The Joy of Keeping Farm Animals: Raising Chickens, Goats, Pigs, Sheep, and Cows

by Laura Childs

Overview

A second edition of the beloved guide to farm animals.

When the going gets tough, the tough . . . start raising their own food. In the first full-color guide of its kind, author and small farm owner Laura Childs reveals exactly what it takes to start raising your own animals, including chickens, geese, goats, sheep, pigs, and cows. Childs discusses what you can expect to harvest from your animals—from eggs to milk to meat to wool—based on her own real-life experiences. Whether you want to raise a few chickens for eggs alone, try your hand at a few goats with the intention of making your own cheese, or sustain your family and make some extra money from raising cows and selling beef, this is the book for you.

Childs explains how to get started and everything you need to know about successfully raising each animal, including:

• Comparison of breeds
• Designing your farm strategy
• Preparing a home for your livestock
• What to feed your animals
• Animal health
• Breeding
• Milking, laying eggs, and butchering

This invaluable guide is the perfect first book for anyone interested in starting a backyard barnyard or a small farm—or simply dreaming about the idea.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781632204684
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	04/14/2015
Series:	Joy of Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Laura Childs was a self-proclaimed city girl who broke away from the hectic urban life. Now living on a small, self-sustained farm in Ontario, Canada, she chronicles everyday adventures of raising goats, chickens, horses, and other animals on her Web site, goodbyecitylife.com. She is the author of The Joy of Keeping Farm Animals and The Joy of Keeping Goats.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

1 Chickens 3

Introduction 5

Choosing a Breed to Raise 10

Chicken Instinct and Temperament 13

Designing Your Small Farm Strategy 17

The Chicken Coop and Yard 19

Where to Buy Chickens 32

Caring for and Feeding Chickens 37

Maintain Good Health in Your Flock 40

The Joy of Eggs 42

Butchering 46

Supplementary: Raising Turkeys 50

2 Goats 55

Introduction 57

Choosing the Right Breed for Your Needs 59

Designing Your Small Farm Strategy 65

The Goat Barn, Yard, and Pasture 67

Getting Your Goat 74

Feeding Goats 80

Maintaining Good Health in Your Herd 84

Gilts of Keeping Goats 98

Breeding, Kidding, and Care 104

Butchering 116

Goat Milk Recipes 118

3 Pigs 123

Introduction 125

Deciding on a Breed 129

Designing Your Small Farm Strategy 131

Pig Pens and Pasturing 134

Finding Piglets to Purchase 142

What to Feed a Pig 144

Keeping Pigs Healthy 148

Butchering and Preparation 148

4 Sheep 153

Introduction 155

Choosing a Breed 158

Training and Handling 159

Designing Your Small Farm Strategy 161

Preparing Pasture and Paddock 162

Finding Sheep to Purchase 164

Feeding Your Sheep 167

Health and Grooming 170

Breeding, Lambing, and Care 176

Butchering 181

5 Cows 183

Introduction 185

Choosing a Breed to Raise 187

Designing Your Small Farm Strategy 192

Pens, Pasture, and Shelter 194

Finding a Calf or Cow to Purchase 196

Feed Requirements 198

Cattle Health 200

Breeding for Milk Flow or Beef Calves 208

Preparing Cattle for the Butcher 217

Appendices and index 219

Recommended Web sites 219

Metric Conversions 221

Glossary 222

Photo Credits 226

Barn Records and Forms 227

Index 234