Homesteading has become increasingly popular in recent years. Many people are leaving the city and suburbs behind for a lifestyle that brings them closer to nature. Despite the surge in popularity, there are a lot of misconceptions about homesteading.

Before you spend time and effort starting your own homestead, learn more about the best homestead animals to invest in on your home farm.

Think Small: Small Farm Animals For The Homestead

Chickens

Chickens are the go-to homestead poultry. They are hardy and abundant while providing eggs and meat.

As far as small farm animals go, chickens are also versatile. There are many breeds available, with options more suitable for your specific climate and need (egg vs meat production). For example, the Rhode Island Red was originally bred in Massachusetts, making it a great choice in colder climates.

Chickens offer other benefits as homestead livestock, including:

●Relatively low-cost, making them less of an upfront investment

●Require less space than larger animals

●Generally more kid-friendly and safe around pets or non-livestock

Overall, chickens are a great go-to for life on the homestead.

Ducks

Another type of poultry, ducks make excellent homestead animals. Like chickens, ducks can be raised for eggs, meat, or both – although they’re more often raised for meat production.

Despite the fact that they’re more common for meat production, ducks nonetheless lay an ample amount of eggs, making them a suitable option for a sustainable food source.

Ducks are equally as hardy as most chicken breeds, and generally more resistant to diseases – but not entirely unsusceptible to illness!

However, ducks have several drawbacks from chickens:

●Ducklings are more expensive and less widely available than chicks

●Ducks require more water than chickens, not only for drinking but also for dunking their heads and bathing

●More space is required to raise ducks, as they prefer a free range lifestyle

Regardless of their disadvantages to chickens, ducks still make an excellent addition to the backyard farm or homestead.

Turkey

Turkeys are another popular homestead poultry. As livestock, turkey are less popular than chicken, and large scale turkey production in the U.S. has gradually declined in recent years. However, turkeys can nonetheless be a good fit for your homestead.

On the homestead, turkey can be used as a source of both meat or egg production. While slightly larger, turkey eggs don’t differ much from chicken eggs. Still, turkeys are most often raised for their meat, which, as anyone who has enjoyed their share of Thanksgiving turkey knows, is plentiful and filling.

There are drawbacks to raising turkeys, though, namely:

●Turkeys require more of everything – water, feed, and space

●Poults – or baby turkeys – are more expensive than chicks or ducklings

●There are fewer turkey breeds available, making them less versatile than chickens

Still, turkeys can be a fun challenge for an adventurous homesteader.

Whether you’re raising chickens or turkey, Farmer Boy has all of the poultry supplies you need for a successful homestead. Shop our poultry supplies for feeders, waterers, and more!

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Big Plans: Large Animals For The Homestead

While less common than small animals, large livestock can also be a sustainable food source on the homestead.

It’s important to note that larger livestock require a much larger investment – both in terms of cost and care. Be sure to fully understand the commitment and risks of raising these animals on your homestead before you make such a considerable investment.

Pigs

When considering a larger livestock animal for a homestead or small farm, hogs are a common choice.

Pigs are hardy and an efficient source of meat on a homestead. Sows can have litters with as many as 11 piglets, and pigs can produce an adequate amount of meat in as little as a year. However, there are a few drawbacks to raising pigs on a homestead:

●They require a larger amount of space than smaller livestock

●Strong fencing is required to keep pigs from getting loose

●While they can eat a wide range of feed, including food waste, they require a lot of it to grow healthy

●Pigs are susceptible to diseases from humans

Overall, pigs are a great source of food and are relatively straightforward to raise.

Find all of the equipment and supplies needed to raise piglets and care for your sows. Shop our full selection of swine equipment to get started raising your own homestead hogs.

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Goats

Goats are another excellent choice for the homestead. They are versatile, able to supply both milk and meat production. Less space is required to raise them. Goats can even help keep grasses low by clearing the land as they graze.

As herbivores, goats rely on hay, grasses, and other vegetation for nutrients, supplemented by salt licks. Their refined diet makes them simple to feed, and they require less to eat per pound than growing piglets.

However, goats will need protection from predators, so secure housing and fencing is also a must. Nevertheless, goats are a top homestead animal for many obvious reasons.

Dairy Cows

Unlike beef cattle (which we’ll discuss next), dairy cows are not raised for meat but their milk production. When it comes to milk production, dairy cows are the top livestock for the task.

Cows produce significant quantities of milk, but they require a significant investment of time and money to purchase and raise. In order to optimally produce milk, dairy cows must also regularly birth calves, which creates an additional layer of complexity.

While they’re a great livestock option, dairy cows may not be the greatest choice for a novice homesteader or first time farmer. Nonetheless, for those with animal handling experience, a cow might be a great sustainable source of dairy.

Beef Cattle

Beef cattle are a similar investment to dairy cows, but can require less water, feed, and attention depending on the breed and whether the cattle is able to graze.

Grazing cattle require a significant amount of space, so they’re less suited for smaller homesteads with less acreage or pasture available. However, beef cattle can be fed hay, requiring less space. Pasture space can also be leased, making this an accessible option for at least part of the year.

The biggest benefit of beef cattle is that they produce several hundred pounds of meat, making them a great option as a food source. A single cow can feed an entire family for the year.

Before purchasing cattle for your homestead, take the time to fully research the needs of the breed you’re considering. This is especially important if you plan to breed them.

From housing to handling equipment, Farmer Boy has everything you need to raise cattle on your homestead. Shop our full selection of cattle and dairy equipment for your farm.

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Don’t see what you need for your homestead or unsure where to start? No problem! Give our expert customer service team a call at 1-800-845-3374 and we’ll help you get started!