What are some low maintenance farm animals?

Question

I would like to know, what kind of kid friendly animals can survive on 15 grassy, hilly acres, if we only visit two weekends a month and holidays. Nephews(3yrs, 5yrs, 8yrs) want mules, guineas, chickens, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, llamas, rabits, guinea pigs. Which of these would do well? And are there others that would do well?

Answer 1

rabits, guinea pigs  are not really farm animals. I think you are looking for more wild animals. What state is this in?

I will ask again. What state is it in? Summer and winter weather are big issues.

Answer 2

Mules would probably survive.  Of course, what will you do if one gets hurt or jumps the fence while you're not around?

Guineas and chickens will be eaten by wildlife.   Even if your around you'll lose some but if you're not, you'll lose them all and quickly.

Pigs would survive.  But again, what do you do if they get sick or get out.

Goats and sheep would survive as long as there aren't any dog packs in your area but are prone to injury.

What are you planning on doing for water?  What if the tank springs a leak or it's really hot and the stock drinks more than you expect.

There are low maintenance animals but there are no "no maintenance" animals any more.  

In ages past hogs would be turned out into the woods and had to "root hog or die" and they often died.   We kept our breeding ponies on 600 acres of wooded pasture at one time but someone checked on them daily.

If you really aren't going to be around you're best just watching the wildlife.

Answer 3

Goats, Rabbits, Cavies (Guinea pigs), Pot-bellied pigs, Alpacas (miniature llamas), Sheep, Chickens, Geese, Guinea fowl, Cows, and Turkeys are fairly low maintenance livestock. Mules and full-sized llamas are high maintenance like horses.

Answer 4

If you aren't going to be there to care for them, no animals will survive.

Answer 5

Two weekends a month and holidays is not enough time to properly care for any type of livestock.  Ice needs to be broken in water buckets at least every day in the winter, and even heated water buckets can malfunction.  Water buckets need extra refills during hot months.  Can you imagine going to your farm and finding an animal that died of thirst the week before?

Food, water, shelter, veterinary needs and protection from predators are all considerations.  Some animals could go a couple of days with large feeders and waterers, but no animal would do well for that length of time without some kind of care.  If you're using electric fence, what if someone breaks the wire and your animals are roaming the countryside while you're two hours away?  What if someone gets a leg or horn caught in a hay manger and is stuck there until Easter weekend?  

Above all else, human interaction is absolutally necessary if you want your nephews to have friendly barnyard companions.  An animal that sees people once a week is going to be fearful and run.  They are not innately friendly - it takes alot of work to make any livestock people oriented.

I think your best bet is going to be get a friendly dog that can accompany you and your nephews to the farm for visits.  Have the boys take him for long runs and play ball in the fields.  Then take him back home with you during the week.