Raising backyard chickens can be challenging for beginners. You have to consider many factors, including local laws. At the same time, you have to be at peace with your neighbors.  

Read on to find out everything you need to raise backyard chicken for eggs. This post covers A-Z of this practice and provides tips on how to stay safe from any associated risks!

Benefits of Backyard Chickens

Raising backyard chicken is beneficial to you as an off-gridder. It is also a food and income source if you sell extra eggs.

Raising backyard chickens ensures you have a constant supply of fresh eggs. Whether you opt for the free-ranging or caging method, your chickens will lay enough eggs to feed your family. Besides, eggs are nutritious and a rich source of protein for supplementing your diet.

If your backyard chickens are laying enough eggs, you can save money by not buying them from a food store. In fact, you can sell the excess to earn money. So, raising backyard chickens is both cost-saving and a source of income.

But is it worth raising chickens for eggs? The response is a big YES! It is cost-effecting raising backyard chicken, especially if you opt for free-ranging. Chickens raised that way always forage for food and are good to go with small amounts of supplements.

Lastly, chickens are a readily available resource and suit any off-grid lifestyle.

Raising Backyard Chickens for Eggs: How to Get Started

Getting started with backyard chicken keeping is straightforward. But you should know a few things beforehand. The knowledge of collecting, storing, and using eggs is a prerequisite.

You also need to understand the risks and how to mitigate them for successful backyard chicken keeping.

Consider the following factors to get started raising backyard chicken:

Understanding Local Laws for Raising Backyard Chickens

Raising backyard chickens if you live in the countryside is fully permitted by law in most states. However, it is not that direct when you live in urban areas.

Municipalities and local authorities have different laws that ensure everyone lives in peace with neighbors. Those laws also regulate where backyard chickens can be raised and the number you can have on your property.

Chicken can be noisy, and their droppings can produce a stench smell if not well managed. These factors may cause discomfort to your neighbors, who won’t hesitate to raise complaints about your little chicken farm.

Check your state laws to ensure you are on the safe side. Remember, laws about keeping chickens vary from town to town, state to state, or country to country. For instance, a region can set a limit to only 4 chickens. Ensure you comply to avoid nuances from your neighbors and authorities.

Choosing the Correct Breed of Chicken

Different chicken breeds exist. Some are best for laying eggs, meat, or both. In this case, you need good layers because you are to raise them for eggs. But again, you have different options to choose from.

The chicken breed you choose depends on many factors, including the climate. Some are adapted to hot environments, but others perform best in cold areas. However, we have some famous names you can consider.

The chart below shows the most recommended chicken breeds you can consider raising in your backyard.

Is it necessary to have a rooster? You can choose to have a rooster or not. Hens do not need a rooster to lay eggs you intend to eat or take to the market.

But if you want fertilized eggs to hatch into chicks, you need a rooster. You can have one rooster for every 10 hens you raise, but this ratio can also vary depending on the breed of choice.

Roosters can be noisy. So, check the state or town laws if a rooster is permitted before you add one to your flock.

The final tip is to buy mature chickens for your first flock. This approach is more expensive but has a high success rate. Caring for young chicks can be challenging in the backyard without their mother. People often lose all the initial chicks or have a low success rate.

Plan For Scale

The size of your backyard does not determine the chicken breed to acquire, but it does influence the size of your flock. An overcrowded chicken coop and small runs can lead to health issues and encourage other vices.

You might see an increased rate of cannibalism, bullying, and egg-eating. All these vices lead to low egg production.

You should scale your flock appropriately. Consider the available space, the number of eggs you need, and your budget to know the number of chickens to raise. Ensure your birds are comfortable and peaceful with each other for maximum production.

Raise Backyard Chickens for Eggs: Complete Guide

Raising backyard chickens is very easy if you know what it takes. Chicken coop and run are a necessity, but you need additional items such as nesting boxes, feeders, and waterers, among other things. Also, you should know how to care for your backyard chicken and keep them healthy.

This guide has detailed information about everything you should know about raising backyard chickens. Let’s dive right in!

House for Backyard Chickens

First thing first, you need to protect your chicken from predators. Also, they need shelter when mother nature brings storms, rain, cold, or excess heat. These situations explain how crucial a chicken coop is to your flock.

Some off-gridder even share their living spaces with their chickens, but we prefer building a separate structure for them.

Location of Chicken Coop

A chicken coop is not an ordinary structure. Much goes into its design and location on the property. You don’t just build it anywhere but in a place with a mix of sun and shade since chickens are heat and cold sensitive.

You should consider the climatic conditions of your region to choose the best location for a chicken coop. If your area experiences hot summer, the structure should be under a shade to keep the birds from raging summer heat.

Similarly, you should protect the birds from the extreme winter cold, rain, or storm. Locate the chicken coop in an area with an all-year-round cover. Also, ensure the draught does not directly get into the structure.

Sizing Chicken Coop

The next step is sizing the chicken coop. A small one is portable and cost-effective to build, but it may not be the ideal choice for raising a large flock. The golden rule is to give every bird at least 2 square feet of floor space in the coop and 10-sq-feet in the run.

Your production will be high if your chickens have space for shelter, exercise, and foraging. That’s why you should provide roosts in the coop. You need about one lineal foot of roost per bird to keep them happy.

Adding Roosts and Bedding

The roosts should be about 2-3 inches in diameter to allow chickens to grip them easily. The roost heights should also vary if you keep birds of different age groups. The lowest one should be 2-inches above the floor, and the subsequent one has an additional height of 2 inches. The tallest roost can be 3 feet high.

Lastly, the chicken coop should be insulated and ventilated to avoid the build-up of ammonia gas from their droppings. Also, clean it regularly and provide fresh straw bedding for warmth and comfort. These should be replaced to avoid the build-up of parasites and diseases.

Food and Water for Backyard Chickens

Backyard chicken breeds are usually excellent foragers, but you should provide extra food. You don’t need to cage them because they enjoy eating grains, fruits, vegetables, bugs, and worms in the field.

However, your backyard chickens may not get enough food in the field. For maximum production, provide supplemental feeds.

Fortunately, you don’t have to buy commercial feeds. You can use grains or chicken leftovers, but avoid those that can potentially poison your birds. Green potato peels, undercooked or dry beans, and avocados are not safe for birds.

Keep food and water away from perches and roosts to avoid soiling. Use appropriate feeders and waterers and hang them from the ceiling at the best height for your chickens.

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Layers should be on a different diet to lay more healthy eggs. Supplement their food with calcium, such as limestone, if that is not already formulated in their food. Additionally, provide insoluble granite grit 2-3 days per month to encourage digestion.

Most backyard chickens are ready to start laying at 18 weeks old. At that point, feed 14-16% protein to prepare them for egg production. Once they start laying, ensure their food has at least 3.5-4.0% calcium.

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Caring For Backyard Chickens

Backyard chickens are under constant threat from predators, parasites, and diseases. It is up to you to ensure they are healthy and happy for maximum egg production. Any form of distress in birds can significantly affect their performance.

First and foremost, ensure proper lighting and ventilation in the coop. Extended daylight encourages egg production. And as mentioned, the chicken coop requires adequate air circulation to avoid ammonia accumulation. Use the best designs for the structure.

Deterring Predators

Rats, raccoons, snakes, and other predators should not access the chicken coop. Secure all openings and vents with a ¼-inch hardware mesh. Some rodents can access it from underground. To avoid that, dig a 12-inch trench around the coop and bury the same hardware mesh to act as a barrier.

Racoons, mink, and bears are aggressive predators. Install metal latches that require dexterity to open to keep them off from your chicken coop and run entrances.

Keeping Backyard Chickens Disease-free

Most backyard chickens can resist parasites and disease but are not immune. They also require veterinary care when they are infected. And to reduce disease prevalence, clean and occasionally disinfect their coop.

Use clean waterers and feeders, and don’t mix flocks to discourage disease spread. Don’t share equipment or items with neighbors also for the same reason.

Monitor the behavior of your chickens. Healthy birds are usually active and amusing to watch. They spend most of their time pecking, scratching, and clucking. These activities stop when diseased or stressed. They turn gloomy and may refuse to eat. Take immediate action when that happens.

Train Your Chickens

Most backyard chickens are free-rangers. They are happy if they run around chasing bugs and other things and not being caged. So, ensure your birds get out during the day to forage and exercise before returning to the coop at night.

You also have to ensure your chickens are not under any threat when exercising outside. Aerial attacks are the most prevalent during the day. So, it pays to have a cover over them or stay close to respond on time.

Nesting Boxes for Backyard Chickens

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Birds require safe nesting boxes where they can lay their eggs. Your first flocks will be ready to lay eggs at about 18-20 weeks old. That should find you with correctly sized nesting boxes.

An appropriate nesting box measures about 12-15 inches long and wide and 12 inches deep. You need one for every 4-5 hens.

Place your nesting boxes away from roosts and perches. Your hens need privacy to lay. So, don’t forget to give them that.

Lastly, remember to provide soft beddings in the nesting boxes and keep them clean.

Manure Management for Backyard Chickens

Chicken waste is excellent compost manure for your garden. However, you should not apply them directly to your vegetables or flowers. Uncomposed chicken droppings are rich in nitrogen that can burn your plants.

Regularly remove waste from the chicken coop and treat them away from the structure. Add it to a compost pit and cover it with chicken beddings. Give them enough time to be ready for use for fertilizing your plants.

However, composting chicken waste or pasturing chickens should not be done in a Resource Protection Area. But if you have large quantities of composted chicken waste, take a sample to the laboratory for testing and analysis of the nutritional content.

Use them according to the recommendations of the specialists to avoid side effects.

When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?

The time chickens start laying eggs depends on the breed. Most backyard chicken breeds lay eggs between 18 and 20 weeks old.

Also, the color, size, and how often the hen lays depend on the breed. Most eggs are brown-shelled, but some can be whitish or pinkish.

