What should I do about the animals on this farm?

Question

I inherited a farm and I don't know what to do about the animals on the farm, saying it better I don't know how to take care of them. He has 1 milking cow. Does this cow need shots? How often does this cow need to be checked? How often do you milk it? Is the milk good? He has laying hens and the same questions apply. He has a huge garden I don't know what to do. My mom wants us to move in the house, because it is in better shape than ours, I don't know what to do about the animals. My husband says we can make money off of the cow and the eggs, but I don't know

Answer 1

you should hire a farmer to help you and you should turn it into a community organic farm and have people subscribe to get monthly or bi-weekly boxes of organic vegetables and organic meats

Answer 2

Well I sure hope some one is taking care of them now ??

and milking the cow if not she will die ,,  your not very smart to take this to Yahoo, when there are animals that need tending to , while we write this , get rid of them ,, meaning sell them Untill you know what you want ,,

But dont let them suffer because you don;t know any thing Please , ask a neighbors to take care of the farm until you LEARN and Know what to do ,,

And where is your farm ? I will buy it from you ? if you live where it doesnt snow ??

But do something fast ,, I reall dont think your a framer, Sorry not to be rude , but its a way of life 24 hours a day , and if you break a finger nail oh well ,, I am stunned your asking these question here , really ,, its seems so out of place,,

It costs lots of money to run a farm and lots of HARD WORK ,,

Answer 3

Let me start with the last thing first. You're not going to make any money off of one milk cow and a couple of chickens.  Your grandfather was keeping them to keep himself in milk and eggs. Even if you move into the house, keeping a milk cow is a lot of trouble. She has to be milked every day, twice a day, no days off.  If you have no experience at all I would keep her to raise a calf each year for beef and let the calf keep her milked.  Your grandfather was probably using the help of a neighbor's bull to keep her bred.  Chickens are really easy especially if they are free range.   Just scatter a little scratch feed out for them every day.  Two chickens will hardly keep you and your mother in eggs.  I would be thinking about buying a few more, or several more if want to start selling eggs.  The garden is probably finished for the year except for harvesting few things, by next spring you can decide what you want to grow.  You have a County Extension Agent, get to know him. Worry him to death, he can help you get started farming.  You will need the help of a neighbor to take care of the animals until you get out there permanently.  I would guess that someone is already caring for them.  Your grandfather probably made some arrangements, if not, neighbors are pretty good about helping out like that, even if not asked.

Answer 4

If your husband thinks he can make money from the cow and the chickens, then that should be his project. Both the cow and the hens have to be fed often, watered, the eggs gathered before the hen decides to hatch them, The cow has to be tested for tuberculosisbefore milk can be sold. How about sterile bottles,caps, daily deliveries or pickups. If the acreage on your farm is comparatively large, you might want to share crop it.

Answer 5

Farming is a lot of work but I wouldn't trade country life for anything.  Fresh eggs, fresh milk, raising your own garden, canning, raising your own meat products....living on a farm and having animals if like being married.....the life style is a 365 days a year commitment.

Go to Amazon.com and type in "Storey's Guide to....."  She has a ton of books on just about every farm animal you can imagine and is great for beginners....

I started raising pigs 3 years ago and I have about 15 different books on them....and I use something from everyone of those books....and you also learn by trial and error....3 years ago I started with one sow and a borrowed boar....this year I have 12 sows and 3 boars to work with....next year I will have about 20 sows to work with......that could be more than 350 weaner piglets to sell every year....

My stepdad sez...that one every farm that has cows, there should also be a horse or two, pigs to run behind the cows and horses in the pasture, a couple of sheep, a goat or two, and chickens running about the barn yard and pasture.  The pigs will clean up after all of the other animals and deposit neatly in one or two spots then the chickens will "spread the sH&T" from the pigs....every animal has a purpose and each animal will graze a different part of the grasses in the pasture....

If you don't want to milk the cow buy one or two day old heifer calves (Holsteins) and let the cow raise them.  When the calves are breeding age have the AI guy come out and breed them and when they are 7 months pregnant you can sell each one for about $3000.00 a piece.

If you find this appealing and profitable then get a few more old milk cows that isn't quite up to "production" standards and raise day olds year around....some dairies will pay you to raise their heifers for them just so they don't have to deal with the calves....but calves if you don't raise them on a cow require feeding often 4 to 6 times a day until they are older...

