they were a joy to have.

[@honeyspringshomestead1411]

Thank you for making this video. My wife and I were on the fence with getting Nubian goats or mini jersey. Once you said that the mini doesn't require a specific milking and an easier time with the AI, that sealed it. Thank you very much.

[@coleenburris6816]

How much less milk does a mini jersey give compared to a regular jersey?

[@Homesteadyshow]

Depends so much on the cows we’re talking about, but Ladybug can give 4 gallons a day peak. With calf sharing we still get a gallon a day with on and off milking. Larger Jerseys can double and more that number, but I don’t see most homestead families needing that much. Of course you can use it to feed pigs and chickens etc, but you HAVE TO MILK that much and that’s a lot more work than a mini jersey!

[@VitalityGracieGarage]

@@HomesteadyshowYou may think that you don't have to milk a mini jersey regularly, but in fact you do. Every time you stop and start like that you are damaging the udder, and making her more prone to udder infections. It is not true that you can start and stop milking a mini jersey or any other kind of dairy animal. it is very bad for them, a year or two down the road she will have perpetual recurring infections. I know this from my own long experience with this breed over many, many years. Milk her every day, you are destroying her lactation system inside her udder. Never in nature does a milking mother stop and start milk production, the calf drinks regularly until weaned.

[@pvp6077]

Didn't he say they're calf sharing? So she's having the calf feeding even when they aren't milking her, she just gives a little more or less depending on the day It's a natural regulation in more heritage breeds, evolved to handle changes in natural pasture availability for their growing calves, that's been bred out of the super production dairy cows that cant live without human intervention anymore (breeding larger makes more difficult births and unwieldy frames, health defects are bred in, natural instincts for survival bred out, etc) Smaller cows are usually closer to original breeds, and adapt better than their commercial bred colleagues

[@VitalityGracieGarage]

@@pvp6077 No, he said they can actually not milk her for several days and that she will produce milk "on demand", which simply isn't true at all, for any breed of any type of dairy animal.

[@Sorengyrl]

This is SO HELPFUL!! I kept thinking “ducks and goats! ducks and goats!” This makes me think twice about goats until I’ve really learned about the experience of livestock with maybe chickens and ducks. Thank you for this.

[@BelindaTN]

I suppose it depends on the breed of goat you are dealing with. We had goats for many years with very very little problems. And they were low maintenance as long as we kept them in a secure fence area. Our biggest problem was the occasional dog attack from free roaming dogs. But, our goats were of no particular breed. They were commonly called 'brush' goats. They were average size and all kinds of colors. many were muley goats. Which were goats that were born hornless. One buck goat we had was pretty big and had long hair. But he was the exception. We changed our buck goat most every year to prevent inbreeding. And they were moved back and forth from my father inlaws to our place about a mile away. We had them to keep the fence rows and the land tamed from all the weeds, vines and briers and we just enjoyed them. They also kept the sapling trees from growing into big trees. I think moving them about every 6 months, between the two properties was a big help. Once we stopped taking them to my inlaws, we did begin to see some health issues. We did worm them regularly. Once we had a breakout of lice. Probably came with a new goat we bought. Like most any animal, the longer the genealogy of the purebred animal, the more health issues you have to deal with. Pasture rotation and give the grazed land a period of rest, goes along way to helping to maintain their health. But that is hard to impossible without access to several acres. We also learned that goats are not grazing animals. They are foraging type of animal. Meaning they do not eat much grass if they have a choice. They will eat and thrive better on vines, briers, leaves, small trees and ends of big trees, bark, flowers and seeds, and most anything that is not grass. I think that is where we got into trouble. My father in law had a wooded area that they had access too. We only had a 2 acre field. With more grass than browsing to do. If we waited to bring them to our place, until summer and our place was growing up, they would have briers, vines and poison ivy, and thistles and an aray of weeds to eat. By the time we moved them back, my in laws place would have the same to offer them. Once they stayed at our place, they kept it eat down and we had to depend on hay and some grain to feed them. They did not do as well on that.

[@herbiehusker1889]

I agree. Goats are super easy and so much personality.

[@denisesilveira3427]

We have a small herd of meat cattle. Our naturally hornless zebu cattle is raised exclusively for breeding calves and selling them as future breeders, we don’t butcher them. Our bull is very gentle, the 15 girls are great, all bucket trained, our first 6 calves follow their mothers all the time. They are the easiest for my family, the bull does his work, no expenses with AI, very easy calving for the heifers. So satisfying.