Most hens can lay 3-5 eggs a week. That translates to about 150-350 eggs per year. Once again, egg production capacity depends mainly on the chicken breed. Other factors, such as weather, feeds, diseases, and parasites, can also affect production.

How to Collect Backyard Chicken Eggs

The best time to collect eggs is every morning, late in the evening, or after feeding. You will know that your hens have laid if they are crackling loudly. You can also collect your eggs at that time if you are available.

Collecting eggs from nesting boxes is straightforward. You can transfer them directly to egg trays or gather them in a basket, cloth sling, or any other container with enough room. What you should avoid is applying pressure on the eggs. Their shells are fragile!

Cleaning and Storing Backyard Chicken Eggs

Avoid washing eggs if you don’t intend to use them immediately. It reduces their shelf life. Wipe with a dry towel if the eggs are visibly soiled. Alternatively, you can use a damp cloth to remove any manure in them.

You can submerge eggs in lukewarm water if they have stubborn stains to soften them. Wipe and air-dry before arranging them in crates for storage.

Freshly-laid clean eggs can be stored directly in the pantry at room temperature without washing. They can remain fresh for many days or a couple of weeks. 

You can also refrigerate eggs at 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit for longer shelf life.

When storing eggs, arrange them in the crate such that the rounded end points upward and the other pointy end downwards. The rounded end has an air space that provides insulation, thereby reducing evaporation and moisture loss.

Long Life of Backyard Chickens Eggs

The shelf life of eggs varies, depending on whether they are washed, cooked, or not and how they are stored. Unwashed eggs stay fresh longer than washed ones because they still have cuticles intact. The cuticle is a thin layer on the eggshell that keeps air and bacteria out of the egg.

Unwashed eggs have a shelf life of 6 months or more when stored in a refrigerator. Washed ones have a reduced shelf life of 4-5 months, similar to store-bought eggs.

Unwashed eggs stored at room temperature stay fresh for about 3-5 weeks. Expect them to spoil sooner if you wash them.

Freshly-laid eggs last the longest when frozen. If you use an appropriate procedure, your frozen eggs can stay fresh for a whole year.

Signs of Bad Egg or Good

When an egg spoils, it changes in color, smell, and density. You can use these factors to determine the state of your eggs.

Some eggs smell rotten, and the yolk turns grayish or black instead of pure yellow. But you can only realize it after breaking the egg. What can you do to know an egg is spoiled?

You can use a simple water test. Fill a large glass or bowl with fresh water and put an egg in it freshly-laid eggs will sink to the bottom while the spoiled ones remain afloat.

Eggs that are a few eggs may be partially submerged or remain suspended in the water. These are still considered safe for human consumption.

Using Backyard Chicken Eggs

How can you benefit from your backyard chicken eggs? You can use them differently, which includes cooking, hatching, or selling. Eggs from backyard chicken are edible, delicious, and nutritious.

You can incubate eggs but only choose the fertilized ones. Don’t think about it if you don’t have a rooster in your flock. And even if you have, you can still have a few unfertilized eggs. These ones won’t hatch even if the conditions are right.

Before incubation, candle all eggs collected to determine if they are fertilized or not. Do that about 7-10 days after they are laid. It is the right time to incubate eggs and positively identify fertilized ones during candling. Fertilized eggs show a network of veins under the light.

If you have a broody hen, you can let her incubate the eggs under her wings and worry not about the conditions. But if that is not an option, you can buy an incubator that suits your budget or improvise one.

Maintain the incubation temperature between 99- and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The maximum allowed fluctuation is 2 degrees Fahrenheit on either end. The temperature should, however, not remain at these extreme points for long. Also, remember to regularly turn the eggs if the incubator does not do it automatically.

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Risks from Backyard Chicken Eggs

The most common risk of backyard chicken eggs is salmonella. This causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which take from 6 hours to 6 days after infection to be seen. Fortunately, salmonella is not life-threatening. The symptoms should go away after 4-7 days.

You don’t need antibiotics to treat salmonella infection. If you have diarrhea, take a lot of fluid and drink as much water as possible to rehydrate. Salmonella rarely enters the bloodstream. But if it does, it can be life-threatening. Fortunately, there is nothing much to worry about because the risk is very low.

Avoid Risk from Raising Backyard Chickens

How can you stay safe from the risks of eggs from backyard chickens? The only thing you can do is to keep proper hygiene in and around the chicken coop and care for the eggs to avoid contamination.

Caring for Chicken and Hencoop

Observe the following routine to keep the chicken coop clean to minimize the risks:Chicken nest with hensObserve the following routine to keep the chicken coop clean to minimize the risks:

• Keep the nest box clean to ensure your eggs are also clean!
• Clean the chicken house and keep the floor dry and free from litter, except for clean bedding.
• Clean nest boxes once a week and change nesting material.
• Store feeds appropriately to prevent contamination.
• Regularly clean feeders and waterers in a clean environment and disinfect them if possible.
• Ensure your eggs are clean by providing sleeping roots above the height of nesting boxes. That will discourage the hens from sleeping and pooping in the nesting boxes.
• Compost chicken waste at an appropriate temperature to kill harmful bacteria before being used to avoid possible infection.

Caring for Eggs

You should keep your eggs from contamination through proper handling and storage. Consider doing the following:

• Maintain daily egg collection
• Discard abnormally shaped eggs or those with spots, cracks, or other irregularities.
• Cook eggs well at the right temperature. Ensure both the yolk and white are firm, which happens at an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) or hotter.
• Use pasteurized eggs to make foods with raw or lightly cooked eggs.
• Use or refrigerate eggs and foods containing eggs soon after cooking. Refrigerate them within 2 hours or 1 hour if exposed to high temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Wash your hand and any other item that comes into contact with eggs using soap and running water. The additional items include countertops, utensils, dishes, and cutting boards.
• Do not eat raw eggs or any food recipe with raw eggs before cooking, such as cookie dough or cake.

Preparation Right Way

Proper egg preparation can help reduce the risks of eating eggs from backyard chickens. But how do you do it? Consider the following:

• Inspect eggs for any cracks and avoid ones with cracked shells.
• Crack eggs in a bowl and inspect it further. Discard it if you realize any defects. Those with blood spots on the yolk are safe for human consumption.
• Always cook eggs before eating. A recipe with eggs as an ingredient should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit, as shown by the food thermometer.
• Discard any raw or cooked eggs left at room temperature for two hours or more.

For Yourself

Personal hygiene can also help reduce the risks of eating eggs from backyard chickens. Always wash your hands with soap and clean water after handling eggs, chickens, or anything items used in the process.

Lastly, don’t wash chicken feeders and waterers in your kitchen sink.

When Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs?

The lifespan of chickens varies, and that affects when they stop laying. Some breeds can only live for 5 years. So, expect them to stop laying eggs just before that. Others can live for more than 8 years. They, therefore, will continue laying eggs for more years.

What to Do When Your Chicken Stops Laying Eggs

Most backyard chicken breeds are dual-purpose. That means you can slaughter them yourself for meat or sell it. However, that should only happen after testing and confirming the chicken is healthy. Do not slaughter any diseased bird.

Personally Thinking

If you can’t find a place to keep your chickens or your local laws do not yet permit the practice, try petitioning for permission. You may need some convincing arguments in order not only permits but also public support! It is the least you can do for yourself and generations to come.

Some Thought

You can raise backyard chickens for their eggs, which you can eat, hatch, or sell for money. The process is not complicated. And provided the state or city laws allow it, you can go into raising chickens with little or no experience. The information in this article is all you need.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and hope you have the information you were looking for. Kindly share it with your friends to help us reach more people!

The recommended type of tobacco for deworming dogs is chewing tobacco. Even this one is not safe. That explains why you should adhere to the correct dosage.

Read on to find everything you need about “how to deworm a dog with tobacco” and other natural ways of doing the same.

Can You Use Tobacco to Help Your Dog Get Rid of Worms?

Yes. Tobacco is effective in deworming dogs and keeping them healthy from worms. If you have a pet, its health should be a priority. Fortunately, you don’t have to hire a veterinarian to help you, especially if you live off the grid.

Nicotine in tobacco can eliminate some dog worms and shield your dogs against re-infestation. It is one of the remedies you can safely use to deworm dogs.

Why Does Tobacco Help Get Rid Of Worms?

As already hinted, nicotine in tobacco can kill worms and parasites, even in small doses.

However, you should be careful when deworming your dogs with tobacco because high nicotine doses can poison them. It can result in health complications that will stress your dog.

The tobacco dosage for deworming your dogs depends on their body weight. Smaller breeds require small doses. Also, some dogs may not find tobacco palatable. Consider mixing it with their favorite snacks if that’s the case.

When Should Deworming Be Done In Dogs?

If you want peace of mind regarding worms, observe a routine preventive deworming. Both puppies and adult dogs require regular deworming to prevent possible worm multiplication to dangerous levels.

Puppies are very susceptible to worms. They can get these when breastfeeding, at rescue centers from adult dogs, or due to their curious nature of sniffing and eating almost everything.

Puppies should be dewormed every two weeks from birth until they get to 12 months of age, after which you can deworm them at least once a month until six months. At that point, they shift to the adult routine.

Adult dogs should be dewormed once every three months for maximum protection against worm infestations. But can you deworm a pregnant dog?

Yes. A bitch should be dewormed before mating and after 45 days of pregnancy. Another round of deworming should follow soon after delivery.

You can deworm puppies and adult dogs yourself. However, deworming puppies requires knowledge and the use of safe remedies. The best action is to consult a veterinarian before doing it for the first time.

What Are the Signs That You Need to Deworm My Dog?

You can test your dogs for worms at home with a kit. But if you don’t have it, rely on the possible signs of worm infestations.

A dog with worms will show some signs that will tell when deworming is necessary. As a pet owner, you should look out for the following.

