What kinds of small animals can easily be raised for food?

Question

I am trying to become more self-sustainable, and have been looking into raising some of my own meat. I don't have a farm, but I have extra space, and was thinking about getting into raising a few animals. Not plants, I already have a huge garden.

I thought about raising freshwater shrimp, but that looks like it will be tough and expensive. I also thought about raising crabs, but I can't find enough information on the subject to even believe that I could make them survive. Ideally, there would be some small animal that I could raise and breed, something that costs less to raise than it might to go buy at the store. What animals am I not thinking of?

It doesn't have to be seafood, those were just my first few instincts because I have a few saltwater tanks up already. However, seafood suggestions are welcome, as are all others.

thanks.

Answer 1

-.- DONT EAT ANIMALS!!

Its just like people killing you and eating you!!

Your KILLING Other Lives !

HOW DARE YOU!!

SHAME SHAME

GO AGAINST BREEDING...GO AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY....GO AGAINST EATING ANIMALS...!!!

Answer 2

Honestly, rabbits are a wonderful source of protein for the small scale farm. They don't need much space or food compared with other livestock, and are generally inexpensive to raise. You can get by with one buck and one or two does if you're only producing for your family.

Rabbit meat is similar in flavor and texture to chicken. It's lower in fat than beef and higher in protein than chicken and while there are hundreds of recipes for rabbit meat, you can adapt a lot of poultry and pork recipes to rabbit, too.

As an added benefit, rabbit manure is one of the THE BEST organic fertilizers you will ever add to your garden.

Here are a few quick links for you to look through on the topic:

http://www.thefarm.org/charities/i4at/li...

http://www.rudolphsrabbitranch.com/rrr.h...

http://www.sonomawest.com/articles/2004/...

Answer 3

Self sustainable by eating animals? What an oxymoron.

And sorry but this is not a question for the "pets" category.  People can't in any civil country treat pets like food.  As for animals you're allowed to eat, you need to be licensed and closely monitored (to see if you are creating diseases, for one) to raise them.  Which only further defeats your "self-sustainable" idea.  So if you are counting on guinea pigs as the answer, move to rural South America.

But your garden is so huge! Why not make room for soybeans and learn to make tofu.  Plant a few pecan, almond and walnut trees while you are at it.  THAT would be self-sustainable (respectable and healthier too.)

However if you must keep dragging your foot in the mud on wanting to raise animals for food, then go to your huge garden and find yourself a handful of worms and just, eat that.

Answer 4

Wabbits! Them critters are tasty. I know they are very cuddly too. But they are quite yummy. I say go with rabbits.

WOW Looks like the hippie childeren are out in force. By the way I have never seen an old vegan.

I am able to have cattle, rabbits, goats, pigs that we raise for our own consumption. And it is way better than anything you can get from the store, just like your garden. Luck

Answer 5

I personally raise rabbits, if you like wild rabbit you'd love tame its more tender.  Plus you can really fatten them up. I also here that guinea pigs are tasty.

Answer 6

Rabbits are commonly raised for food, and don't require a lot of specialized care. Just a cage, food pellets, fresh greens and fresh water.

   In Peru and other parts of South America they eat Guinea Pigs, called Cuy by the natives. The natives keep them in large colonies where they are allowed to breed without limitations and provide low cost meat for those that can't afford beef cattle or larger livestock. Their care is pretty much the same as rabbits.

   Most aquatic creatures are going to be pretty expensive when you start adding up the cost of tanks and equipment needed.

Answer 7

Try rasing Chickens, rabbits, birds (be very carefull if you do this.), quail, etc.

Ta ta,

C.R.