2007-01-12 07:53:05 · 18 answers · asked by ? 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Rabbits are maintenance-intensive. All they need is about a twelve-square-foot ventilated shed for a small rabbitry, but the cages and equipment are expensive. If you plan to let them roam, they'll need heavy-duty fencing sunk deep underground, and you'll have to shoot them from a blind or something if you want to get any meat.
Sheep thrive best on grass. Most breeds need to be sheared. Sheep should also have shelter, clean water, some grain supplements, and minerals. Never get just one sheep; since they're herd animals, they need friends.
Hogs smell. They dig around in the ground a bit, and they need hog chow, not just the forage in your land.
Goats thrive on scrubby trees, but once they run out, they'll need hay. If there's grass, they'll eat that, too. Two goats can strip a hillside bare of shrubs in a few years, which is a great thing for fire and weed control. If there's any young trees in the enclosure, they'll girdle and kill them. Goats are typically hardy. Un-fixed males emit an acrid stench, but fixed ones and females have no odor.
Chickens are low-maintenance. If they're protected from predators and have shelter, they'll stick around where the food is. If they're raised for egg-laying, they should live in a hutch, so all the eggs will be in one place.
2007-01-12 13:56:25 · answer #1 · answered by Rachel R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, they say that its at LEAST one acre per horse for horses so i would assume that pretty much any of that livestock you listed would be suitable...assuming it is, go with what suits you best! rabbits can be fun but are MESSY as are goats. sheep are pretty cool. theyre pleasant to be around. chickens are also a good choice...they eliminate a lot of insects and things of that nature. hogs are fun and intelligent but can become stinky and messy if not taken care of properly. its all relative i suppose. enjoy with whatever you choose!
2007-01-12 07:58:51 · answer #2 · answered by Love my Family <3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chickens are a good start if you are looking for something to make a bit of money on. You can always sell the eggs. Having a couple goats around would be fun though.
2007-01-12 07:58:42 · answer #3 · answered by allyalexmch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rule of thumb (of the old timers) use to be one goat per acre of land. 2 hogs per acre of land. Chickens varied. Rabbits have to be kept in pins (most of the time, so you can decide that one) and a horse would need two acres of land for itself.
2007-01-12 07:57:36 · answer #4 · answered by Angel W 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
what is your point of raising them? if the issue is easiest, I'd say chickens. After only 6 mo they are laying eggs and we allow them to roam free and catch bugs. They put themselves away at night and we lock them in a predator-proof stall for the evening.
Second easiest is the sheep. They nicely manacure the lawn and fertilize it. The do like to each weeds, briars but they also enjoy shrubs and flower beds. :)
Goats are a little harder because they require shelter in bad weather (they're more prone to getting cold and wet in bad weather) and they also are a bit pickier as to their pasture height to ensure they don't get sick. They're also a bit more clever in getting out of your yard so you have to make sure your yard is really goat-proof.
Rabbits you need hutches and you'll need to clean them. you can't allow them to roam free because they'll get away and also be eaten by hawks and owls.
we've only had one pig and she was nice but I would not allow one to roam on only 2 acres as I don't think there'd be a lawn left. They can also be real diggers so good perimeter fencing is important. The pig had to be fed large amounts of food every day, and they don't tolerate changes in weather as well as other animals so they take more work. They require a wallow in warm weather and they expend a lot of energy (the fat they put on in summer) if you keep them through the winter.
2007-01-12 08:04:21 · answer #5 · answered by SC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits
2007-01-12 19:25:58 · answer #6 · answered by jick_2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Goats definitely. goats don't take up alot of space if you get the right breed. Keep them fed and they'd live in a box for all it matters.
2007-01-12 07:56:47 · answer #7 · answered by Lovely 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hogs would be best...goats need more land and are good to get if you have a lot of land to clear.
2007-01-12 07:55:55 · answer #8 · answered by propunk7 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
rabbits or chickens. i raise rabbits and i dont even have an arce and i've had up to 29 rabbits adn a dog as well at that time.
2007-01-12 10:47:49 · answer #9 · answered by wonderbunny22 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you looked at alpacas?
My neighbors have about 5 of them, and they're on about 1 acre.
They're the funniest things, too...They kinda look like llamas, but act like cats - they frolic, and play with toys, and each other!
2007-01-12 08:01:56 · answer #10 · answered by abfabmom1 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