I have had horses for years as a hobby and this year I am trying my hand at raising chickens for meat. I would like to try another type of animal, but as of yet am unsure of what to try. I would like to consider something that might provide a bit of income without having to spend alot of money to get started. I have 10 acres (7 forested) and a small barn. I'd be interested in how anyone else has made money with their animals on a small scale, and the pros and cons.

-- Donna Ivany (donna_ivany@yahoo.ca), May 12, 2001

Answers

Donna, there is a fortune to be had raising odd stuff and critters. Mice are in demand by snake owners and medical labs. Some people keep them for pets; some people keep iguanas; the butterflies that kids release for "earthday" have to come from somewhere. Crikets, earthworms, all kinds of fish baits. State conservation conserns need specific plants for waterway restoration; landscape contractors need hedge plants and dectorative trees. Medical herbs, cut flowers; quail for hunting clubs ect. ect....... Find a copy of a magazine called "Ag Ventures", a good place to start, the list is endless.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), May 13, 2001.

Since I have only a little less than 1 1/4 acre, I chose to concentrate on worms. 8 totes and two truck toolboxes produce enough castings and worms for our greenhouse and garden and limited sales. I run my ranch in one side of my computer room. Next expansion plan is a few rabbits in the garage for meat and easter sales and added manure for the worm ranch.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL. (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 13, 2001.

Anyone ever try to sell some of their compost bed? We had a large pile of just plain cow and horse manure from last year. Come this spring, it was some mighty good, black dirt. No chemicals, etc. in it if anyone would be concerned with. Was wondering if people have sold that. I'd think they'd want the stuff that's set a whole year vs. the fresh, strong manure.

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), May 13, 2001.

Chickens and rabbits perhaps. I've had several groups of folks stop by and buy chickens and ducks from me. The chickens were past their prime and these folks wanted them to eat. I figure that I've gotten their eggs for years and now I don't even have to butcher them myself. Goats may be another "extra" money for us too. Different ethnicities want them to eat and will butcher them theirselves. Problem is that I really don't know how much to charge them!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), May 13, 2001.

Check to see if there is a micomarket you might tap into. Here in Minnesota we have a large southest Asian population in the Twin Cities. This enclave of culture is a large market for range fed chickens(preferredly with black feathers), rabbits and goats as these foodstuffs were those these people were used to eating in their previous homeland. Lotsa luck.

-- Sandra Nelson (Magin@starband.net), May 13, 2001.

I have done really well selling rabbits for meat. Have gotten out of it for a year or so and people just keep asking me when they can get some more.I just built a nice shed for them and got some good brood stock and have some kits already. I am going to try and sell the hides also this time.if your space is limited this is a great buisness!

-- Jimmy Holiday (jholiday@charter.net), May 14, 2001.

Howdy from the southwest, Donna. I've had a vague dream about having a no-frills horse boarding stable some day. Long time ago, I boarded my horse in Houston with a guy that had his barn set up where everyone had their own covered stall with a run and a locked tack room (he had a master key) and were responsible for buying their own feed and feeding their horses in the evening. If he fed in the evening that was extra $$. (At least it kept horse owners coming by every day, not just once a week). The boarder then left their pre- mixed feed/hay for the a.m. ration in their tack room, and he came along every morning and fed the horses. 30 years later, I'm thinkin' that might be a pretty good idea. You wouldn't have to buy feed & hay for them, just provide a good safe stall with a large run, a lighted arena, maybe a round pen. Aside from the usual hassles that come with dealing with the public in any business (not to mention know-it-all horse folks (guilty):-)!)... it might be worth a thought. You wouldn't get rich, but it could be a nice chunk of change in your pocket at maybe, $100-150 per month per horse. Don't know what the boarding prices in your area are.

So... IF you have some extra space & possibly an arena & round pen, IF you're knowledgeable about horses, IF you have an arena, IF you have access to safe trails (and IF you have an iron-clad contract with the customer absolving you from any responsibility and for not getting your netherparts in a lawsuit)... I think that would work. As for me, aside from a "real" job, I sell eggs at work and white/colored mohair to hand-spinners and weavers. Made a whole whoppin' $25 last week! Happy trails! dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), May 21, 2001.

Not to put a damper on the horse idea, but after having done full board, partial board, and just renting stall space - there are folks who will call you at 5 pm and tell you that they've got to run little boy child to the ballgame and could you feed just once and you go out to do so and find that "oops there's no feed in their bin" so you have to compensate with your own. And there's the folks that start out with partial board and then very sneakily have you feeding, mucking, turnouts, brushing, etc. and then complain when the board bill is $300 instead of the $150 they signed the agreement for. And here in Georgia you can't just "not feed em" as you are inspected every year, sometimes more often, and besides that is just plain cruel. So get it in writing with the complete upscale features fully initialed, cause I'll bet my boots that you'll run across one or two of those types each year. But there is money to be made boarding if you buy feed in bulk, shavings by the truck and have amenities like a riding arena, turnouts, trails, and jumps. My best boarders were the middle class families who had a family horse. Most came everyday to see about their horse and ride and also took riding lessons and were wonderful. The worst payers were the ones who could most afford a horse..I generally tolerated lateness for a couple of months, then sent them packing. Also, get a reference from the previous boarding facility, it does pay to know why the boarder left the facility. Many times I found out the potential boarder left because he/she was told to pack it up and move it out (couldn't get along with other boarders, horse was mean/undesirable behaviors, didn't pay board, etc.) Other times the stable just didn't click with the boarder. I boarded ten to twelve horses at a time along with 4 to 5 stallions (charge more, it is worth it). You must like dealing with the public and be willing to be there 24/7 as horse owners are fussy about their babies being left with strangers. Good luck if you decide to try this venture. I did it because I love kids and horses, but got out because I got burned out and tired of the constant work.

-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), May 21, 2001.

How about 2-3 pigs (sows)? You don't have to have an intensive breeding program (breed for 3 litters in 2 years), like those large hog operations. You could pay for the service of a boar once a year (2-3 sows arn't enough to make it worth owning a boar). Have the sows bred so they give birth in spring, feed mostly garden scraps & extra milk if you have it along with corn (hogs like to graze as well), never forget the corn (or other grains can be used but corn is the best). AVOID FEEDING RAW SOYBEANS! However they are find if cooked. The last 2-3 weeks feed only corn (this will give the meat time to lose any off taste it might have picked up from the other foods), this will be in the fall. After this feeding period take the babies to a sale barn. Keep only what you want for the freezer or family. What you put in the freezer (compared to supermarket prices)might be worth the same amount of money as you would have paid at the store. There for, what goes to market will be profit & maybe more then what is needed to feed the original 2-3 sows through the winter.

Just a thought as 2-3 sows don't need much room, but their babies will need more room as they grow.

How about fruit trees, bushes, vines, etc.. that bear fruit yearly (with no replanting yearly)? Make it a pick your own & aboid a lot of labor (not all). I realize this isn't something with animals, but at least you can take a vacation without worrying about getting someone to feed for you.

animalfarms

-- animalfarms (jwlewis@indy.net), May 23, 2001.