7 awesome backyard farm animals for a small space
Thdo you want to get some animals for your backyard? but you are unsure what animal to get because of limited space. here are 7 awesome backyard farm animals for a small space.
Owning animals is very rewarding, but it also comes with its challenges and can feel like a huge responsibility, therefore, you need to make sure you get the right one for your lifestyle.
There are a variety of small farm animals that can bring great benefits to your mini backyard farm with a little bit of research you won’t have a hard time finding the perfect one for yourself.
Backyard farm animals are a great way to get experience with animals as they do not require as much work and effort compared to bigger animals.
do you feel you can’t get a few animals because you don’t own much land? well, I’m here to tell you that even if you have a small space, owning a few small backyard farm animals is still possible.
As a farm girl myself, I have put together a list of a few of my favorite small farm animals.
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this post is all about 7 awesome backyard farm animals for a small space.
1. Guinea Fowl
These birds are great to have around you can eat their eggs and they bring other benefits to you small far which I will talk about in a minute.
One downside to having guinea fowl is that they are noisy, so if you have close neighbors, guinea fowl might not be the best animal for you.
So let’s talk about some of my favorite things about guinea fowl, they help keep the tick population under control, and it is said that one guinea can eat between 60 and 100 ticks in a single day!
The second great thing about guinea fowl is they help keep snakes away.
They are also commonly used on farms as a “watchdog” because of their loud call when alarmed, this will alarm your other animals like chickens that a predator is near.
Guinea fowl are not as calm and friendly as chickens this can also make them less ideal.
I think the pros outweigh the cons as long as you don’t mind some noise.
where can you get guinea fowl?
they are quite popular so most places like Tractor Supply or Rural King have them.
or you can check on a site like Hoobly Classifieds or eBay.
2. Chickens
Of course, chickens are great for eggs but they are also great for insect control.
Chickens are also easy to care for all they need is good-quality food and water and a little space to roam around + a chicken coop.
I started making chicken food about a year ago, I was previously using an organic layer feed but the eggs would always have a strong taste to them.
Since switching to feeding homemade chicken food I haven’t noticed that strong taste.
Chickens are friendly and can be fun pets. they tend to be quiet so if you have next-door neighbors they will barely notice that you have chickens.
They are also great with kids, although roosts are normally aggressive, you will not need a rooster if you only want chickens for eggs.
3. pigs
You might be thinking, “Why would I want a pig they are messy and disgusting”?
While they are messy and might not be for everyone they are still a great addition to your backyard farm.
So what are the pros of having a pig?
- first of all, pigs are friendly and make great pets, they love being scratched! (there are some exceptions to this, just like any other species of animal, each pig has its own personality)
- They will eat any scraps from your kitchen.
- You can have homegrown sausage and bacon. (if you have the heart to do it)
- Pigs like digging around with their noses, this helps soften the ground for planting.
- They don’t require a lot of space especially if you have a smaller breed like pot-bellied pigs
- You can keep them solo
What are some of the downsides to owning pigs?
They are escape artists so you will need a strong fence to keep them in.
Like I mentioned earlier they are messy.
4. Mini Pony
A small pony might be a great option if you like horses but don’t have enough space for a big horse.
while you can’t ride a pony you can still teach them some cool tricks and learn a lot about horses if you want to get a big horse in the future.
Because ponies are smaller gaining experience with a pony is a lot safer than a bigger horse.
If you have little children they will have fun riding and playing with a small pony.
They also do a great job of keeping the grass short in areas where you don’t want to mow.
A pony will require a little more space than some of the other animals on this list.
you will also need a small barn or shelter. and they need some space for grazing.
5. Ducks
they are great for eggs or meat. some breeds are better for eggs than others.
Ducks may be less ideal than chickens due to their need for water like a kiddy pool or pond.
Otherwise, they don’t require a ton of space, a little bit of space for them to roam around is ideal.
6. Dog
I think everyone who loves animals should have a dog, they are loyal and smart.
If you choose the right breed they will also protect your home.
Dogs are also great because there are so many different breeds with different personalities, colors, and sizes.
Dogs don’t take up a huge amount of space they will need some kind of shelter if you don’t plan on keeping them in the house.
It is best to put them into a garage or basement in harsh conditions.
I go into more detail on dog care in this article.
7. Goats
They have a ton of benefits for a small farm. small goats are great for weed control, or you can get a big goat for milk.
They also make good pets, they are friendly and can learn to love humans with the correct handling.
And let me tell you baby pygmys are the cutest thing!
They are a little bit easier to care for than a pony would be, they still require some space for grazing and a small shelter or barn.
Some goats like having things like big rocks or wood structures to climb on but these are not required.
they will thank you for it though.
For more information on goats read this article everything you need to know about owning goats
That sums up this article all about 7 awesome backyard farm animals for a small space.
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