If you are looking to boost food production for your family, and delve into hobby farming, there are quite a number of animals for you to choose from. However, to successfully run a hobby farm, you should go for animals that are cost-effective, and require little or no maintenance. To assist you with the selection process, we have made a list of the best livestock for hobby farms at low cost, and low maintenance.
1. Rabbits
Noiseless, small and cute, rabbits are one of the best livestock for hobby farms. Rabbits are small in size, hence, will take up relatively little space.
They stay in hutches, but these can be built with scrap materials or purchased at little cost.
It costs little to feed rabbits; They can be fed with fodder, grass, hay or feed pellets. Raising rabbits is highly beneficial to your garden as their faeces, which is rich in organic nutrients, serves as a fertilizer.
You can raise rabbits for their meat – which is a great source of protein – or as pets. Rabbits are generally ready for consumption after just eight weeks, hence, produce a fast supply of pastured meat rabbits.
2. Goats
Goats are great animals to raise on your farmstead. They offer a great supply of protein-rich meat and milk, and can be raised as pets.
Goats are hardy animals, and require little maintenance. Goats are capable of sourcing for their own food, and feed on almost any green plant.
However, if you want to boost meat and milk production, you can give them specially formulated feed.
To raise goats, you don’t need extravagant pens as the animals would rather be left to roam. Leaving goats to free range is good exercise for them, and they also have access to a wider range of greens.
However, ensure your property is well-fenced so they don’t constitute a nuisance to neighbours.
Also, construct sheds and shelters for the goats, so they have somewhere to hide during harsh weather conditions. These shelters also give them somewhere to return to at night.
Goats are quite susceptible to illness; therefore, ensure you carry out random check-ups. Deworm and pick out lice from their bodies regularly.
3. Chicken
Are there animal farms that don’t have, at least, two or three of these popular birds? We certainly don’t think so. Chickens have evolved to become the most popular, and arguably, most valuable source of meat and eggs worldwide.
Chickens are not picky when it comes to food, and will eat almost anything that is offered to them. However, if you desire better egg production, and more robust growth, give chicken feed that is specially formulated for these purposes.
It is important that you keep your chickens sheltered by providing coops. This provides them somewhere to nest, feed, and most importantly, it keeps predators away. You can opt to DIY your own chicken coop.
Chickens fall sick easily; therefore, cleanliness must be maintained in their coop at all times. Change their water regularly, and throw out unfinished food daily.
Sick birds should be isolated, and treated in order to reduce the risk of such disease spreading.
4. Ducks
Ducks are one of the easiest animals to raise, even as a novice farmer; They are commonly reared for their sweet-tasting meet and eggs. Due to their relatively small size, ducks take up little or no space.
Although ducks have a larger appetite, compared to chickens, they are excellent foragers, and are more than capable of looking for their own food.
Ducks are extremely helpful animals to have around a backyard garden as they help with maintenance of crops by eating weak rooted ones, and picking off bugs from healthy crops.
Simple pens and sheds can be constructed to keep ducks in, and they will particularly appreciate the inclusion of a small pool.
5. Sheep
If you need meat, milk or wool, raising sheep is one way of meeting your needs. These animals are regarded as one of the most docile farm animals, hence, is one of the best livestock for hobby farms .
Sheep do best when left in pastures, although, they should be well protected as they are often targets of predators.