Regularly check your dog’s stools. If they become too soft or appear rice-grained, your dog possibly has worms. But don’t be deceived that your dog does not have worms if it passes out normal stool. It can still be infested.

Other possible signs of worm infestation include the following:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss
• Vomiting
• Blood in stool
• Intestinal blockage
• Poor coat appearance
• Pot-bellied appearance
• Anemia or nutritional deficiency
• Lethargy
• Dehydration

How to Deworm a Dog with Tobacco

It is possible to keep your dogs free from worms and parasites by deworming them with tobacco. However, you should know how to do it right and not harm your dogs. That’s what this section is all about. So, keep reading to find out more.

How Much Tobacco to Deworm A Dog?

The first step to successfully deworming your dogs with tobacco is to know their weight. The dosage will depend on the measured weight of the dog. An overdose will result in health problems and should be avoided at all costs.

A small pinch should be sufficient to remove worms from most dog breeds. You can also confirm it with your veterinarian for an appropriate dosage.

What Kind of Tobacco Should I Use?

Chewing tobacco is the best type for deworming dogs. Some pet owners opt for cigarettes, but you should not let go of that thought because it is not recommended. Chewing tobacco has fewer chemicals and is less harmful to dogs.

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You can mix the chewing tobacco with the dog’s food or make a solution. Regardless, ensure your dog successfully swallows it. 3-4 tablespoonfuls should be enough for dogs weighing 20 pounds or less.

It will take time for parasites in your dog’s stomach to die and come out with the stool.

Signs That Your Dog Has Been Successfully Dewormed

After-effects of deworming your dogs exist. So, you should look for negative ones that probably require the veterinarian’s attention.

Most dogs experience nausea, dizziness, weakness, dehydration, and other symptoms. It will depend on how many worms are in the dog’s stomach and the nicotine concentration in the chewing tobacco.

Report any unusual behavior to a veterinarian. Don’t just keep quiet if your dog is excessive salivating, panting, vomiting, or passing out loose stool.

Warning:

• Ensure you weigh your dog and measure the height to help you determine the appropriate chewing tobacco dosage for deworming.

• Follow a regular deworming plan. If you are using tobacco, consider doing it every month to ensure the eggs and all parasites in the dog are killed.

• Deworm all your pets at the same time. One may infect the other if you do it at different times.

Natural Deworm Home Remedies Without Going to the Vet

You can use other natural home remedies to deworm your dog apart from using tobacco or going to the veterinarian. Let’s explore a few options in this section!

Use Natural Herbs

Some herbs can effectively remove worms and parasites in dogs and other pets. In fact, humans have used herbs for centuries to deworm themselves.

You have many options if you want to use herbs to deworm your dogs. The first and most common one is quassia.

This herb is best known for significantly improving a dog’s appetite and causing rapid bowel movements. These escalated movements help the dog get rid of worms or parasites naturally.

Peppermint and cinnamon in the dog’s food can also help improve digestion. Your dog can effectively eject parasites from its digestive tract. These herbs also prevent future worm infestations.

Coconut oil can also remove tapeworms, giardia, and other parasites. The dog’s body converts the lauric acid in coconut oil to monolaurin, which ejects these worms from the digestive tract.

Other herbs you can try include vinegar and turmeric. Apple cider vinegar is the most recommended for deworming dogs.

When ingested, it increases the level of alkalinity in the digestive tract. Worms are unable to survive in such conditions. So, they come out with stools.

On the other hand, turmeric comes with other health benefits for your dog. It has an anti-inflammatory property that helps cure damages caused by worms in the digestive tract. Also, turmeric helps remove toxins left behind by worms after deworming.

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Use Carrots

We all praise carrots as a source of vitamin A, but did you know you can use them to remove worms from your dogs? Coarsely chopped carrots are rough.

As they move down through the digestive tract, they scrape the gut walls, removing mucus and parasites in them.

Using carrots to remove parasites from dogs is simple. Just chop them into small pieces and feed them to your dogs as a tasty snack or main meal. Moreover, they help boost the dog’s immunity and are a source of nutrients.

Use Garlic Juice

Garlic juice is another natural remedy for deworming dogs. This substance has antibacterial properties desired in the gut. It acts as a digestive tonic that purifies the blood and helps the dog’s body to remove wastes from the body.

Garlic juices also boost the immune system and prevent the recurrence of intestinal worms.

Finely chop the garlic and mix it with the dog’s usual diet. Adhere to the recommended dosage of 4 grams per day. Mix 1-2 garlic cloves with the dog’s food and continue this procedure for about a week to achieve effectiveness.

What Happens If Dog Worms Are Left Untreated In Dogs?

Regular deworming of dogs is a good practice that should be maintained throughout their lifetime. If not done, worms can multiply to a dangerous level. That will damage the dog’s internal organs and eventually cause death.

Don’t allow your dogs to live with worms inside them. You should observe a change in behavior and look for the signs of worms in dogs already listed.   

Can humans get worms from dogs? Yes. Dog worms can move from dogs to humans, where they can cause different diseases. That means deworming your dog benefits not only the dog but also yourself.

Some dog worms can cause eye, lung, heart, and neurologic signs in people. If possible, deworm your dog regularly and minimize contact with its stools that might contain those parasites.

Conclusion

Chewing tobacco can effectively kill worms in dogs. However, you should maintain a low nicotine dosage as excess can affect your dog.

Follow the recommended procedure and report anything unusual to a veterinarian before it becomes too late. Alternatively, you can use natural dewormers such as garlic juice, cinnamon, carrot, etc.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We hope the information presented is useful and you won’t mind sharing it with your friends. You can also explore the site for related content.

Many rabbit-safe plants exist. They are also nutritious and will keep the bunnies well-fed and healthy. If you have a space in your backyard, you can use it to grow food for your rabbit.

We will look at the most common plants to grow as rabbit food. Continue reading for more information, including the growth requirements of each plant.

What to Grow for Rabbits to Eat?

Your rabbits can extract a range of nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and fiber from the plant materials they eat.

Feeding your rabbit pet different plants with alternating texture and flavor is considered healthy. Rabbits eat fruits, vegetables, herbs, and dried plants.

Some of these plants exist in the wild, but you can actually grow some of them. Rabbits can feed on roots, fruits, stalks, leaves, flower buds, and seeds, which can be grown in the backyard.

You can, therefore, consider growing carrots, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, strawberry, pumpkin, turnip, etc.

However, you should avoid bulbs, tubers, and some seeds. These are either toxic or too starchy for rabbits. Read on for the safest plants you can grow for your rabbits to complement their diet.

10 Plants to Grow as Rabbit Food Types

You can turn your backyard into a lush garden with all plants your rabbit requires for survival.

Many such plants exist, but we will only focus on the 10 best and most recommended for your pet. They include the following:

• Mangel Beets
• Oats
• Wheat
• Alfalfa
• Corn
• Carrots
• Dandelions
• Sunflowers
• Nasturtium
• Apple

Mangel Beets

Mangel Beets are bunny-friendly plants that are highly nutritious. They are rich in calories, fat, protein, and carbohydrates. It can be the missing piece in your rabbit’s diet.

You can feed the green leaves of Mangel Beets to your rabbits, though it should be in small amounts.

The leaves contain small quantities of oxalic acid that can affect rabbits if eaten in large amounts. Roots are more acidic and should be avoided for bunnies.

Like most plants you can grow for rabbits on this list, Mangel Beets require full sun to light shade and deeply tiled well-draining soil.

Plant Mangel Beets in an area with a daytime temperature of about 65-70 degrees Fahrenheit and weed and water them regularly.   

Oats

Oats and oatmeal are safe for rabbits. If you have been adding them to the rabbit’s food, continue doing so because they don’t harm your pet. In fact, they come with a bunch of health benefits.

Oats are rich in carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. They are also known as heart-healthy foods for bunnies.

You can give them whole or cooked oats. However, you should moderate the quantity you give to your rabbits.

Growing oats is easy if you have optimal conditions. They require full sun to partial sun and can also thrive in partial shade. However, the flowering will be reduced in the latter case.

Plant oats in well-drained loamy soil fortified with compost for a better yield.

They need moderate soil moisture if grown under partial sun or shade. Regardless, you should aim for consistent soil moisture.

Oats thrive in the moderate summer heat and humidity, a USDA zone 9.

Wheat

Wheat is safe for rabbits. It is available commercially as a rabbit concentrate, an excellent source of energy and protein.

Wheat can forage on the wheat plant when still in the garden, or you can harvest them as hay.

Wheat flourishes in temperatures of about 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. They have a low tolerance to heat, though they require lots of sunshine, mostly when the grains form.

However, it can withstand a low temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and not lower than that.

You can plant wheat for your rabbit in well-drained loamy or loam-clay soil, but it can do relatively well in other soil types.

Alfalfa

Alfalfa is the best hay for your bunny. It is rich in calcium and protein. This plant type also trains your rabbit to become a natural forager.

Alfalfa does well in well-drained soil with a pH value between 6.5 and 7.0. It will not grow in acidic soils unless you add lime to raise the pH value.

This plant grows well in dry areas, requiring about 18-36 inches of water per year.

It, however, requires full sun and temperatures of about 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate and thrive. If you plan to grow it for your bunny, early April to early May is the best to sow the seeds.

Corn

Corn is a starchy rabbit meal. However, you should give low quantities, probably as a once-in-a-while snack.

Too much corn can prove challenging to digest, leading to digestive problems. Otherwise, corn is a great source of carbohydrates that can boost your bunny’s energy.

Corns do well in warm, sunny weather, with temperatures ranging from 75 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

The rainfall should also be evenly distributed throughout the growing season. Corn can be stressed if exposed to cool temperatures during germination and young plants.

The soil for growing corn should also be well-drained. The loamy or sandy-loam mixture is often preferred.

Carrots

Carrots are a source of food for rabbits. The entire plant can be fed to rabbits. So, if you are not interested in the root, you can just harvest the greens and feed them to your bunnies before root formation.