[@illbeyourstumbleine]

Didn't hear him mention an elephant, so I think I'm good to go with my plans!

[@jonathanhouser8194]

Are you gunna eat it?

[@doujapaohaokip9636]

haha ... u cn bcom a tourist guide with it

[@circa134]

@@jonathanhouser8194 you can probably milk it too

[@darrenrussell3695]

@@jonathanhouser8194 Just the eggs

[@mayusocarina]

You should get a herding elephant

[@juliepodlewski9528]

Boy I know a lot of people that would disagree with you about the goats! Especially the Nigerian Dwarfs. Great easy keepers and wonderful milk with high butterfat content. Yes you can make butter and lots of cheeses with it.

[@pietrayday9915]

From the comments, it seems that goats were pretty divisive: roughly half the comments about goats considered them easier, half considered them more difficult, not very many comments in between. I'm inclined to think it's a matter of a combination of the climate, the land, and the management that can make the difference between a good and a bad experience with goats, and in that sense, it might well be fair to place them toward the more difficult-for-beginners end of the spectrum, but - as someone who has never raised goats, but had neighbors who did - I'm really surprised to see them rated that difficult anyway: I expected them to be moderately difficult....

[@gencas310]

For those considering ducks, it's the down that can be a pain to remove, but I was taught to do it pretty easily. Wait a couple days after harvesting, which gives the feathers time to loosen. The feathers themselves aren't too hard to pull out, so pluck those. You can also scald the duck to loosen the feathers, but you'll have to use dawn to cut through the duck's water-proof oils on those feathers. I prefer just hanging the ducks a couple days before plucking. Set up a big bucket of ice water. Then heat up a big pot of water. Don't let it boil though. It should be steaming but not boiling. Drop a couple bars of paraffin wax into the hot water. Once the wax is melted, dip the duck in the pot real quick, then right into the ice water for a few seconds. The wax hardens and the down comes right off when you peel the wax off.

[@ANPC-pi9vu]

Would be even better to try this with a plant based wax so that it can biodegrade. I mean, I guess you could just burn this mixture to dispose of it at a bonfire, but I bet it will smell terrible.

[@UkisFarm]

My sister used hot iron to pluck ducks. Heat a spot with hot iron, pluck, then next spot.

[@nicoleramsey5072]

Out of all of the 500 million videos that I have watched, this is hands-down my favorite so far! So much good information for someone like myself who is just wanting to start small and slow, and there is so much amazing advice in this video. Not to mention how calming and soothing your voice is to explain it all in an easily understandable way. Thank you so much!

[@jenverhelst6477]

When it comes to rabbits and the colony method. My brother did that. He started with a new Zealand buck and a number of none descript does, in a matter of time the inbreeding in the colony seriously decreased the size of the rabbits.

[@im1385]

I was wondering about inbreeding got accounted for. I guess it doesn't. Thanks!!

[@masonreid3829]

I don’t agree with the goats, but my uncle is a goat farmer of 97 years old so I might be biased

[@colton8072]

They like certain climates usually hotter because of Parasites and diseases

[@redinthethevalley]

cheezy chkn strips I have to disagree there in regards to climate as I raise dairy goats and I live in Ontario Canada and kidding season starts for me in December until March, coldest time of year with temperatures anywhere from 0 degrees celsius to -30-40 celsius depending on windchill factors.. they are kept in a barn with dry bedding, fresh water and dry feed 24/7. Only time I bring out a heat lamp is when mom rejects them (babies) and I have a small area for them between feeding.. goats are a great small scale livestock to have.. I was a cattle farmer all my life until changes made us take a look at an alternative and being a dairy person my husband took the chance (reluctantly I might add😆) but is extremely happy with the choice now.. sorry this is such a long reply/comment but I have seen this remark like yours before about climate and goats and it needs some clarification especially with so many starting out with homesteads.. all the best! Red.🌻

[@colton8072]

@@redinthethevalley Thank you so much, I was kinda saying most of them like warmer weather, but I, (being in Illinois only a couple states from the border) have seen only a couple hoat farmers, and I am freinds with one of them and they say the cold can be challenging for them (sorry for the bad grammar I wrote this in a hurry!)

