![]() With that in mind, I’ve come up with a list of 23 important questions you should ask and answer when looking for rural property. So, yeah, it’s appropriate to take time and weigh the decision against criteria that are important to you and your family. It’s both an exciting and exhausting time,īefore you plunk down that deposit on the first rural property that screams your name, consider this: you are planning to make a move there for life.Ī new life, a better life and, perhaps, not only the rest of your life but a homestead that future generations will cherish. So, Liz and I have bought rural property twice now. If you’re not planning to eat the animals you’re purchasing make sure you’re willing to make the time and money commitment for as long as they’re alive.Subscribe to Self-Sufficient Life on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Google Play or TuneIn Horses, llamas and other large grazing animals can live well into their 30s. Rescue animals are a better option once you’ve gained a little expertise. Rescue animals can have serious physical and mental restrictions that require additional time and money to take care of. While rescuing animals is noble, it’s not always realistic for beginning hobby farmers. Buying a breeding pair immediately commits you to a lot more than your original purchase. If you decide to breed the, you can always purchase a breeding pair down the road. They are cheaper and you can learn to care for them before deciding whether or not you want to breed them. Beginning hobby farmers should consider purchasing gelded males. You should always start out with at least two animals at a time. This gives you an opportunity to take a look around, ask questions and sleep on it. Always visit a farm you may potentially buy from before you plan to buy anything. If you can befriend the seller, you might be able to rely on him for answers to questions you may have later. Purchasing your animals from local sellers gives you access to a life-time of knowledge about raising your animals. Avoiding livestock markets prevents you from making a purchase you didn’t think through or from purchasing an animal you didn’t actually want. It’s easy for first-time hobby farmers to get duped. Some good options include llamas, donkeys, longhorn cattle and chickens. Start with the lowest maintenance animals you can find to allow yourself to grow into hobby farming at your own pace rather than getting in over your head. Research the animals you’re considering purchasing to find out what health traits you should watch out for and what kind of care is involved. Here are some tips to help first-time hobby farmers make the right decisions about buying animals. Beginning hobby farmers can easily be duped purchasing livestock or wind up getting in way over their heads. You’ve got it all and you’re ready for animals.įarm animals can be a lot of work, especially for someone who’s not accustomed to taking care of them. There are even water features to irrigate your garden and forest land to manage a woodlot. There are plenty of fields of healthy grass that can support grazing animals or acres you could clear for them. It gets good sun exposure and has fertile soil. So you’ve finally nailed down the perfect location for your hobby farm.
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