But if you plan to give carrot roots, do it in small quantities. They are rich in sugar. Consider them as occasional snacks and not the main meal.

Carrots require full sun to partial shade, especially during root formation. You also need loose, well-drained, loamy soil to allow the roots to expand. Rocky or hard soil clumps will lead to deformed carrots.

Carrots are biennial vegetables, but they can be grown all year round.

They do well in different climatic zones, but they prefer nighttime temperatures of 55 degrees Fahrenheit and a daytime temperature of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Dandelions

Dandelions are nutritious plants for rabbits. If they grow in your backyard garden or you want to plant them for this purpose, it is a good choice.

They are rich in vitamin A. Just by your rabbits munching on their leaves, they keep the pet healthy.

Almost every part of the plant is safe for your bunny. Leaves, flowers, and stems can all be part of the rabbit’s diet. You can chop them or feed them whole to your rabbit.

Dandelions do best in hardy zone 3-9. They can thrive in sun or shady conditions. But if you are looking for a tasty treat for your bunny, grow them in a partial to full shade location.

The best soil for growing dandelions is rich, fertile, well-draining, alkaline, and deep. These plants are characterized by long taproots. So, they need soft or deep soil that they can easily penetrate.

Dandelions prefer high temperatures of more than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, though they can tolerate a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

This explains why you will often see them sprouting on your lawn mid-summer.

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Sunflowers

Sunflowers are very delicious for bunnies. If you have them in your backyard with no strong fence, you may have problems with wild rabbits destroying them.

For your pet, these are yummy snacks that can keep them nourished.

Every part of the sunflower is safe for your rabbit. However, don’t give many seeds to them because of the high-fat content that can cause digestive problems.

You can chop the leaves or stems and give them your bunny, but not seeds. Instead, use seeds only as a snack and not the main meal.

Sunflowers grow best in a sunny location with well-drained soil. If possible, choose a place with no or less strong wind.

Planting them in groups can also help because of each other’s support.

The optimal temperature for growing sunflowers is about 70-78 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it can also flourish in higher temperatures if water is available.

If you need to add fertilizer, consider those rich in phosphorus and potassium. You will not need fertilizers if you have rich, loamy soil.

Also, remember to keep your sunflower garden clean because they don’t like competition.

Nasturtium

Nasturtium is a yummy and nutritious plant for rabbits. The entire plant is edible. You can choose to harvest flowers, leaves, stems, or even seeds and feed them to your bunny whole or chopped.

Nasturtium is usually bushy and follows a fence line or a wire. That makes it easy to let your bunny munch on the flowers at the bottom without destroying them.

Nasturtium grows and thrives well in an area that receives full sun, 6-8 hours daily direct sunlight. Although it can tolerate some shady conditions, always strive to make it get enough sun.

This plant also requires well-drained soil of pH levels between 6 and 8. Fortunately, Nasturtium does not require fertilization.

Consider planting Nasturtium for your bunny if you live in an area with at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 30% and 50%. It can also tolerate a light frost but not a cold freeze.

Also read: 7 Effective Ways To Protect Your Plants From Frost

Apple

Apples are not only good for your bunnies but also for your family. Apples are nutritious, consisting of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, etc.

They are safe for your rabbits that can feed on leaves and fruits.

During routine pruning, you can feed the leaves to your bunny instead of throwing them away.

When the fruits are ripe, you can cut them into quarters and add them on top of the hay you feed to your rabbits.

Apples do well in full sun. You can consider this if you live in an area that receives at least six hours of sunlight and has moist, well-drained soil with a pH value of 6.0-7.0.

They also require enough water and warm temperatures to thrive. Cold conditions can kill tender buds, and high humidity can cause fungal diseases.

Other Plants For Rabbit

The list of plants you can grow for rabbit food is longer than what we have listed above. Many rabbit-safe plants you can grow exist, and you can plant them in your backyard.

Fortunately, some can also flourish in the wild without your intervention.

Other plants for rabbits include the following:

• Basil
• Cilantro
• Dill
• Mint
• Parsley
• Arugula
• Clover
• Kale
• Spinach
• Bell Peppers
• Broccoli
• Radishes
• Zucchini Squash
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Strawberries

Also read: How To Grow Your Own Survival Garden – Top 20 best plants You Need

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Wrapping Up

Growing your own plants for rabbits can help you offset the cost of commercial feeds. Choose the ones that can flourish in your backyard garden or lawn from the list presented here.

They are all safe and have nutritional value. However, don’t forget to feed them your bunnies sparingly. Digesting them can be challenging, causing indigestion.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and kindly ask you to share it with your friends. Also, let us know which of the stated plants you intend to grow for your little bunny friend.

Also read:

• 12 Best Rabbit Breeds for Meat (Giant Doesn’t Mean Good)
• 10 Best Homestead Animals (Chicken, Rabbits, Ducks And Mores)
• The 5 Best Livestock For Off-Grid Living

That also holds true for livestock, especially goats. Instead of having two different goat breeds for milk and meat, you can rear a dual-purpose breed.

Dual purpose goats are ideal for both milk and meat production. You also save on the space and feeding grounds, making livestock keeping even simpler.

But if you need dual-purpose goat breeds, which one should you go for?

There are many multi-purpose goat breeds to choose from. This article will describe the best five you can consider. Let’s dive in.

The Benefits Of Dual-purpose Goat

Dual-purpose goat breeds can give you two products. The most common combination is meat and milk or meat and wool, but most off-gridders prefer goats for both milk and meat.

And that is what we will be discussing in the rest of this article.

The first benefit of a dual-purpose goat breed is that you get two products, milk and meat.

But that doesn’t mean you will be doubling the feeds and care, which brings us to the second advantage.

Dual-purpose goat breeds are economical to keep. You can use the same space and minimal costs to get higher output regarding milk and meat.

That is unlike requiring twice the input if you are to keep two different goat breeds.   

A homestead can easily manage to keep a dual-purpose goat in a limited space and tight schedule.

4 Factors To Choose The Right Breed Of Dual Purpose Goat

Choosing the perfect multi-purpose goat can be a challenging task. That is because of the many options available.

However, it can be easy if you carefully consider all possible factors. Generally, your decision will depend on the following:

Size Of Goats

Dual-purpose goat breeds are of different sizes. While this may not seem so significant, it does matter.

Basically, you cannot expect a high yield from small-sized goats. The quantity of meat and milk depends on the size of the goat.

Once again, you also need to consider the size of the goat because it will influence the housing.

If you have already built it, a large breed may not fit. Just think about it before you go for the perfect size.

Regional Climate

Climate is a primary factor when choosing any livestock breed, and goats are no different. They are well-adapted to various climatic conditions.

Some will thrive in cold regions, while others can survive high temperatures and intense summer heat.

Get the general climate trend in your region because it will significantly affect the performance of your goat. Some breeds can even die if not matched to the appropriate climate.

Land/Feed That You Have Available

The size of your land and the quantity of feed available still determines the dual-purpose goat breeds you buy.

Some goats are heavy eaters and require large parcels of land, while others can survive by merely foraging on the fence.

Also, land and your ability to care will determine the number of dual-purpose goats you can keep. Examine this factor to make an informed decision.

Your Time And Money

Do you have the time to care for the goats yourself? And if you have to supplement their feeds, do you have money to buy it?

Dual-purpose goat breeds require proper care and maintenance, which varies from goat breed to the next.

Find dual-purpose goats that are easy to keep and do not take much of your time.

But if you are busy, you can employ someone else to take care of them. Once again, only get the number of goats you can support.

Top 5 Dual Purpose Goats

There are many dual-purpose goats, but we will only give you the best 5 breeds. Many off-gridders prefer keeping either Nubian, Saanen, Sable, Kinder goats, or Pygmy goats.

These breeds have high production and are more resilient to climate. Let’s talk about them in detail.

Nubian

Nubian goats originated from Britain (source). The name, Nubia, was coined in France. It referred to the area along the River Nile from Egypt to Sudan.

Nubian goats emerged in the 19th century when British goats were crossed by the imported ones from India and the eastern Mediterranean.

Nubian goats are very distinctive in appearance, featuring long, wide, drooping ears. They also have a broad forehead, long legs, a convex nose, a flat body, and a short, shining coat.

These characteristics make them well adapted to hot climates in low humidity areas.

This breed comes in different coat colors, including chestnut, black, tan, white, pale, and mottles.

They require more space than most goat breeds but can adapt well to a new environment. If building a shelter, ensure it is dry, warm, and well ventilated.

Nubian goats can breed throughout the year. They are very fertile and have high milk and meat production.

Does weigh 243 pounds and produces 6.6 pounds of milk on average per day. The fat content is about 4.9%, and the protein is 3.8%.

Bucks can weigh as much as 309 pounds. Their large size makes them the best for meat. However, the production of male and female Nubian goats is significantly influenced by feeding and climate.

Despite the large size, Nubian goats are friendly and can double up as pets, especially when they are young. But they are also known for loud noises and stubbornness.

Pygmy Goats

Pygmy goats were originally called Cameroonian Dwarf Goats. As the name suggests, they came from Cameroon in Western Africa.

The first recorded importation into the United States was in 1959. Today, their population is high, and they are commonly found in zoos.

Pygmy goats are the best choice for homesteaders with limited space. But despite the small size, Pygmy goats produce as much milk as many other big-size goat breeds.

Does can produce 4.2 pounds of milk every day on average, with between 4.5-11% butterfat content.

Does weigh about 35-50 pounds, while bucks weigh 40-60 pounds. Pigmy goats have muscular physiques, making them ideal goat breeds for meat.

They come in different colors, such as red caramel, silver, white caramel, and other shades.

Pigmy Goats are docile and intelligent. They are friendly and make good pets for kids and adults. Additionally, they are easy to keep and can forage on the weeds on the property.

