Raising rabbits and chickens in NY

Welcome from North Carolina

Hey, Jean! Welcome to BYH from West Virginia!!! I've got chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail, and one cow. Soon I'll be getting sheep and rabbits. Gr8 to have you on the forum! Any questions just ask!

Wow micah! I don't have room for a cow. But want to do everything else lol. I have raised a few turkeys. We have 26 chickens 16 rabbits now a blue heeler named eve and a boxer lab named rosco. 2 cats and 2 kids. And I want to have bees next spring and a goat and a pig.

Jean Derby said:

Wow micah! I don't have room for a cow. But want to do everything else lol. I have raised a few turkeys. We have 26 chickens 16 rabbits now a blue heeler named eve and a boxer lab named rosco. 2 cats and 2 kids. And I want to have bees next spring and a goat and a pig.

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My uncle and my sister and my friend all have goats and I might someday. I've always wanted to raise and breed pigs (like since I was 10) but my parents said not until I move out because they stink. I raised one and now work for a show pig breeder though. He's got like 30+ sows so I'm happy. XD Also work for a guy with alpacas(60some) and sheep(32). My sister and I are gonna get bees next spring! I have one dog (a greyhound terrier). I've thinned down to around 20 chickens right now but have had as many as 60! Ducks, quail, and turkeys I have 5 each. My sister has like 5 cows and about that many calves. My brother has rabbits and I'm gonna get a few off of him soon. We all live on my grandfathers 150+ acre beef farm. He has like 10 cows, a bull, and a bunch of calves. (mostly herfords)

So, yeah. I'm surrounded by animals AND LOVE IT!! XD

Your getting up there though.

Hey @micah wotring pigs don't have to stink! Rotational "grazing" and manure management are key. We move our pigs frequently, and our friend who breeds pigs doesn't have the property to move them so he thoroughly cleans their pens and they don't smell. Keeping the area mostly dry makes a big difference.

NH homesteader said:

Hey @micah wotring pigs don't have to stink! Rotational "grazing" and manure management are key. We move our pigs frequently, and our friend who breeds pigs doesn't have the property to move them so he thoroughly cleans their pens and they don't smell. Keeping the area mostly dry makes a big difference.

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Haha, don't think I didn't try to tell him that. I think that I could keep the smell down moving them to another paddock each day. Whatever my parents want though. Hey, if they told me to sell all my animals I'd do it! It'd be hard but I love my family more than my animals by far. My dad doesn't really like pigs anyway. Not just the smell but he says they 'can be' mean. Yes, they can also be nice and I wouldn't be keeping mean ones anyway. I'm just gonna be content with all the animals in the world except pigs for now. XD Someday...

Well my husband keeps vetoeing my idea to get a couple of alpacas so I know how you feel. He has some weird logic about how they're not "useful". I'm not sure why entertaining me isn't useful.

Yes some pigs can be mean. Eat those ones, breed the friendly ones!

NH homesteader said:

Well my husband keeps vetoeing my idea to get a couple of alpacas so I know how you feel. He has some weird logic about how they're not "useful". I'm not sure why entertaining me isn't useful.

Yes some pigs can be mean. Eat those ones, breed the friendly ones!

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XD alpaca fiber sells for quite a bit of money if you have the right market. Suri alpaca (much rarer) fiber is worth much more that huacaya(the more common breed) fiber does. I work for Crimson Shamrock. They have some of the best suri alpacas in the US.

XD yeah, that's what I thought.

We don't have a huge market for it here. Plus rare=expensive! I just want 2 to hang out and be cute . and my aunt wants to teach me to spin so I would use the fiber myself.

Welcome from Ohio - good luck with your plans!