[@alanlikestoast1269]

I'm a middle school student currently, I will be a Freshman in Fall of 2021 and I'm very interested in Agriculture and FFA and such. I'm mostly researching what animal I want to raise for my SAE project, and this video really got me interested in chickens :)

[@dmp2461]

I'm looking to buy a farm. I've been wanting a farm since I was a child. I finally took the plunge and sold my 2 acre home to find a farm. I had chickens, ducks, and worms, that's about it. I'm looking to get into alpacas and maybe a mini jersey and also kunekune pigs. I'm mostly in love with alpacas though. Can't wait to find my farmhouse!

[@frostylichqueen3551]

Just be sure to learn as much as you can about each animal, and always keep learning more!

[@urbanitesgarage3299]

Any luck?

[@Fern_Thaddeus]

May God bless your dream!! ❤

[@dmp2461]

It took 6 months but we found an old farmhouse on 14 acres for the right price. We got into Dexter cattle and have a herd of 5 right now. 😊

[@NadiaSeesIt]

@@dmp2461 congratulations! I hope it goes really well :)

[@neesargon3497]

I don't know why I find this so interestng, after all, I live in London. Not many farms here! It must be the way you tell it, Aust. 😄. 🐓

[@illbeyourstumbleine]

Do you have a decent size garden? You would be surprised what you can do with a small amount of land. We had neighbors in the city that had right at an acre. They had about 8 goats, tons of chickens, 4 pigs, rabbits, and a decent sized garden including about 8 different fruit trees. They didn't let any space go to waste! It was pretty amazing!

[@spottedwillowwh8725]

This was very helpful! I'm a homestead wanna be and I'm embarrassed I never considered rehoming difficulties if things don't work out.

[@stevenmuti3570]

Seek out a mentor, and join that person for a field day or so, working with whatever livestock, so you get a sense of whether it's feasible for you. Do your homework on the challenges and required upkeep, to best plan out how you will address those responsibilities. Understand that location matters and that a local mentor can be a tremendous asset. You might even become good friends over the years. Cheers!

[@svetlanaahnna3103]

Highland cattle are a good alternative to regular beef cattle.

[@frostylichqueen3551]

What can you tell us about them?

[@pvp6077]

I've been reading up on them and am also interested if you have any experience with them From what I've read they're an ancient heritage breed, very docile (they'd come in the home in cold winters to help warm it up), great foragers who can live off weeds and use their horns to brush aside snow for winter forage, their meat is low fat and low cholesterol but well marbled because their fur is so thick they don't need to build up extra fat layers, their milk is rich in butterfat, and they're small (3-4 ft) with the same medium milk production as these mini jerseys that doesn't require daily milking but can still give 1-2 gallons a day each. Also their shedding hair can be brushed and spun into yarn, their pelts make luxurious rugs, and their horns can be sold for crafting. Plus they're super cute. The furry cows, the ones with bangs? Yeah. Those bangs dont impede vision but do keep flies out if their eyes. Oh, and they're known for easy unassisted births. Their bulls are often used as studs for other breeds first pregnancy so they'll have an easier first birth and recover better. Lot of good info out there, but i wanna know, what's it actually *like* keeping them? Just for homestead use, not for cow shows or pedigree breeding or as a pet like many highland owners seem to do

[@berniemcbride4646]

Raine Raine I saw Highland cows in Scotland and they’re not that small. In the Islands, they’re allowed to wander free as they keep the road edges clear. I would say that they are a bit smaller than friesians. There are herds here in Australia that are doing well and they have the reputation of being good natured, though you have to spend the time with them just like other cattle for them to know you.

[@TallCFarms]

They are adorable, but I think they'd die of heatstroke here (N of Houston, so basically, a sauna for 6 months of the year)

[@johannakox2479]

Highland Cattle is not that small actually and because they often dont need assistance at birth mothers can be very protective of their young ones. And with a lot of herds roaming more freely they aren't necessarily as docile as they once were.

[@lydianicolenorwick125]

Rabbits are fantastic for the cold compost alone if you don't intend to eat them. Their droppings, like worm castings, can be directly added to your raised beds without aging and breaking down. They will happily eat your fresh veggie scraps and hay and give you INSTANT fertilizer. They bring a lot of value in their companionship and droppings if you don't intend to breed and butcher them.

[@Heather-xm9ul]

And they poop SO MUCH!! Even a tiny breed like the polish! So much poop!

[@sirwiddlescabbagebaker]

"you can eat the ones that don't work out" You hear that rabbit!? Ya betta start working out! Go run those laps! Go do those jumping jacks or you'll end up on ✨ la chopping block ✨

[@tammywright8290]

I have no problem when it comes to the mean ones...and yes there are some that are little terrors...lol...all white meat also...