Also, Pygmy Goats are more resilient to parasites and disease and require minimal feeding. Handling and transporting them is also easy.

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Kinder Goats

Kinder goats are native to America. They originated from a farm in Snohomish, Washington, in 1985 when an American Pygmy male was mated with a Nubian female.

This selective breeding resulted in a well-muscled goat with high milk production.

Kinder goats are medium in size and come in different coat colors. Does can only grow to 20 inches high and weigh 120 pounds, while bucks reach 28 inches and weigh 150 pounds.

They are distinguished from other goat breeds with their ears that stick out from the head.

Kinder goats are highly productive. You can milk about 5 pounds from one doe per day.

Unlike other goat breeds on this list, Kinder goats have the creamiest milk. The butterfat content hits an all-time high of 7%.  

The goats are easy to handle due to their easy going nature. They are the ideal choice for homesteaders who want both milk and meat.

Kinder goats can graze on the property, foraging weeds, shrubs, and brush. Nothing much is needed in care and maintenance.

Saanen

The Saanen goats originated from Saanen valley, Switzerland, and are mainly known for their high milk production.

However, they can also produce high-quality meat. The breed is also consistent in milk production.

If you are a homesteader with a large family, Saanen may be your best choice. The milk will be enough for the entire family.

You can expect a minimum of 12 pounds of milk with 3-4% butterfat content every day.

Saanens are usually white, with some having a few spots in the nose, ears, and udder. They are big in size, with long legs, straight upward ears, and short legs. Many of them are horned.

A mature buck can weigh up to 200 pounds while doe can only reach 160 pounds.

Saanens are heavy eaters that require supplementary feeds to their usual foraging. And that is necessary if you need high milk production.

There should also be a constant supply of fresh, clean water. These goats also need shady conditions because they cannot tolerate high summer heat.

The breed is sweet and friendly. Even kids can raise them on the property.

Sable    

Sable goats originated from New Zealand, where they were developed from Saanen. They resemble Saanen in many ways, except that they come in multiple colors.

If not for the coat color, differentiating Sables from Saanens becomes challenging. They are medium-sized with long legs, upright ears, and a fine, short coat.

Overall, sable goats are tall, heavy, and rangy. Bucks can reach a height of 32 inches, while does manage 30 inches. Overall, the bodyweight of Sable goats is 143 pounds.

Sables are excellent grazers, making them the best choice for homesteaders. Their maintenance cost is low.

But you can also supplement their diet with quality feeds for high milk and meat production. Does produce about 4-9 pounds of milk with 3-4% butter content.

Sables are resilient goat breeds that can thrive well in hot and sunny areas. They are also not susceptible to skin cancer like Saanens.

If you are looking for a calm, docile, and friendly dual-purpose goat breed, Sables are the best choice.

However, you should not leave them with kids in the field. They usually wander around looking for greener and leafier plants.

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Conclusion

A dual-purpose goat breed is a must-have for homesteaders, especially those with limited space.

If you choose the right one, you can have enough milk and meat for your family with minimal input. Just use the information provided here to make an appropriate decision.

Thank you for reading our article. The Em Offgrid appreciates your time and gladly invites you to explore the site for more related articles.

Also read:

• 6 Heritage Goat Breeds
• 10 Best Homestead Animals (Chicken, Rabbits, Ducks And Mores)
• The 5 Best Livestock For Off-Grid Living

Unlike other homestead animals, horses are not productive. But they are more usable than other domestic animals.

You can use them for multiple purposes and enhance the off-grid living experience. 

You should go forward with a clear and complete guide to find the best horse for off-grid living. Compare the capability, purpose, and lifespan of horses before deciding on the breed to buy.

In this writing, we present the best horses for off-grid living and a complete guide that will enable you to choose the right horse for you. 

The Benefits Of Horses For Off-Grid Living

Having an active horse will give you several benefits, and you can survive easily off-grid.

Most importantly, a horse will allow you to ride in remote places and carry weighty material in the hilly and flat areas.

You can reach your destination faster and complete daily tasks using a horse. Besides, it will be your great companion. 

Furthermore, you can do different types of sports activities with a horse. You will get a great companion off the grid if you choose the right horse breed. 

How To Choose Horses For Off-Grid Living

You have to consider several things while purchasing a horse. We include some significant features that will enable you to find the best horse for off-grid living. 

We consider several issues and the context of each breed to ensure the best selection process.

Suitability To The Purpose

First, you have to fix that for what purpose you will use the horse. It will enable you to go through a filtration process and find the best horse.

Some breeds are suitable for family farms and transport. You cannot use them for sports activities. So. it depends on you whether you will select a family, partner, or draft horse. 

Ease Of Handle

A good horse should be easy and convenient to handle. You cannot use an anxious horse for daily purposes. 

Besides, you need a powerful horse to carry things or run faster in off-grid areas. 

Budget

Don’t break your budget. You should consider the price and purpose. A significant investment cannot provide you with the best service.

So, you have to search for the best horse at an affordable price. It will save time and money.

Best Horses For Off-Grid Living

Here, we review the best 17 horses for off-grid living. We include these breeds after considering several features and issues.

Besides, we analyze reviews from users. These horses are strong and come with high-performing activities.

Furthermore, we analyze several breeds and compare them with different purposes to understand their real-time performance. 

The Haflinger Horses

The Haflinger horses have different appearances, ranging from rich, golden chestnut to light gold. Their manes are often white or flaxen.

This breed grows to about 13.2-15.0 hands with large, forward-pointing eyes and overly wide nostrils. Their necks are medium in length and a bit slim towards the neck.

This horse breed is also identified with its small white markings on the face and legs.

Physically, they have pronounced withers, deep chests, and strong backs. The hindquarters are well-built, strong, and slightly sloping.

The Haflinger legs have well-defined joints and hocks. Their legs are also proportional to their body with small and hard hooves.

This is an intelligent breed and does great as a family horse. The horses are easygoing, kind, and gentle.

Handing them should not be a problem for kids, adults, and the elderly. They are calm and offer the best riding experience.

However, they are curious and can sometimes outlearn their owners. In such cases, they start to be stubborn. So, don’t be surprised if your otherwise calm horse turns willful.

The Haflinger horses are of two types: the taller and shorter breeds. Shorter ones are ideal for draft work, while taller, lighter horses are best for pleasure riding, light driving, and sports.

This breed can remain strong and do almost everything until they get into their 40s.

Generally, they are easier to keep and require less food to sustain than heavier breeds. A well-bred Haflinger horse sells for $5,000 or more.

American Quarter Horses

American Quarter horses are the most popular breeds in North America. They are known for their gentleness, versatility, beauty, speed, agility, and loyalty.

This breed is ideal for riding and can be owned by anyone, provided you can provide for its needs.

The American Quarter horses are heavily built and come in different colors. Brownish red is the most common, but you can also find other shades.

You will also find white markings on the face and leg. They grow to a height of about 14-16 hands and weigh between 950 to 1200 pounds.

The breed is characterized by a muscular body, deep chest, small head, flat forehead, and generally flat profile.

It can live for up to 25 years, providing power to the farm, and is also suitable for sports and family.

American Quarter horses are the best for families and newbie riders because of their calm, gentle demeanor.

They are also easy to train for rank work, competitions, and recreational uses. It will cost you about $1,000-$4,000 to acquire one. This pricing depends on age, health, and where you buy it from.

Miniature Horses

Miniature horses, popularly known as minis, are generally small in nature and very social. This breed has an adorable appearance and is mainly kept for a companion or pet.

Miniature horses can grow to a height of just about 8.5-9.5 hands and weigh between 150 and 350 pounds.

Despite their small body size, they still require as much care as full-sized horses. However, they don’t need even half the feed of other breeds.

This breed is a suitable choice for anyone who wants a companion animal. Due to their small size, they cannot do any work.

They are also not for riding, but you will have a lasting companion. Miniature horses can live for 35 years if well taken care of.

Miniature horses come in all colors and coat patterns. You can find solid coats, pintos, and spotted ones, featuring thicker coats than full-size horses.

The breed is built as the bigger ones, with only the small size being the hallmark.

Miniature horses are intelligent, curious, gentle, and social. Their advantage is that they require small space and feed less.

However, be prepared to spend $1000 on average. They are easy to find at animal rescue centers and breeders countrywide.

Morgan Horses

Morgan horses are versatile. They are known as horses that choose you and do everything just to please you as the owner.

Other reasons for choosing this breed include handling ease and adaptation to various conditions.

Morgan horses grow to a height of about 14-15 hands and weigh 900 to 1,000 pounds.

They are characterized by a compact and masculine body, a short head with a wide forehead, large and expressive eyes, and a thick mane and tail.

Morgan horses usually display dark, solid colors, such as black, chestnut, and bay. However, you can also find some with palomino, pinto, gray, dun, roan, and other coat colors.

We can say that it depends on where you buy your horse.

This breed is docile and suitable for riders of all levels, including children, and can live for 30 years.

It is the best family horse for its ease of maintenance and social nature. Besides, you can train it to do what you want.

However, this breed is a bit more expensive. It costs about $1,000-$5,000, depending on age, health, training, and the breeder or where you buy it.

You can buy it across the United States, including Vermont.

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Rocky Mountain And Tennessee Walkers

Rocky Mountain horses are best for long smooth rides. They can endure long hours of trail riding and pulling carriages and plows.

This breed is also a gem in competing in the show ring and handling many other tasks.

Rocky Mountain horse is one of the tallest breeds, growing to about 16 hands in height. It weighs between 850 to 1000 pounds.

It is uniquely identified by its natural ambling gait.

The breed is characterized by a muscular body, a small head with a wide forehead, a deep chest, and a flat body profile.

Its coat color can be black, palomino, bay, chocolate, and chestnut, but mane and tail are flaxen.

Blocky Mountain horses are calm, amiable, and kid-friendly. However, Blocky Mountain horses are not for you if you intend to train them trotting or cantering.