Every year now I have taken my profit and sunk it right back into buying better stock or upgrading the facilities....

I have find in order to turn a profit you have to "shop well" and that means doing a lot of investigating as to who will give you the best prices.....I buy ALL of my vaccines thru www.jefferslivestock .com which brings me to becoming self sufficient by learning how to do most all of your own veterinary work....I give my own vaccines on ALL of my animals....pigs, horses, chickens, cats, dogs, etc....and I buy in volume wormers and I buy generic....I also do my own blood draws, dental work, shoeing and trimming on the horses and trimming feet on the pigs....

And I also learn mechanics...how to keep the equipment running when it needs repairs and shop well for parts....and don't be afraid to say...."Is THAT the best price you can give me....or so and so is this price will you MATCH that price...."

And I also have played "dumb" when it comes to buying parts by saying "this thingy broke"...playing on the sales reps sympathies....but then I am single and I farm this place on my own with very little outside help....

Just remember feed stores, parts houses, and dealers are there to SELL you something....if you have a budget stick to it....and above all STAY out of DEBT....or use debt wisely....you can get into trouble real fast buying beyond need or means....and part of that strategy is determining if something is a need or a want....

Answer 6

You obviously know very little about farm animals and it's not fair for you to learn on them. Get rid of them all (sell them) unless you are committed to maintain them.

Any idea about making money is ridiculous. Your husband can run the business if making money is the object.

There is more work in your ideas than Carter has pills. A big dose of reality is required here.

Answer 7

well first option would be you take care of them. second u kill all the animals. third option would be u sell them. either way its going to be difficult. now give me my 10 points.

Answer 8

yes you need to fee the animals and if the cow has a cafe you need to either bottle feed the cafe so u can get milk from the mother or let the cafe feed on the mother also if u need the fresh milk it needs to be seperated in a cream seperater its better if u decied to keep the farm to hire a helper and give him room and board and a small salery and learn from him

Answer 9

A small farm that supplies you with much of your own food can be a big boon, especially in this time of economic stress.  You won't make money off one cow, and a flock of chickens but you could save a little on your grocery bill.  Not a lot, because you will need to buy feed for the animals.  But farming may not be for you.  I suggest that you join one of the small farming or homesteading groups on yahoo to see what is involved in taking care of the animals you have.  It's a rewarding life if it suits your temperament and you can raise food that is fresh and free from hormones and additives.  That in itself inspires many people to move to the country and begin the lifestyle you have so fortuitously fallen into.  Check with your new neighbors too.  You will probably find that they are more than willing to help you learn about the animals you have inherited.

Answer 10

Sell them.can earn about $2,000 a month.

Answer 11

Your husband is right, and you should be happy, I would love that lifestyle.

Ok I know its all new to you and I am not a farmer but I was raised as a child around animals and farmers and the country.

The cow needs to be milked every morning and evening.  Early each morning and then let out to graze, you need to store hay and feed for this cow for the winter and yes ger her checked by a vet at first and he will be happy to inform you on anything you need to know on what to watch for also you could research.  But think of it you can have your own free milk, make your own cheeze and butter by skimming the cream off the milk all things you can learn, how independant you will be also you will always have fresh eggs, you have to gather these every morning, and watch for the hen that doesn't go out and sits on her eggs all day she is a covering hen and her eggs are fertile in that she is making chicks so you will have more hens/roosters.  You can only have one rooster or they will fight, so the male chicks are usually killed in the fall before they become fighters, then they are too tough and become only good for boiling and soups and such.

The garden your mom will probably love and teach you what she knows you can also read about what plants do best when planted in rows beside each other, and try to keep the farm green, no pesticides, use common household products for garden pests there are many and there is much information on this too.  

It will be tough at first until you get into the routine, farming is not easy and you have things that tie you down like having to milk the cow and feed the chickens and tend to your garden but if you get a goat he will take care of the grass around your house no lawn cutting or very little, there are more bonuses, trust your husband and mom this is probably a new biginning and they are always a little stressful but in this case I would jump into it with both feet with a determination to see it through, this is of course only my opinion.  Hope you find happiness.