[@Aethuviel]

Now I'm just picturing rabbits sweating away at the gym.

[@lauradietrich6736]

If you want an easier alternative to honey bees, it doesn’t get much better than mason bees and leafcutter bees. They don’t require a great deal of maintenance overall-you basically just have to harvest the cocoons, store them over winter, replace the nesting material in your bee house (to prevent accumulation of parasites), and place the cocoons back outside at the bee house in time for the hatching. They don’t produce honey, but they are good pollinators (mason bees actually come out a bit earlier in spring than honey bees and are excellent for fruit trees) and, though they can technically sting, they are very unlikely to do so as they are not eusocial like honey bees are. You can either get mason bees or leaf cutter bees commercially or you can set up houses with nesting materials sized to attract native bees. I did that: wound up with solitary wasps instead, but as they aren’t aggressive and keep the caterpillar population in check, I can’t say that it was a loss. Still fun to see the difference in how the wasps made the mud caps.

[@danarennick7003]

Just wanted to chime in about rabbits. Having raised meat rabbits for about 5 years, if they're on the ground, they probably will get coccidiosis and you will not be able to eat those. Also, it's very hard on your females to have a male around them all the time. If they're still feeding babies and getting pregnant this will shorten their lifespawn significantly. There are serious consequences to keeping them together all the time and it can kill your females. Not particularly fun to kill either. I would also say that coturnix quail are as easy if not easier then chickens and more productive in smaller spaces. They start laying and are at butcher weight in 8 weeks. They're extremely easy to breed and hatch. They're also a lot less noisy then chickens. Ducks are by far much more work and harder to keep then quail in our multi-year experience. Fun fact coturnix quail are the oldest domesticated farm animal on the planet. They've been farmed for over 4000 years. I'd agree with everything else you said though with the experience I've had. Goats, sheep, pigs, turkey, ducks (meat and egg), chickens (meat and egg), quail & rabbit.

[@Fanslerfarmstead]

Our first animal was chickens, we picked up honeybees last week. I want to do rabbits eventually, but wifey wants pigs first

[@scottsmith7080]

Pigs are the smartest of all the farm animals, and fun. You’ll have to buy feed, and build things tough (they ripped the metal corner trim off their shed), but in six months or so you’ve got a market ready pig. Around here (central NC) you’ve got to get an appointment at the meat processor months out, so research that before you get the pigs. Scott

[@keldonator]

I started with bees now have chickens and next want rabbits 😁

[@claireisacamel]

Agreed on the pigs! I almost put them in the easy category. They don’t need brooding like chickens, and they’re happy and healthy and grow quickly and produce SO much useable product AND are friendly to boot!

[@ronlicari5403]

I have Kune Kune pigs they eat grass and are very friendly

[@Irisstranger]

This is a good list but goats are so easy yes they can get worms and other health issues and you need good fencing. But other than that they breed like crazy and there friendly

[@debbiemaas5019]

Thanks makes me think twice before getting goats or sheep which is what I was leaning toward. Already have chickens love them. I will listen to your podcast. I needed this thank you so much

[@beckysmuck8771]

Debbie Maas my goats are awesome. No worries!

[@ThunderStruck15]

Frankly, your experience with goats really depends on your location and your starting herd. Don’t get exclusive bottle babies. Get an older doe that has successfully kidded a few times. If you don’t have an experienced herd matron, you’ll have experiences like the idiot in this video trying to sell you crap you can find free online. I have *never* had an issue with goats eating what they shouldn’t, and getting heavy worms (which is a keeping issue- don’t feed on the ground, and rotate your fields) if I had an experienced doe in the herd.

[@JackieOwl94]

My agricultural experience started working with goats, chickens, rabbits, and horses as my first job. We never bred our goats, as it was camp and school, but it gave me a lot of knowledge on how to work with my hands. I’ve been wanting to work with livestock again ever since.

[@lowrads3653]

Almost everything is determined by environment. For the swamp steaders here, it's easier for us to focus on crawfish in rice ponds, then you have shrimp and fish with different ecological roles. Waterfowl are also easier to manage. Apiaries are successful, but have different management issues involving fungi and other wet-climate pathogens. Most of the animal culturing also complements some form of cultivation related activities.

[@mp77744]

Cheers from Florida, I’m jealous of your rice paddies

[@manihotesculenta7501]

Thank you my friend I am from Colombia and I feel appealing to farming I already have quail and its a beautiful animal I would like to begin with goats in a period no more than two years from today, thank you my friend I will devour all your videos

[@restelofarms7907]

Chickens are addicting😬

[@frostylichqueen3551]

I love chickens. I can't wait to live somewhere I'm allowed to have them, again.