They will not learn it. They, however, are strong and can live for 35 years to buy as a family horse or for competitive riding.

However, Rocky Mountain horses may be the most expensive breed on this list. It costs between $3,000 and $7,000, but registered and certified ones with an excellent bloodline can cost upwards of $12,000.

Mustang Horses

Mustang horses are characterized by compact and muscular bodies. They can grow to 14.1-15.2 hands tall and weigh between 800 pounds.

This horse breed can live for 40 years. You can find them in different colors, from palomino to chestnut and black.

Mustangs are known as hardy and surefooted horses. They are suitable for working and trailing because they handle different terrains that some breeds struggle with.

This breed is very social and gets along with other pets. However, the introduction should be gradual to avoid the reactiveness and spookiness of Mustangs.

If they are not provoked, they stay calm and very cooperative.

Mustangs are easy to adopt countrywide. You can begin by reviewing the requirements of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

It will cost you $125-$5,000 to adopt from BLM. However, the price can be as high as $15,000 for stallions with outstanding show records.

Belgian Horses

If you need height, Belgian horses may be your option. This breed is a beast that can grow to about 16.2-17 hands tall and weigh up to 2,000 pounds on average.

However, you can find some that grow as tall as 20 hands and weigh as much as 3,200 pounds.

Belgian horses were originally bay in color, but you can nowadays find roan and sorrel in the United States. Some have chestnut coats with flaxen manes and tails.

They are attractive farm animals with pretty white markings on their faces and legs.

The Belgian breed is characterized by small heads, massive bodies and legs, and muscular hindquarters.

They have medium-sized hooves and strong legs, making them suitable as working horses. They can live for up to 30 years.  

Belgian horses are gentle animals but very sensitive. They are ideal family pets and are willing to do work, including pulling, plowing, and logging.

If you are looking for a horse breed that is easy to handle, not easily spooked, and easy-to-handle, Belgian may be the best choice for you.

Belgian horse breed can cost between $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the color, age, health status, training appearance, and physicality.

Clydesdale Horse

Clydesdale horse is another beast we have on this list. It can grow to a height of about 16-18 hands and weighs between 1,600 to 2,400 pounds.

It, however, has a relatively short lifespan of about 25 years.

Clydesdale horses are characterized by long-silky feathering on legs, rounded feet, arched, long neck, and broad forehead.

Its coat color is commonly black, gray, bay, or chestnut, which can be solid or have roan markings or spots. Some have white blazes or bald facial markings.

This breed is intelligent, calm, and easy to train. It, however, requires extra grooming due to its long hair.

These horses are docile and easy to handle, even if you have limited experience with horses. The horses are also playful but are not afraid to do work.

The cost of a Clydesdale horse is between $2,500 and $5,000 from a rescue center or breeder.

Percheron Horses

Percheron horses also fall in the group of very big-sized horses and grow to about 15-19 hands tall and weigh between 1,800 and 2,600 pounds.

These horses are built with broad, flat foreheads, small, upright ears, and arched necks. They can live for up to 30 years.

The Percheron horse breed is mainly black, gray, chestnut, roan, or sorrel.

However, French-bred Percherons are born with black coats but turn gray as they approach adulthood. You can also spot some with faint white markings.

Percheron horses are eager to please their owner, friendly, and have strong work ethics.

They are docile, making them an ideal choice for novice riders. These majestic horses can be intimidating, but they have sweet, tolerant, and easygoing personalities.

The price tag of a Percheron horse is between $1,000 and $10,000. This wide range depends on age, training level, and pedigree.

Arabian Horses

Arabian horses are not as intimidating as Percheron or Belgian horses. They are medium-sized, growing to about 14-16 hands tall and weighing 800-1,000 pounds.

You can identify them with their compact bodies, small, wedge-shaped heads, and long, arched necks. They can live for 30 years, which is the average for most horse breeds.

The most recognized Arabian horse coat colors include bay, gray, chestnut, black, and roan.

They also have white facial markings and stockings on their legs. These horses also possess heavily pigmented skin, giving them a dark color. This feature protects them from the raging desert sun.

Arabian horses are intelligent, friendly, and athletic. They can be loving, loyal, and responsive animals, but they get bored fast.

However, you need experience with horses to train them. But once trained, anyone can use them to do work or just ride on them for pleasure.

This breed is more social than many others. They like the company of human beings and can generally adapt to different conditions.

The average price of an Arabian horse is from $5,000 to $20,000. These horses are famous and easy to find across the United States.

Irish Draught Horses

Irish Draught horses are the iconic farm animals of Ireland. They grow to about 15.2-16.3 hands in height and weigh between 1,300 and 1,500 pounds.

The horses are strong, well-built, and muscular with powerful legs. You can uniquely identify them with their long legs, wide foreheads, and wide-spaced eye.

Irish Draught horses are ideal for riding and hunting. Their well-built, athletic body makes them suitable as farm animals. They are also used by police officers and sportsmen. If you take care of your horse well, it can live for 30 years.

This horse breed is popularly known for its solid coat colors. Gray and chestnut are the most common, but you can find other shades. However, they don’t have excessive white markings.

Irish Draught horses are easygoing and adaptable. They are quick learners, making it easy to harness their power to do work.

Their gentle temperament makes them ideal even to first-timers. However, they require regular exercise and a lot of it.

Irish Draught horses are rare. As a result, they are expensive. Most of them cost about $10,000.

Shire Horses

The Shire is a rare breed of horse. They are massive, with large hooves and featherings on their legs.

These horses can grow to a height of 16-18 hands and weigh between 1,800 and 2,400 pounds. You can identify them with long, arched necks and slightly Roman noses.

Shire horses are best for all levels of riders and owners. They are typically calm, docile, and pleasant.

You don’t need experience with horses to own this breed because they are social. You will get along quite well with your new companion that can live for about 25-30 years.

Shire horses mainly have black, gray, bay, or brown coats. Some of them have white facial and leg markings.

These horses have imposing height and extreme strength. Fortunately, they are easygoing. Tapping their power to do work is never a problem.

The cost of Shire horses varies from $2,000 to $20,000, depending on age, training level, and health status.

Suffolk Punch Horses

The Suffolk Punch horse breed was mainly developed for farm work. This breed stands 16-17 hands tall and weighs 1,800 pounds.

It has short legs and dense bones. The shoulders are inclined upright, a feature that makes them the best choice for power. The back is short, strong, and has long and smooth headquarters.

Suffolk Punch horses have one solid coat color, chestnut. White markings are rarely seen on this breed.

They are known for outstanding gentleness and calmness, strong work ethic, and eagerness to please the owner.

If you are looking for excellent farm work, Suffolk Punch horse is the best option. Its lifespan is about 25-30, but you will get the best out of it at its prime.

Suffolk Punch horses are rare. You may not even get your hands on them. As a result, little is known about their prices. They are mainly not for sale.

Friesian Horse

Friesian horses are sleek and elegant animals mainly used in sports, shows, and family pleasure times.

They stand about 14.2 top 17 hands tall and weigh about 1,300 pounds on average. These horses are sturdy and feature high, arched necks and thick mane and tail.

Unfortunately, Friesian horses have the shortest lifespan of about 16 years. That may not make it the favorite among many homesteaders.

Friesians usually have chestnut, white, or black coats and markings on the legs and faces.

Most of them are black, with chestnut color being the rarest. They are distinguished from other breeds with their strong hindquarters, thick necks, and dense manes and tails.

Friesian horses are gentle and well-mannered. They get along with every member of the family who likes riding.

These horses also do best as workers, being able to pull wagons. However, they have a low tolerance for cold weather.

Frisians are expensive. They can cost $15,000 to upwards of $25,000.

Missouri Fox Trotter Stallion Tioga

Missouri Fox Trotter horses symbolize power. They were popular with the royal families for their appearance and majestic gait.

Missouri Fox Trotter horses typically stand 14 hands tall and weigh between 900 and 1,200 pounds.

Their lifespans range from 20 to 30 years, depending on care and conditions. They have straight face profiles, muscular bodies, and short backs.

At a glance, you will notice slopped and powerful shoulders, sturdy legs, and a full chest of Missouri Fox Trotter horses.

They are built for power, capable of handling challenging terrains and maintaining a smooth ride.

Missouri Fox Trotter horses are exceptionally well-behaved, friendly, and social animals. They are the best choice for trail riders, children, and persons with disabilities.

You can find this breed with chestnut, gray, palomino, black, champagne, and other coat colors.

White face and leg markings are also a common feature of Missouri Fox Trotter horses. They sell for as low as $1,000 and as high as $13,000.

Icelandic Horses

Icelandic horses are famous for the 5th gaits that allow them to trot. Just a few breeds have this capability.

An Icelandic horse stands about 13-14 hands high and can weigh between 730 and 840 pounds.

Another remarkable trait of Icelandic horses is their long lifespan. They can live for 40 years, with some going well above 50 years.

These horses are equally beautiful and come in a broad assortment of more than 40 different colors. Chestnut and brown are the most common coat colors for this horse breed.

Icelandic horses are built for riding. They can take on snowy terrain and thrive in cold conditions. They are also docile and friendly towards people of all ages.

To acquire an Icelandic horse, plan with a budget of $10,000, but you can find some going for less if they are young and untrained.

American Cream Horses

American Cream horses are known for their cream coat colors and white manes and tails. They also have distinct amber eyes.

This breed is docile and willing to handle different tasks, making them suitable for small farms and showing.

American Cream horses grow to about 15-16.3 hands tall and weigh between 1,600 and 2,000 pounds. They thrive in different climatic conditions and live for about 20-35 years.

These horses are calm, gentle, docile, and intelligent. You can choose them for farm work, show, riding, and carriage pulling.

It will move along with other pets and animals with the same temperament.

American Cream horses are expensive because they are rare. Budget with at least $2,500. Some of them are sold at much higher prices.

