Okay. You Have Chickens. What Else?

[MapleLaurelFarms]

I never thought to mention the house animals or garden. 1 small old JR terrier, two cats, about 15 fruit trees (pears/plums/apples/serviceberries/cherries), grapes, raspberries, rhubarb and we grow tomatoes/peppers/winter and summer squash each summer. And a pantry full of pressure canned meat/broth/preserves/sauce. I'm sure I'm missing something...

Oh! Every few years we tap the boxelder trees for syrup (they call it Manitoba Maple and it tastes like caramel). And we're starting to collect solar panels to farm the sun.

The *house* animals are more work and cost more than all my others combined. After owning dogs and cats all our lives, we've decided that these two are our last.

We do all of the gardening things you mentioned (fruit trees, berries, annuals, grapes etc) and I mentioned those because they require protection and care. However since the post is primarily about animals, I will say that we've tossed around the idea of meat rabbits. So although I said that we've no plans to add anything else, you know how that goes ha!

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Just 4 hen birds, 3 hives and 1 pup, it's enough.

 

[SkyAJK]

The *house* animals are more work and cost more than all my others combined. After owning dogs and cats all our lives, we've decided that these two are our last.

I shared your experience there. I used to keep a spreadsheet of cost on my chickens and dogs, it got to the stage where I don't want to know anymore.

I also have 2 dogs and thinking that these will be our last. After that I am thinking of doing foster care instead for animal rescue shelter.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

I shared your experience there. I used to keep a spreadsheet of cost on my chickens and dogs, it got to the stage where I don't want to know anymore.

I also have 2 dogs and thinking that these will be our last. After that I am thinking of doing foster care instead for animal rescue shelter.

Foster care is nearly always a good idea! My concern is that livestock-friendly dogs aren't common, so if I have to train (if possible) each foster, I'd spend all my time doing that. It's the time suck that's needed with the animals that need training and attention. Give me a nice pastured sow and hens any day over a cat or dog lol!

Oh gosh, no spreadsheets of costs. I don't EVEN want to know!

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Just 4 hen birds, 3 hives and 1 pup, it's enough.

Smart smart smart! I'm working on attaining that kind of wisdom. I'm close but not quite there yet.

 

[SkyAJK]

Foster care is nearly always a good idea! My concern is that livestock-friendly dogs aren't common, so if I have to train (if possible) each foster, I'd spend all my time doing that. It's the time suck that's needed with the animals that need training and attention. Give me a nice pastured sow and hens any day over a cat or dog lol!

Oh gosh, no spreadsheets of costs. I don't EVEN want to know!

Oh...training dogs?? I thought foster means I just care for them, and give them a family environment before they find a forever home. I will look into that when I get there.

My thought when I started the cost spreadsheet was to know how much it costs to keep 6 chickens and so later it can be used to compare to cost of buying eggs. Soon I realised that it was a bad idea to have this as the cost of keeping chicken rises. I don't want to know.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Oh...training dogs?? I thought foster means I just care for them, and give them a family environment before they find a forever home. I will look into that when I get there.

I think it depends on your lifestyle and set up. Our pets only come in occasionally but mainly free range along with our livestock. It's a requirement that everyone gets along.

However if you plan to keep any foster dogs/animals on lead at all times and far away from your chickens, you wouldn't have to train them each time.

Though I'll add that there's often a bonus (depending on your area) for the animal needing a home if they're able to be trained to ignore chickens. We live in such a rural area that our local humane society will usually state if a dog is chicken/cat/etc friendly on the animal's adoption listing.

PS although I'll edit to add that its likely all foster animals will need some training. Not every foster comes to you house trained with good behavior.

 

[SkyAJK]

I think it depends on your lifestyle and set up. Our pets only come in occasionally but mainly free range along with our livestock. It's a requirement that everyone gets along.

However if you plan to keep any foster dogs/animals on lead at all times and far away from your chickens, you wouldn't have to train them each time.

Though I'll add that there's often a bonus (depending on your area) for the animal needing a home if they're able to be trained to ignore chickens. We live in such a rural area that our local humane society will usually state if a dog is chicken/cat/etc friendly on the animal's adoption listing.

PS although I'll edit to add that its likely all foster animals will need some training. Not every foster comes to you house trained with good behavior.

When I foster dogs/cats, I hope they will give me some training what to do/train the animals in my care.

Great to know that also train them to be around chickens. I guess the rescue people will train me on that.

With my dogs I only know how to house train them, I don't know much other than that and they are free range. When I am out of the house they stay in the garage.

I don't want to keep any animals on lead, that is just unhappy if it get tight up to one place all day long. The only time they will wear a lead to go for a walk.

 

[CombNWattles]

This:

And this:

 

[HoneyBeeHomestead]

I need to jump on this thread...
Outside I have 1 horse, 1 mini horse, 5 mini donkeys, 5 alpacas, 5 goats, 2 rabbits, 10 barn cats, 3 geese, about 30 ducks, 20 quail, about 60 laying hens, 5 roosters, 21 chicks in the brooder, 22 eggs in the incubator, 28 chicks coming in June, and plans for more hatching eggs soon.
Inside, I have 3 cats, a border collie, a 180 gallon saltwater fish tank, and a 15 gallon freshwater tank.
To put it short... I have some issues.