[@bigchiefrocka1431]

Heck yeah! They grow fast and taste so good..

[@rogerrogers7393]

i have three ryeland sheep and 8 laying hens in north east Scotland . I would start off keeping chickens as there pretty easy to keep

[@ninak1347]

I have never experienced goats as a hard animal. Compared to sheep goats are for me easier to handle and get tame, trim hooves and you dont need to cut fur (if it dont hav long fur). I would say that rabbit is a good first animal, second would be chicken or duck, third goat and fourth sheep.

[@Indigenous_Patriot_1175]

Really enjoyed your video. New to homesteading. Will be working to create a almost 14 acre off grid homestead. Excited and nervous at the same time. I have saved your website in my favorites and have subscribed to your channel. Thank you for all that you do with educating and sharing on such a subject that has become true to my heart.

[@kevinstrieter4915]

I've had pretty good luck with sheep, pigs, and laying chickens. I haven't tried cows yet. I'll keep in mind the mini jersey. Good video.

[@davidferguson8183]

it does depend on where you live though goats live well in Arizona and here in Ireland sheep are really good beginners

[@crayhack]

Camels themselves are pretty darn easy. I haven't seen worm issues at all, but n=1. His only issue is he huge, so a bit dangerous, and destroys cattle panels pretty easily.

[@SDF1982]

just wanna thank you ..last couple years was getting over 3 back surgerys...now im starting my own farm ..all alone ...have a billy goat for now..thanks for giving me hope ..god blesss

[@sunnybigmc90]

Quail r super easy!!! And reproduce so fast and can be butchered fast. Atleast coturnix quail r. And I love my goats. 🥰 I’m milking my Nigerian dwarf now for the first time and she’s a first freshener. Yea she fights me kinda which I shoulda trained her earlier but once I get her to the milking area she gets right on the stand and she’s great. And I love playing with the babies!!!!

[@MrMawnster]

Bees are definitely NOT medium level. If you're leaving them.alone and not checking them that often you could miss a health problem and lose them all Camelids beef cattle and hair sheep.....beyond easy. You can leave them "bee" longer than bees (using your logic ). You just need good fencing. In fact all of them.together would be great because they eat different things and a mother cow and Camelids keep coyotes away from the lambs

[@meplays5269]

@Marc T so if its that easy to get healthy bees would you mind telling european beekeepers where to get the varroa resistant-type thats also Not in any way shape or form agressive, because its hard around here finding any spot with no people and their children around. Thanks a lot in advance, were awaiting that wonderbee.

[@meplays5269]

@Marc T absolutely. And trained to attack trespassers. Wouldnt that be nice.

[@oneperson5760]

We put a top bar hive box in the middle of our property and before we could even order a nuc & queen, feral bees moved into it. They lived there for 5 years without us doing a darned thing with or for them, except passing by with the mower every other week to keep the path clear. They finally died when the box rotted around them because they moved in so fast, we never had a chance to paint the bare wood. I'd say local ferals are very easy. People have a hard time killing them even with poisons, when they move into houses unwanted. The key is ferals. They're healthy. We never treated them for mites or anything else, never fed or watered them. All we did was set a hive box out and leave them alone. I think we harvested honey once in the early years. Mostly we just wanted them to help pollinate, which they did nicely. We'd see them every day on the pool ladder when they'd come for a drink. Had to not step on them getting in and out of the pool.

[@LovingIdaho]

Every one seems hard when you first start . After years of experience of about 50 years , I choose goats as the easiest livestock . And I choose coturnix quail over chickens and rabbits . Much better feed to meat ratio , and eggs in as soon as 5 weeks . Ducks will make your yard stink fast . But fairly easy to butcher ( i skin my muscovy ducks .) if you keep them out of water ponds they have less fat .

[@theadventuresofzoomandbettie]

Great video mate, really enjoyed this one. I thought goats and sheep would have been earlier, but you are right when you start mentioning all the things people don't think about off the bat!

[@markekoprivec6168]

My family have cows-bull's chickens horses sheep's and pigs I am 14 years old and I am expert whit animals My helpers- older brother he is 15 and my younger brother he is 13 years old Evry day clean feed play and everything we nide to do to ur animals

[@tresavage1887]

You forgot black soldier flies for Waste Management and food supply for animals

[@EricBishop_]

I was told always pluck ducks dry and pluck chickens wet.