Horse Breeds to Avoid

Some horse breeds are not suitable for off-gridders or homesteaders. That is because these breeds require experienced persons, high maintenance, aggressive, or spooky. If you are a beginner, avoid the following horse breeds:

• Thoroughbred
• Australian Brumbies
• Akhal-Teke
• Przewalski
• Barb
• Faroese
• Andalusians

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FAQs

Wrapping Up

Horses are great farm animals to complement your off-grid lifestyle. They provide transport and animal power.

You can experience a better life off the grid with the right horse breed. Choose any of the highlighted horse breeds you can afford to discover what you have been missing.

Thank you for reading this article at Em Offgrid. We hope you enjoyed it and found the information you needed about horse breed to buy.

Kindly share this article with other off-gridders with an interest in horses.

Also read:

• 10 Best Homestead Animals (Chicken, Rabbits, Ducks And Mores)
• Keeping Pets When Off-Grid: 6 Things To Prepare

They are well adapted to different climatic conditions and are easy to maintain.

There are different heritage goat breeds in the US, but we will discuss only six. You are not obliged to restrict yourself to the ones on this list, but you can explore more.

We will discuss the origin, purpose, and characteristics of different heritage breeds.

Also, we will highlight the factors you should consider when choosing an appropriate heritage goat breed to keep. Let us dive in for details.

What Are Heritage Goat Breeds?

Simply put, heritage goat breeds were introduced in the US and have been around for a long time. These breeds were developed and adapted to particular conditions.

They never do well on large-scale farms where they are bred commercially. Instead, they are homestead breeds.

Heritage goats are best suited for hobby farmers or just those who want food supplements. They are good producers of meat, milk, and fiber.

People prefer them because of their nutritious value. However, they are about to become extinct due to habitat loss. They are not as popular as they were centuries ago.

The history of goats in North America dates back to the 1500s. That was when the first Spanish explorers arrived in the region.

English settlers also introduced new goat breeds to New England in the 1600s. These two goat breeds make the bulk of heritage goats found in North America.

6 Heritage Goat Breeds

Despite their nutritious value, heritage goats are threatened. In the early 1850s, new goat breeds were introduced in the United States.

More Goat breeds were also imported from Europe, which had better milk production than Spanish and English goats.

Today, there are a few surviving heritage goats you can consider for homesteading. They include the following:

• Golden Guernsey Goats
• Toggenburg Goats
• Oberhasli Goat
• Arapawa Goats
• Spanish Goats
• Tennessee Goats

If goat keeping is your new adventure, you can consider the listed goat breeds. They are ideal for hobby farms, though not common in modern agriculture. Let us get the details of each heritage goat breed.

Golden Guernsey Goats

Golden Guernsey goat breed is one of the rarest heritage goats on this list.

It was developed in the Channel Island of Bailiwick of Guernsey, United Kingdom, in 1920. They were later imported into the US in 1999.

Presently, regulations bar the importation of Golden Guernsey goats into the US. That is the reason for their rarity.

However, the Guernsey Goat Breeders of America still develops this breed by importing semen from the UK.

Golden Guernsey goat is a dairy breed that produces highly nutritious milk known for its high butterfat content. They are docile and medium in size.

A mature goat weighs about 10 pounds, while bucks can weigh 150 pounds. They are characterized by erect ears and short or long fur that gives them golden skin color.

Toggenburg Goats

Toggenburg goats are some of the oldest goat breeds we have on the planet. They originated from Switzerland in 1892 and are well adapted to the cold climate.

Their thick coats shield them against adverse winter climates.

Toggenburg goat breeds can be short or medium-size and covered by soft, fine fur. They have a range of skin color shades from light to dark brown.

You can easily distinguish them from other breeds by their white ears featuring dark spots in the middle, two white stripes running down their faces, whitetails, and white legs.

These goats also weigh 120 pounds and have an average milk production. Their milk tastes musky. So, be sure you are comfortable with that before buying the Toggenburg goat breed for rearing.

Oberhasli Goat

Oberhasli goats are native to Switzerland when they are called the Swiss Alpine. This breed was introduced in the US in the early 1900s as docile dairy breeds.

They were crossbred with others that led to their extinction in the country.

The pure Oberhasli goat breed was redeveloped and maintained from 1936. Their name changed from Swiss Alpine to Oberhasli in 1977.

This breed remained unrecognized by the American Dairy Goat Association until the 1960s.

The Oberhasli goats have light tan to reddish-brown coats with black markings on their entire body. They are also characterized by erect ears and straight faces.

Mature female Oberhasli goats weigh 120 pounds, while males weigh 150 pounds. Does give birth to twins or even triplets after a gestation period of about 150 days.

Arapawa Goats

Arapawa goats are nearly extinct in the US. There are just about 200 domesticated goats of this breed in the entire country, making it one of the rarest goat breeds to find.

You can give them another chance to multiply by giving them a place to live in your homestead.

These goats originated from an Island in New Zealand. The available information states that they are the descendants of the Old English goats introduced there by European explorers in the 1600s.

The population of Arapawa goats became threatened with the introduction of more productive breeds on the island.

Arapawa goats were imported into the US in the 1990s. They are small-size goats that weigh just 60 pounds when mature, while bucks can weigh  65 pounds more.

They are docile and characterized by long black, brown, or white hair. They are preferred as a pet goat.

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Spanish Goats

Spanish goats are dual-purpose breeds, meaning they can be kept for milk and meat. They originated from Spain and became dominant goat breeds in the US for many centuries.

Their population declined when other goat breeds were introduced and crossbreeding carried out.

Despite the reported pure Spanish goat population decline, there is still a good number. According to the Spanish Goat Association, about 8,000 pure Spanish goats are in the US.

The association is currently reaching out to breeders to help restore the Spanish goats’ population.

Spanish goats are excellent foragers that adapt to living in rugged landscapes. The does weigh just 50 pounds, while bucks are the heaviest of all other heritage goats, weighing up to 200 pounds.

They are horned and have a range of body appearances. You can find them in white, black, and other decorative coats.  

Tennessee Goats

The origin of Tennessee goats can be traced back to the 1880s when a laborer from Nova Scotia came to Central Tennessee with four stiff goats. They instantly became popular across the region.

These goats were less likely to escape from fenced pasture lands than other goats.

Tennessee goats became more popular for their muscular conformation and high reproduction rate. Farmers in the region liked them and named them the fainting goats.

In the 1950s, some Tennessee goats were taken to central Texas. They were further developed for meat production.

The Tennessee goats vary in size. A mature one can weigh anywhere from 60 to 175 pounds. They are characterized by large ears, concave faces, twisted horns, and short or long hairs.

Tennessee meat goats have different color combinations. You can find black and white, solid tan, all white, black, tan and white, and roan.

4 Factors To Consider When Choose Heritage Goat Breeds

Choosing the appropriate goat breed is crucial when venturing into goat keeping. Some are adapted to rugged terrain, some wet areas, while some do well in fenced pastures.

Different goat breeds also have varied production rates. You have to consider these and the following factors:

• Availability
• Purpose
• Climatic condition
• Time and budget

Let us discuss the listed factors in detail to understand how each of them influences your decision.

Availability

Some heritage goat breeds are rarer compared to others. That will influence your choice because you don’t want to traverse the country searching for a particular goat breed.

You may be told to wait in the queue or the protected goat breeds.

In our opinion, choose a heritage goat breed that is readily available in your area. It will save you time and the cost of acquisition.

Define Purpose Or Simply Your Hobby

Why do you need to venture into goat keeping? Is it for milk, meat, or both? Some people also prefer keeping goats as a hobby.

Different breeds are suited for varying purposes. So, it is up to you to define the purpose and go for the appropriate goat breed.

For example, Tennessee goats are best for meat, and Oberhasli goats are for milk. If you need a dual-purpose goat breed, consider Spanish goats.

But if keeping goats is your hobby, Arapawa goats are the best choice.

Choose A Breed That Is Suitable For Your Climate

Heritage goat breeds are adapted to different climatic conditions. Some will do well in wet areas, and others are tough to handle drought and rugged landscape.

You risk getting low production or even death if you choose an inappropriate breed for your location.

Toggenburg goats would be the best choice for wet climatic conditions, while Spanish goats are well adapted to rough terrain. They are good foragers, making them survive even in severe droughts.

If you still don’t have a place or if you are just planning to live off-grid, here are the 14 Places Have Best Climate For Off Grid Living.

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Your Time And Budget

Goat keeping requires starting capital and your time to care for them. Some breeds are more resilient to parasites and disease, requiring less attention.

Others can also survive even when food is scarce. All these attributes will influence your choice.

Different heritage goat breeds have varying price tags. Some are pricey, requiring more capital to acquire.

Perform market research to know the goat breeds you can afford and maintain once you have them on your farm.

FAQs

The Final Sentences

Heritage goats are easy to maintain and give high-quality products. You can consider different goat breeds for keeping. That, however, depends on your location and intended purpose.

You can keep goats for meat, milk, both, or just as a hobby. You only need to choose an appropriate breed.

If you are looking for other animals to raise while living off-grid, here are the 10 Best Homestead Animals For Off-Grid Living

Thank you for choosing to read this article at the Em Offgrid. We appreciate your time and invite you to explore the site for related posts and share the information with your friends and other homesteaders. 

On the contrary, dogs are considered one of the best friendly animals for off-grid living. 

The best dog breeds for off-grid living will allow you to find the most suitable one for everyday life. You can start with the right breed and expand your off-grid dog nurture activities. 

All breeds are not suitable for a particular area. So, you have to understand several things while selecting a breed for off-grid living. 

Besides, you have to consider the habit and protective nature of the dog breed. 

In this writing, we present the best dog breeds for off-grid living. Similarly, we will discuss the necessity of dogs and help you to select the right dog breed. Let’s get started. 

Why Do You Need A Dog For Off-grid Living?

