This is my dream come true...but I know nothing!

7 posts
Wed, 10/19/2011 - 17:27 #1

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13 years 1 month
L-plate_lady_farmer
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/19/2011 - 17:16

This is my dream come true...but I know nothing!

I need to know everything! 

We are living on 360 acres and have 4 horses, 4 calves, 2 piglets, 10 ducklings, 15 chickens (was 16 but had to chop one of their heads off today as was very sick!), 1 rooster, 3 dogs, 4 children!! 

Plan to get more cattle, some sheep and goats.

The idea is self-sustainability (L-plate vege gardener also!) .

I joined this site to get some help as I am also new to the area and don't know any farmers.

I just lost a piglet the other day to a paralysis tick (i didnt even know they get them!) and I don't know whether you are supposed to tick treat pigs? The 2 we have left are for breeding.

I also just got ducklings about 8 weeks or so ago and have no idea about ducks!  We want to breed them, eat them, eat/sell their eggs. But as with everything else, I know nothing!


Any helpful advice would be gratefully appreciated!

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Thu, 10/20/2011 - 10:38 #2
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi L-plate-ladyfarmer,

Welcome to Farmstyle and the wonderful world of sustainable farming. You sound like you have a very interesting farm, a real variety of animals.

What breed of ducks did you puchase? There are a number of breeds, with some more suitable than others for meat or egg production.

If you have any specific farming questions you would like answered, pop them into the general farming forum and you shoud get some valuable feedback from other members.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Charlie

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Thu, 10/20/2011 - 17:50 #3
L-plate_lady_farmer
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/19/2011 - 17:16

I dont actually know the breed of the ducks but we got them from people who breed them for eating and for their eggs.  They are white and black and fat!  (technical term haha)

Should I find out what breed they are?  I was thinking about going to the library and finding some books about ducks - its like studying a uni degree (which I am also currently doing!) learning all this farming stuff!  Where to start?  I need an ipod app for farming questions maybe??

 

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Sun, 10/23/2011 - 21:02 #4
katiepooch
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/01/2011 - 10:46

Just had a thought, I read the book 'Farming in a Small Way' and found this a great resource.  Have you read that? 

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Thu, 10/27/2011 - 22:30 #5
malanda2011
Last seen: 10/27/2011 - 21:37
Joined: 10/27/2011 - 21:16

Hi

I can't help you with a specific query and admire you entrrepreneurship.  But learning by experience can be great but costly.  Develop a business plan, put it into writing even for a self sustaining farmlet.  Include some self education.  Don't become another bankrupt statistic.

Small business ventures are more likely to succeed if they have a plan.

Losing livestock through ignorance can be cruel to the animal and costly to you.  Ask questions and consider cost/risk before proceeding with a project.  Try to avoid impulsiveness .... 

  • what food does the animal eat,
  • will it live in my area, on my farm
  • diseases
  • vetinerary needs - ticks, lice, - what treatment and when and how to inject (a vet can be expensive, do it yourself)
  • water security  -  licenced dam, irrigation licence, bore licence
  • shelter for animal
  • market for the end product (meat, eggs etc).  Licence to kill and sell meat?
  • licences (in Qld need to register if carrying one or more horse, cattle or 100?? chooks)

    • Don't forget to have a back up plan for when things go wrong. Sadly, my brother in law died last year in a farm accident.  His wfie didn't know how to operate the water pump, change gas cylinders, attach trailer to car etc etc. .  During her breavement it was an exta difficult time for her. - she had to learn, manage and cope.....She could have easliy gone under if her family and neighbours didn't step in to help.

    Good luck and welcome to farming....

     

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    Sat, 10/29/2011 - 18:00 #6
    Carrie
    Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
    Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

    Congrats on reaching your dream ;) We did the big move four years ago and were in the same position as you. 

    We have found the best thing to do is focus on one animal, get to understand what there needs and requirements are, and how you want to raise them, and then once a little more comfortable move on to the next type of animal you would like to own and raise.  This just makes it all a little less overwhelming, and because your focused on one breed at a time it makes learning a little easier. Of course then you also need to think about land managment, water management and all those other non animal duties as well, that if managed well will improve the productivity of your farm to no end. 

    Another recommendation would be to read read and read.  Some great books we have read include anything by Joel Salatin, Holistic Management by Allan Savery, and Natural Farming by Pat Colby. 

    Cheers and enjoy the journey, it will be great one :)

    Carrie

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    Mon, 05/14/2012 - 21:26 #7
    pindari
    Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
    Joined: 05/11/2012 - 21:22

    hi, we have sheep and maremma dogs.

    had heaps of problems last year with ticks, after 3 sessions at the vet at an average of $800 per pop, i decided to visit a naturopath.

    was advised to use Vitamin C (sodium ascorbate), i put a teaspoon in some milk and the dog drinks it and is fine in an hour.

    read Pat colbys book on dogs and vitamin C, its a wonderful ingredient.

    Chris

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