This is part 2 of my review of homesteading. you can read part 1 here>
My first post was on gardening, now lets talk about animals.
I do not have a lot of experience with animals. Growing up, we owned fish……… the little goldfish kind. Once I got married, I got some experience with dogs. That was only 8 years ago. I got my first farm animal almost 5 years ago. Those were ducks that we got for the eggs.
We have owned pigs off and on for the past 3 years. We started with one piglet that we raised to butcher. After him, we were hooked on pigs. We got more piglets to raise and only in recent months, have we gotten a boar and are stepping foot into farrowing. We got our first cows 2 years ago, our first milk cow this last winter and we had our first calf this spring. Our first chickens arrived this last winter as well. We are very new to farm animals.
That being said, here are my initial thoughts on animals. I LOVE THEM!!!!!!
There is something so beautiful about going outside and seeing your animals walk around. Petting the cows, feeding the pigs, and hearing the quack of the ducks, cluck of the chickens, and honk of the geese.
I have found the animals to be very beneficial for me. When I first started with animals, I couldn’t neglect them like I did with my first garden. It didn’t work to not check on them for a week or so at a time. They are living, breathing creatures that require daily care or at least daily checks. The animals make me get outside. I have to leave the comfort and warmth of the couch in the evening or the bed in the morning to make sure they have food and water. It has been invaluable as far as motivation to accomplish things is concerned, I am already up and moving and it doesn’t take a lot more effort to simply start the next thing I have to do.
It’s not all sunshine and roses unfortunately. With all living things, there will be death. Sometimes it’s unknown and not your fault, but the hard side is when it is your fault the animal died. You are responsible for their lives, health, and safety.
Animals can be a hassle. We had a particularly ornery sow who would squeeze her way under the fence. We blocked off her escape route and she simply worked at the fencing till she made a hole big enough to get through again. We chased that sow around and around to get her back in.
We have had ducks in our pond that refused to leave. Every morning, I make sure they have food and water, and every night I make sure they are closed up in their coops. In winter, you have to maintain the water supply and keep it from freezing. You get to go out when it’s hot and humid, and when it’s -10 degrees and there is a blizzard, when it’s 70 with a light breeze, and when you’re in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Animals can get scary, you can never let your guard down just in case an animal decides to get touchy and defensive especially if there are babies involved. You really have to respect an animal’s space. The cows don’t always know their size. I have been almost trampled at times when bringing the cows treats and grain cause they are so excited…….. I am also responsible for their health. If one is hurting or is sick, I am responsible for figuring out what is going on and trying to help them.
They are expensive…….. Poultry doesn’t cost much to buy but pigs and cattle do. It is expensive to feed animals, and buy all the minerals they need to stay healthy. If they are sick, you need to pay for the material to make them better which can include a vet visit and meds. I prefer to keep things as holistic as possible but that is not always possible or best for the animal. Sometimes, they still pass away despite your best efforts, you now have no way of recouping any of the money you have spent on the animal.
Animals produce food that needs to be taken care of. Eggs from the ducks and chickens must be gathered and you have to do something with them. They can sit on the counter just fine for a few weeks or in the fridge for longer but you have to decide if your washing them or not, storing them properly, and using them. Some seasons, you almost get sick of eating eggs while other season, you have no eggs at all. You need to learn to preserve them. The meat of the animals is a big reason we own cattle and pigs. We raise them to eat. That is an easy throw in the freezer, but you have to make sure you use it. Too often, I find, I use the cuts I like best. I look forward to the next butcher date when I will have those cuts again, and I don’t end up using some of the other meat. This can lead to a lot of waste. I milk a cow as well. She isn’t a high producer so I only bring a half gallon to gallon in the house daily but that milk needs to be handled. It has to be filtered and put into the fridge quickly. You have to use it too, drinking, cheese making, yogurt, buttermilk, etc. It all has to be made and that takes time.
The joy I get from my animals far outweighs the work it takes to keep them well.
That isn’t all there is to homesteading. There is all the stuff that happens inside the house from day to day that often ends up forgotten. The homemade candles to get into molds, homemade cleaners and soap. Bread making which needs to happen multiple times a week or possibly every day. Water kefir that is sitting on the counter needing to be fed every couple days, the sourdough starter I hope I didn’t kill after not feeding it for 4 or 5 days. Homesteading is the conscious choice about the health of my family, from the detergent I use, to the food I put on the table.
Overall, I enjoy homesteading, but it is a lot of work, planning, and dedication. I plan to keep this lifestyle and even add to it as time and children allow. I find the work to be worth it, I would encourage everyone to try it in whatever capacity you are able to. That might simply be homemade food and that’s ok. Whatever you are able to do is worth trying.
Read part 1 HERE>