[@jamiedeer2674]

Eric : ohhhh I didn’t know that, thank you

[@EricBishop_]

@@jamiedeer2674 absolutely 😁

[@ninak1347]

We have always pluck both ducks and chickens wet. With duck you need to lift feathers in beginning to get water in.

[@ka6148]

@@ninak1347 adding a squirt of dish soap/ACV will cut the oils in their feathers

[@ninak1347]

@@ka6148 I have heard about it but we have always chosen to do it without. Important when picking ducks is not to do it when they are getting or changing feathers. Otherwise you have a duck with spikes of undeveloped feathers which often are hard to pick and often damage the skin when picking.

[@danielblack4313]

I'm very selective about who I sub to but about halfway through this video I hit the button. Very informative, without all of the flashy, loud talking others tend to gravitate to.

[@monicaperez2843]

Can't say enough to intern on a working farm/homestead to be sure it is really for you first!

[@PetShopCrazy101]

My turkey thought he was a duck and guinea. He was pretty chill and I could hold him. I miss you Mr. Pecky.

[@DoloresJNurss]

I wouldn't recommend worms for apartment-dwellers--I tried that. Worm farms can quickly turn to gnat farms, and you don't want that indoors. They even mention in the instruction manual to get used to gnats--but they don't mention that in the ads before you buy a worm farm kit.

[@matthewmoore7817]

Dolores J. Nurss yellow sticky sheets

[@blixten2928]

Really? I tried mealworms and there is absolutely no problem. Talk about EASY. Use for chicken-food and plan to eke out dog-food. No problem!

[@DoloresJNurss]

@@blixten2928 Ah, I see the difference. I was trying to raise earthworms. Maybe next time I'll try meal worms.

[@blixten2928]

@@DoloresJNurss Really a piece of cake. But perhaps not so useful in say fishing, if that's what you wanted earthworms for. Good luck!

[@reswobiandreaming3644]

@@DoloresJNurss Mealworms are great. You can keep them in a tub on a bed of rolled oats, which is what they eat. The only problem I had with them was the grain mites that just take over the whole tub.

[@tiffanyespinoza4651]

This video popped up while I was searching to homestead sheep, I am so glad I clicked on it. Very informative. Thank you.

[@harmonee_76]

I just found this channel and MAN I’m so glad I did!! You’re a wealth of info for beginners and great at explaining things!

[@Clovis8070]

We started with chickens and then moved to goats and loved them! We had 4 Nigerian dwarfs and we would take them hiking through the woods with our dog and they would nibble and jump around, it was lots of fun, especially if we had visitors, go on a goat hike in the woods behind our house- no leash or anything they just followed us. They were escape artist and we did have 2 die from unknown illnesses. Our vet told us that since goats are herd animals they act healthy for as long as possible to stay with the herd and that by the time they show they are sick they are basically about to die and we found that to be true. Spending overnights in the barn with antibiotics didn't do a thing. I would put them in the medium category haha

[@andreamartin4978]

Excellent video- loved your frankness as my hubby and I make the transition from big city living to country life. First on my list is chickens thanks to you!

[@NPHypnosis]

Colony rabbits can have issues procreating as the colony automatically stays small by only allowing one dominant female to breed...

[@homesteadinginmohavecounty1626]

Not true. I raised my rabbits in a colony and they all bred and even nest shared. The only issue I had with colony raising was I had purebred rex that I wanted to keep pedigrees on.

[@Yupmoose]

i love those mini jerseys! i would have thought bees would be the first tier but they are a little more fiddly than chickens. Great video!

[@bigal5778]

Goats are great. I can do all the maintenance myself, and I'm a small woman. I was under the tutelage of the dairy farm I bought mine from for months before I actually bought them. I provided relief milking and they showed me everything they knew. I've owned the girls for 6 years now and bread them three seasons. I just recently bought a buck. It's been great. And my two acre field has the best grass on the property.

[@jenmoore1663]

I have been vermicomposting for over 10 years. I put them outside in the summer and bring them in the kitchen in the winter! We love our worms, funny little helpers in the family!

[@madmonk3030]

Oh, worms should have been way higher in the list for beginners! Vermiculture is so easy, I've taught high school students how to get started. And they have such a great benefit for your agriculture too

[@emilywood979]

As someone who volunteers at a horse rescue I’m actually glad you put horses at the end. We see a lot of people who get horses thinking they are easy they get a young horse don’t know how to train it and take care of it and then they end up at our place. Especially miniature horses/donkeys they think they are suitable for children when they are not!

