I live on ten acres in east Texas and have thought about raising my own chickens for eggs and for feeders. Does anyone else raise chickens to feed their dogs? I know the trouble they would cause, smell snakes, others preditors ect. Would this be worth the trouble and save money?
Robert VanCamp Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2001
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Yeah, bunnies are better for the hobby farmer. LOL
Rabbits are more prolific than chickens and are just as cheap to raise as long as you have graze for them.
If you wanted to raise chickens, you'd be better off with strains bred for egg production. You can get a lot of eggs out of a nice set of chickens, but raising them for feeders takes a lot of 'em. . .and a lot more work.
Sheep or goats would be my first choice though. You can raise grass lambs for next to nothing if you select your breed well and have grass for them to eat. If your land doesn't have the grass, but has decent forage (shrubs and the like) you can raise goats. Goats, depending on breed, are really good at turning crappy vegitation into nice meat.
Cows are crap for feed to meat ratio, and they are more difficult to take care of. (especially more difficult to butcher at home)
A big freezer and some sheep or goats will keep your dogs in fresh meat pretty easy. Then you can suppliment with cull chickens, eggs, and rabbit.
Mike J Schoonbrood Webboard User Reg: 04-30-2005
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I'd get attached to a goat and wanna train it to do something instead of feeding it to my dog... I'd make a terrible farmer <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Will Rambeau Moderator Reg: 01-25-2003
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I'm with VanCamp here.
Rabbits are a more efficient feed into meat formula than chickens are ( I've raised them for over ten years ) and the byproducts ( rabbit droppings and their skins ) are more valuable.
The slaughter practice for rabbits seems to bother more folks than slaughtering chickens though.
Howard Knauf Webboard User Reg: 09-24-2003
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Loc: Melbourne, Florida
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I always keep the lower leg meat from deer every season. Its super lean and keeps me from wasting anything. The rib meat and upper neck meat goes fast too.
What do you do with the rabbit droppings, sell it as fertilizer? I agree with Howard. Look for some local hunters and get some deer meat. Better yet, hunt for them yourself. I love it!!
Does anyone have any good links or advice on how to slaughter rabbits and goats. They are common where I live and since I'm in the process of acquiring some agricultural land, we've also been discussing the chicken thing as well. Goat meat would be a good little income too!
Raising animals, no problem. Slaughtering, that's another(So hard not to get attached,)...so 'humane' methods preferred. Heck, I get upset when I drive over a land crab <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />
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