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Post by Whisperer on Nov 21, 2014 20:20:01 GMT 10
Ok in the past 10 days we have had:
2 Calves
13 Chicks
9 Piglets
5 Puppies
So we will have to do some culling soon. A couple older sows and a cow possibly.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 21, 2014 20:27:16 GMT 10
Ok in the past 10 days we have had: 2 Calves 13 Chicks 9 Piglets 5 Puppies So we will have to do some culling soon. A couple older sows and a cow possibly. Culling? sounds tasty  |
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 21, 2014 20:35:16 GMT 10
I want horses, goats(boers), a couple of brown Swiss cows (they are dual purpose, beef and milk) some chooks (australorps), and perhaps a couple of sheep that are fairly dual purpose as well. I'd miss roast lamb too much for just a wool breed. Lol.
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 21, 2014 20:36:10 GMT 10
Oh and bees! I already have a few books on apiary!
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 21, 2014 20:37:43 GMT 10
HORSES!!!! I missed horses. I grew up around horses, such loyal creatures and they are so versatile and useful. I am adding that to my list, thanks Wolfstar.
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 21, 2014 20:41:12 GMT 10
Yeah I find they are under valued by many preppers. Much quieter than motorbikes for one thing, no need for petrol for another. Very intelligent and can jump without a ramp, and absolute worst case, you can't eat a motorbike. Nor can it make its way home if you're injured. Lol
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Post by Peter on Nov 21, 2014 21:09:20 GMT 10
Yeah I find they are under valued by many preppers. Much quieter than motorbikes for one thing, no need for petrol for another. Very intelligent and can jump without a ramp, and absolute worst case, you can't eat a motorbike. Nor can it make its way home if you're injured. Lol No laughing required. They're all valid points. |
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Post by Whisperer on Nov 21, 2014 21:18:56 GMT 10
Ok in the past 10 days we have had: 2 Calves 13 Chicks 9 Piglets 5 Puppies So we will have to do some culling soon. A couple older sows and a cow possibly. Culling? sounds tasty Well the mincer/sausage maker and smoker will get a work out. I will also be making a ham, sides of bacon and attempting some salamis. On the horse thing. If you have had nothing to do with horses they are next to useless. My sister has two but as she does not know what to do with them they are very expensive lawn mowers. They have only been risen four times in the six years she has had the and three of them was me. Now they are in no condition to ride  |
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 21, 2014 21:29:26 GMT 10
Culling? sounds tasty Well the mincer/sausage maker and smoker will get a work out. I will also be making a ham, sides of bacon and attempting some salamis. On the horse thing. If you have had nothing to do with horses they are next to useless. My sister has two but as she does not know what to do with them they are very expensive lawn mowers. They have only been risen four times in the six years she has had the and three of them was me. Now they are in no condition to ride 100% agree. They take a bit of practice but it's all worth it, even the pain and suffering of learning to ride is worth it. On the note of pain and suffering to ride horses in certain regions you really need to know how to care for them. Even the most basic farrier skills should be observed. |
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 21, 2014 21:32:56 GMT 10
Yeah but that is the same of anything. A dairy cow is useless if you don't understand dairy husbandry, handling, or feeding. (Dairy cows eat a LOT and it has to be in particular ratios if you want healthy cows). Plus you have to know about resting them, handling them safely and without stress on them (stressed cows =no milk).
Same could be said of any other thing. A fak is only as useful as its user. A gun is only as reliable as its maintenance. And a horse is only as useful as its handler/rider. Even dogs. A dog is only as safe and useful as you train it to be.
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Post by Whisperer on Nov 21, 2014 21:57:51 GMT 10
Yeah but that is the same of anything. A dairy cow is useless if you don't understand dairy husbandry, handling, or feeding. (Dairy cows eat a LOT and it has to be in particular ratios if you want healthy cows). Plus you have to know about resting them, handling them safely and without stress on them (stressed cows =no milk). Same could be said of any other thing. A fak is only as useful as its user. A gun is only as reliable as its maintenance. And a horse is only as useful as its handler/rider. Even dogs. A dog is only as safe and useful as you train it to be. That was my whole point Wolfstar. If you don't have the commitment and the desire to engage with the animal then there is no point having it. Your dairy cow will still have some use if you are un or semi skilled with cattle but the horse will be very little use. Don't get me wrong I like horses and that is why I do not want them to suffer in the hands of the un initiated or lazy. |
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 21, 2014 22:02:54 GMT 10
Huh keep thinking that. Dairy cows need just as much handling and know how. Like you have to know about calving. How long ab's how often to rest them between milking cycles. Don't kid yourself. Beef cows might me l be easy, dairy cows are a completely different deal altogether. I've worked with livestock most of my formative years and bf works on a dairy. Trust me, they're more work than you think.
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Post by Joey on Nov 21, 2014 22:20:08 GMT 10
I have a domesticated cow (shhhh don't tell the wife I said that)
lol
If I had property, then I would definitely consider having a horse or 2, plus a quad bike or 2
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 22, 2014 8:07:32 GMT 10
Yeah I find they are under valued by many preppers. Much quieter than motorbikes for one thing, no need for petrol for another. Very intelligent and can jump without a ramp, and absolute worst case, you can't eat a motorbike. Nor can it make its way home if you're injured. Lol Didn't really even think to mention horses... Just took them as a given! Another few pluses for horses -- They will usually take you home, or at least to water if you are lost, and as my husband always says, horses have brains, motorbikes don't. I've been wanting to breed a mule or two for a while now. when my husband and I met we were working for an outfitter with mules... Having trouble finding a jack donkey around here, though! |
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Post by Fractus on Nov 22, 2014 8:48:02 GMT 10
Would milk goats be an alternative to cows as they are not as big and scary. I assume the skill to milk would be the same but a mistake with a goat will probably not cost you your life. I received a glancing kick from a heifer and it was very painful.
Does anyone know if dairy goats are good for eating or are they bags of bones like their big bovine sisters?
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wolfstar
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 22, 2014 14:28:51 GMT 10
Yeah dairy goats are pretty lean. Cows aren't so bad. If you handle them a lot they are quite sweet, and you usually tie one leg back to prevent them from kicking the bucket over. There ARE dual purpose cattle breeds, and for home use a dairy/beef hybrid would work just fine. I can tell you right now that Brown Swiss and jerseys have lovely temperaments I'm always joking about my bf having a few gf's where he works because they always seek him out to give him a kiss and get some pats before milking. ^_^ |
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Nov 22, 2014 16:53:45 GMT 10
At the moment don't have anything. In the future hoping to get some fish in the dam and some chooks, but that will probably be about it. About the only other thing might be a goat or perhaps a couple of lambs but they would only be temporary.......
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gasman
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Post by gasman on Nov 23, 2014 5:17:59 GMT 10
Have 20 chickens getting 12 eggs a day great food scrap recyclers
also 9 goats 4 sheep 11 alpacas 3 horses 4 cows
easy to store dry food for these in advance but have to watch mice and snakes
cows end up in freezer byt others more pets
have lotsa roos and deer around and hope to get smoker and dehydrater up and running for meat preservation
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 23, 2014 5:59:20 GMT 10
Hey gas... can we be best friends?
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gasman
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Post by gasman on Nov 24, 2014 6:33:13 GMT 10
Took a long time to get to this state and still heaps to do
Have a very understanding and animal mad wife who loves countrylife
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