[@patnordmark5222]

LOL, if your fences won't hold water, they won't hold goats.

[@leechowning2712]

People keep saying "goats are easy" and I laugh at escaping pain in the ass Billy goat.

[@madtabby66]

Electric fence works well.

[@bigal5778]

I have more trouble keeping in my livestock guardian dog. Unless it's been very dry for a long time. Then the goats get desperate.

[@lemuelmagby9986]

Escapees make for a nice pot of chili though 🤷

[@skipdegraff6547]

Your goat is gonna get out

[@drjones198]

I enjoyed this. Some very good advice. Couple of things people may want to consider with cows are the problems involved if you lose one. Disposing of the carcass can be problematic for small farmers as well as the financial loss. Goats are easy to dispose of and can be replaced cheaply. It probably depends on location as snake bites and hoof infections cause cattle losses in some areas.

[@nicki9408]

How long do you think you should have beginner livestock before advancing to more difficult animals? I dont have a homestead/farm, I'm only 18 with little farming experience. I want to eat better food especially beef and milk which are a more difficult animal. I love this video and how out of the box some of the livestock were!

[@Homesteadyshow]

That’s a great question! I’d say once you become comfortable with one, and have become accustomed to homestead life (aka being married to your homestead, not leaving for long periods of time, home each night and morning to do chores) then your ready to upgrade to level 2. For a lot of us city to country peeps we have no idea how the morning and evening EVERY SINGLE DAY chores will work with our life, and it takes getting used to!

[@kelseymoss1984]

I love your channel, it’s so awesome to see someone embracing the country life, it’s funny as well seeing a soft hearted guy take care of animals.

[@victoria_757]

My goal after building my homestead is to have chickens, bees, and sheep. I’m glad I had the right idea about doing bees and chickens first!!! I always thought sheep would be a little easier than cows, but the more research I’m doing I’m seeing it’s not necessarily the case.

[@crieverytim]

cows are a huge investment. but sheep can have their own hurdles. where are you thinking of building your farm?

[@qusaihoshangabadwala2925]

This is the first of your videos I'm watching, and it's great. Loved it, the information and portrayal

[@frklzholst3209]

Coming from someone who spent half a day in the mountains chasing down 6 cows i hatw cows and cant wait till auction reopens

[@butimar68]

😂😂😂

[@bradbrown2199]

One of the most informative site I’ve found.

[@TheSDBeast]

Started with coturnix quail 5 or so years back, moved up to chickens and ducks last year. Hoping to move to a larger property in the next few years so we can start with some pigs and maybe, eventually move on to more. At first I wasn't agreeing with you having the coturnix in the medium difficulty range; however, once you said "wild and harder to keep track of", I had to change my mind. They are small, relatively quiet compared to other birds, and don't take up much space, but they are incredibly messy eaters that waste a lot of feed, and if they ever get out of their enclosure, good luck! Unlike the ducks, chickens, and other larger birds, you will pretty much always be stranger danger to them, and they won't come back home.

[@cassieoz1702]

So much of this is dependent on where you are. Miniature cows can only be bred to miniature bulls so that has to be factored in to your planning. AI is NOT universally available. You can learn but then you need to be able to source and store (liquid nitrogen) mini Jersey semen. Hair/meat sheep are super easy to keep and process on farm. No worms, no pasture problems, never trimmed a hoof in my life. If you dont have access to an abattoir (much of the world), pigs are a bit of a nightmare to scald and scrape. I keep and milk standard Jerseys (raise their own calf and milk once a day) which I breed with my Angus bull (lovely polite, docile boy) who also services my small beef herd. We were city folk until we bought this farm. Get a book, google it or get advice from neighbours

[@granmabern5283]

Cassie Oz great post, Thankyou! I will look up hair sheep. Love the idea of letting the cow raise her calf and only milking once a day!

[@cassieoz1702]

@@granmabern5283 you can milk once a day regardless (after a post-freshening settling period). My girl's calf is 4months old now and i only milk a couple of times per week (shut the calf up overnight, milk mama in the morning) or when I want to make cheese.

[@lifebyhannah392]

Just going to put this out there. Alpacas are SO easy to raise, they aren’t messy, and their fiber (wool) is amazing!

