#Best dog breed for hobby farm how to#

The real money maker is selling chicken eggs because nearly every household needs eggs. The first animal that you probably think about having on your homestead is probably chickens. Don’t forget vaccinations and any other cost for raising your animals.Īs I said, the more costly the animals, the less profit you make OR THE MORE YOU CHARGE. Animals require monthly upkeep, such as bedding and veterinarian supplies. I mentioned the feed costs, but that’s not everything. Some livestock requires less time and maintenance than others. The more that you have, the more it takes to feed, water, and care for them each and every day.

If you work a separate job, you really need to take into consideration how much time you truly have to devote to livestock. Related: 24 Ways to Make Money from The Garden Amount of Care Requiredĭo you have the time to raise animals that take a lot of time? Chickens require a daily investment of time, but not as much as other livestock. The obvious way to make money on your homestead with chickens is by selling eggs, but did you know that you can sell those same eggs (assuming you have fertile eggs) as hatching eggs for $15-30 a dozen depending on the breed(s) of chickens you have? I always prefer multiple streams because it lets you find what works best for you and maximizes your profits.Īn example is chickens. Is there just one way to make money from this livestock or are there multiple avenues for revenue? Look at the feed costs per month when picking the best profitable farm animals for your homestead. Cattle require a higher-quality diet, and dairy cows need a high amount of nutrients to produce milk and stay healthy themselves. Goats and sheep typically can survive on poor-quality forage and you can turn them out on land to keep the weeds away. Can You Grow The Feed?įeed can be one of the most costly parts of raising farm animals, and to make the maximum profit, you need to keep the costs as low as possible.Ĭan you grow some or all of the feed that the animals need? If so, you’re going to keep your overhead costs lower, but if you have to buy ALL of your feed, take that into consideration when planning your profit margins. You just need to keep them where you want them and keep predators out of their space. Then, let’s not forget you have to fence these animals in, otherwise who knows where they will end up.Ĭattle, goats, sheep, and pigs can be pastured with woven wire and electric fences. Dairy and Beef Cattle: 1-2 acres per animal.Chickens: 2-3 square feet inside of the coop and 8-10 square feet in an outside run.Here is the recommended space needed per animal. So, how much land you have determines what animals you can keep on your homestead. No matter what animal you pick to raise, they all require room to browse, shelter, and fencing.

#Best dog breed for hobby farm how to#

Let’s look at how to decide which farm animals to raise. For me, raising chickens, bees, and ducks might yield the best return, while you have more land, so raising cattle earns you the most bang for your buck. That’s why I’m hesitant to call any animal the MOST profitable. What is profitable for you and your homestead might not work for another. Picking the most profitable farm animals depends on the facilities and land that you currently have, your ability to raise the animals, and other factors. Related: 35 Ways to Make Money on a Homestead You might need to process at an official slaughterhouse before commercial sale. Rules do vary from location to location, and you might have a set number of specific animals that you can raise based on our location. TIP: Look at your zoning regulations before you purchase farm animals. This is exactly what my husband and I are doing right now as we debate how to expand our homestead. You have to look at a few factors when you pick the best farm animals for your land. Other animals will have multiple ways for you to create a profit these are the most profitable livestock you want on your homestead. Some will send you into the red, but that’s okay because you love them. Not all farm animals really make a profit. Then, you need to pick the best profitable farm animals for your homestead. Chickens, yes, because they’re easy, but chances are you wait until you’re ready. When you first start your homestead, getting animals might not be your immediate steps.