[@EdiHooks0519]

🗣YESSSSS! They are so fun. I definitely want some plus, I spin and dye😍

[@jadegrniz]

It must be really difficult to find a veterinarian for an alpaca though. They're not super common in the US, and since they're basically camels, a vet would need specialized training to treat them

[@henrykeller1327]

Amen brother! Even a normal size Jersey is a very good option for homesteaders! We did this for years and sold the cream for butter to many neighbors as a donation for feeding our cow.

[@QueenBee1ist]

There are miniature beef varieties. Hereford, belted galloways, and I think angus.

[@QueenBee1ist]

I have understood mini belted Galloways (nick named oreo cows) are naturally pulled (hornless), docile, more resistant to bovine deceases, ailments, and pests. Double check these facts, because they are something we personally are looking into and not yet have personal experience.

[@LiLBitsDK]

dexter is down there too, super sweet breed

[@JerezIwiski]

@@QueenBee1ist vaccines create disease resistances in any breed of cattle. There is no such thing as ailment and pest free cattle that's all in the healthcare management. If your just homesteading there's no need to get breed specific, there's no point in paying top dollar for a purebred unless your gonna be dedicating your life to raising the breed.

[@melissawolf553]

I started with nubian goat (full size dairy goats). I found them to be super easy. I use males for meat or sell as bucks. I also have had horses and yes, lots to learn if you've never had them. I also have chickens and guineas. I wonder if location makes a difference in how easy or difficult it is to raise dairy goats. I live in the mountains of Northern Arizona. The goats hardly need any care. I give hay twice a day and that's it.

[@Heather-xm9ul]

I'm in Mesa. We have a tiny backyard homestead going, and I'm perpetually window shopping in the snowflake area. I want goats so badly!

[@michellepelkowski9167]

I'm in southern Arizona and our first livestock were also nubian goats and a few sheep I find they are pretty easy so far but it would be our first time breeding so we'll see

[@LiLBitsDK]

well mini jerseys vs. goats... both make milk, both make meat, both make cheese... only thing a little "harder" to make from goats i butter but it is possible if you get a cream seperator... goats are "way harder" to fence in though... but so SO much easier to handle, easier to milk, easier to butcher and need a lot less land... otherwise love the video never bothered with debudding, very friendly goats... worm issues are only an issue if you don't rotate enough, pref with another critter that doesn't share worms, so the only thing was trimming feet which wasn't needed very often (have stuff that is rough on their feet, not just moist grass) rocks to climb on and such helps a lot so guess it's all about experience and doing it right. only thing that is really critical for goats = proper fencing, when that is done they are EASY

[@robertjones7023]

I just started with a pair of Rex Rabbits. I use elevated cages and use the droppings directly in the garden. These are super easy!!!

[@beckysmuck8771]

Worms under rabbit cages ... they eat the rabbit poop so there is little to no smell in your barn. Sell the night crawlers to fishermen because they multiply as well. Rabbits are a great meat provider.

[@buckaroobonsaitree7488]

Or Red wrigglers, compost worms. Use the vermicompost in your garden/farm

[@ThunderStruck15]

Or black soldier flies. They self harvest.

[@blakeperdue3706]

Great advice! Definitely taking some of this advice On the bulls, I work at a sales barn and they aren't too bad if you personally raise them from the bottle. I was petting on a big old Angus earlier today. Gentle as can be

[@diannt9583]

I've started with chickens in 2018 (layers and meat). Bringing in quail this year, rabbits the next. Afterwards I do want goats (meat) and/or sheep (fiber, meat) - hardy breeds such as Shetland, Soay, or Icelandic. I may consider feeder pigs. Absolutely no interest in milking any animal. If I have to go out of town for any reason, say a family emergency, I don't have local backup for milking. Even though this is a rural area. And I don't drink much milk to begin with.

[@krystingrant6292]

That's my thing. I don't drink milk soo goats I'm like hesitant about.

[@jimmybarrow593]

I've had great results over the last 7 years with Dexter cattle, for meat and dairy. My bulls are easy going, They all wait in line for a few hand fed range cubes I feed them just to get hem use to coming up for snacks...We harvest our own hay with our neighbor. We also have ducks, chickens, Guinea (alarm birds) Geese, turkey (hard for s to raise), Horses and a donkey. We have dug three ponds and are hoping them stocked this year. We added a 40 x 12 foot green house (south side shed on our multipurpose barn) from materials we were able to mostly acquired as scrap.

[@neilbenjamin9028]

Just bought a farm. Thank you for this video 👍🏼