A dog is the friendliest animal that will give you company in different conditions. Having a dog will allow you to get several benefits off-grid. 

You will feel less alone in a remote place, and it keeps your heart well. Besides, a dog has the extreme capability to escape the crisis. 

A good dog breed has some instinctual behavior that will help you a lot in an off-grid location. 

This social animal will play with you and maintain a social connection at your home. You can go for a morning trip with your dog and ask to do several movements at home. 

So, you will have a social, friendly, and protective animal when you get a dog as a pet. 

How To Choose the Right Dog Breed for Off-Grid Living?

Selecting a dog breed is a challenge for off-grid living. You can not choose a breed without analyzing several issues. 

Our goal is to provide you with the right information for selecting the right dog breed. 

We consider several issues and make a shortlist for you. It will enable you to search for the best dog breed confidently. 

So, you must consider these three issues. Let’s explore.

Determine The Purpose

First, you have to determine the purpose of using a dog. You can use it for hunting or protecting livestock against wild animals.

Besides, some breeds will alert you of unwanted guests. Furthermore, you can take a dog just to become your companion. 

Your Environment Suitable For The Dog Breed

You have to select breeds that are suitable for your surroundings and environment. You have to understand the surroundings and weather before selecting a breed. 

The geographic location is a significant factor that will allow you to find the best dog breed for off-grid living. Your location will decide which breed is most suitable for you. 

Besides, it is important to consider other available animals around your home. 

Your Favorite

The dog will be your companion. You should prioritize your choice and select your favorite breed.

It is better to search on the internet or experience the dig practically before choosing a particular breed.

Best Dog Breeds Review

Here we review the best 14 dog breeds for off-grid living. We include these good breeds that are suitable for rural areas.

Similarly, we try to ensure breeds with the best behavior. Our goal is to provide you with a convenient experience regarding dog breed. Let’s explore. 

Border Collie

First, we have the Border Collie that is an amazing dog. You can own it without too much time, energy, and special care.

This energetic breed is perfect for a whole day’s company. It has a protective nature, and it is perfect for agility training.

You will get a stable performance from this dog in off-grid living. It will make you happy and get compatible with the surroundings.

They can tolerate cold weather but cannot live outside in it. So, they need you to take care of them and provide shelter.

You will like the famous eyes and fast movement of this dog. You can carry it easily in any place because the size is medium.

The muscular look and sophisticated body will give you a standard pet experience. 

Border Collie might be aggressive to strangers. You need special care to behave with an unknown person. It will help you to keep the dog calm in every situation. 

Beagle

Next, we include Beagle in this list. This dog breed comes with chasing nature and can be a protector against rabbits, raccoons, and other insects and animals.

It will be the best decision to choose this breed for off-grid living. 

You will get an active partner in a remote place and can enhance the protection of your living area. If you can arrange a few Beagles together, you will get the best output.

This hunting dog has a happy and funny behavior that you will get from its expression. Besides, it is easy to maintain, and you will get a reliable company even in a remote place. 

Furthermore, the pleasing colors of this dog breed will attract you undoubtedly. The lemon, red, and white colors are the most famous, and you will love them. 

It can be easily found, and you have to spend $500-$2,000 for a puppy. 

Weimaraner

Weimaraner is a family dog that has an excellent bird hunting capability. This breed is gentle and can survive in all weather conditions.

You will like this German dog breed for several reasons. The attractive color with a spot on the body makes it highly appealing as a pet. 

Besides, the friendly nature makes it the best companion with other pets, including a cat. 

The shoulder of this dog is around 27 inches. Furthermore, the blue-gray eyes and solid color come with a unique combination. 

So, you will have a pet with balanced activity and beauty. The easy grooming and lovely nature will allow you to take the dog with you for a long time. 

You should keep this dog physically active and ensure mental engagement. It will give you the best pet experience. You will get it for $700- $1000

Australian Shepherd

Now, we include Australian Shepherd in this list. This dog breed is ideal for off-grid living, and you can easily train them for different activities. The breed is related to cowboy life.

The most interesting thing is that the Australian Shepherd has an irresistible appeal to other dogs, birds, and kids. 

You have to train it properly and give a flexible space for different activities. It will reduce the attacking behavior.

It comes with medium size, a clean body, and attractive eyes. You can handle it confidently in all movements.

However, this breed will be your perfect companion for sport, daily activity, security, and outdoor exploration. 

You should remember one thing that you cannot keep this dog with your kids before providing proper training. It might destroy your plan in off-grid living. This breed will cost you around $650-$850. 

Bouvier des Flandres

Next, we have a dog breed that is ideal for off-grid farmers. The Bouvier des Flandres is called a farm dog, and it can work hard.

This intelligent dog breed will provide you with an ideal experience for different services. 

You can call it a guard dog, and the dog will assist you in enhancing house security. You will get a wise solution for surveillance and watching in off-grid areas. 

It comes with mixed experiences, including obedience, agility, and family companions.

The body structure is ideal for surviving in farm areas, and the skin is like a waterproof coat. It can perform in the rain for a long time.

The most positive behavior of this dog breed is its friendliness. It is affectionate and playful with all humans. It can be your best companion and family member. You can easily find the dog for $1,500-$2,000. 

Mutts

Mutt is a mixed breed. It means you will find this dog in all shapes, sizes, and patterns.

You can identify Mutts with their stubby tail and giant spot over the left eye.  The breed will increase the possibility of dog breeding. 

You can’t say Mutt is a watching or guard dog. But, it will make your home secure if proper training is provided. The process depends on how you will treat the dog.

You will get a reliable and active dog for off-grid life. They have calm behavior and will follow your command and order. It will help you a lot in a remote place. 

So, select your favorite size, shape, and color and get a trustworthy partner in off-grid living. Mutts’ price depends on the price of the combined breeds. You can get it for $600. 

Labrador Retriever

If you are looking for a dog breed for a friendly companion with useful nature, the Labrador Retriever will be your best partner in off-grid life. 

It has a historical reputation as a fishermen’s helper. You can use this British dog breed for hauling nets, fetching ropes, and retrieving fish from the chilly. 

Nowadays, Labrador Retrievers are considered hard-working and America’s most popular dog.

In general, this dog breed is used for different purposes. It is ideal for rescue operations, hunting, assisting, and searching.

The body structure of this dog is attractive. The wide head, glimmer eyes, and soft neck make it a perfect companion for adults and kids.

You have to ensure a proper environment to keep this dog active. It requires special physical exercise and activities.

The most common are swimming and running. So, you will have a reliable and active dog breed off-grid if you choose the Labrador Retriever.  The price is perfect, and you will get it for $800-$1,200. 

German Shepherd

German Shepherd is suitable for all purposes. It fits every situation excellently and supports you in different locations. The breed is intelligent with a muscular and large body.

The character of this dog is versatile, and you will have a loyal, confident, courageous, and steady dog in an off-grid area.

It can be said that German Shepherd will delight your off-grid pet experience.

The body outline of this dog is muscular. It has smooth skin and curved angles on the neck. 

You will find several reasons for having a German Shepherd in off-grid. Loyalty, courage, and confidence are the most significant characteristics of this dog breed.

It will follow your command confidently and provide a faster response. Besides, the breed has no problem with other dogs and pets. You can keep it to maintain a good pet living in a remote place.

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• Large Dog Molle Vest: Neck Girth: 27.4” - 35.6” (70 - 90.4cm), Chest Girth: 34” - 42.3” (86.4 - 107.4cm), Belly Length: 13.3” - 17.7” (33.8 - 45cm), Back Length: 11.4” (29cm). Ideal for Large Breeds such as German Shepherds, Belgian Malinois, Golden Retrievers, Huskie, Labrador, Akita, etc. A professional working dog vest for service, police, or military dogs, but also suitable for hunting and all outdoor companion dogs
• Military-standard Material: Heavy duty vest made of 1050D Nylon with sturdy stitching for extra durability and wearability, suitable for all field use. Two Metal Shoulder Buckles can bear great pulling force, ensuring your dog is safely harnessed during training, hunting, working, and any other occasion. Well padded in every pressure load point to protect your dog, while the breathable air mesh keeps your dog ventilated and comfortable
• Practical Design For Versatile Use: Molle system equipped on both sides for pouches, water bottles, and tactical dog gear. Multiple Hook & Loop Panels for morale patches and badges to showcase your dog’s personality. A wide range of use for personal service, law enforcement, hunting, or outdoor recreation

$38.99

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Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russell Terrier is a clever, lively, and independent dog breed. With a charming and affectionate nature, the dog can survive all weather conditions.

If you like a sporty dog, it will be your best companion. It can work continuously and move forward faster compared to other breeds.

This small, adorable, and compact size dog will be the best pet at your off-grid house. If you live alone in an off-grid house, this dog can be used as a guard.

To keep this dog active, you have to make a plan for plenty of exercise and outdoor performance. After the beginning stage, you can handle it easily and use it for different purposes. 

So, take this effortless dog breed to expand your pet experience off-grid. 

Great Dane

The Great Dane is named after its behavior and size. It is a great breed with 32 inches in height and 70kg weight. The dog has a mixed color with black spots on white. 

This pure dog breed is ideal for security, shelters, and rescue operations. You can select this dog for off-grid living to get an excellent company.

It is friendly and has a positive attitude towards other animals.

In some places, it is known as Apollo of Dogs. You will like its giant size and muscular attitude. 

Besides, it has enough strength to perform in difficult situations. You will find a perfect balance of size and power.

With the smooth and perfect skin tone, you can enjoy indoors and outdoors with this dog. 

So, it is a mixture of true courage and power. You have to spend around $600-$1,300 for this German breed. 

Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog is an ideal breed for the powerful and hard working. The dog has a unique nature, and you will get affectionate behavior from it. 

In general, it has an agile attitude towards strangers but perfectly merges with the owner.

The size is large and comes with a 27 inches long shoulder. Besides, the skin is black with a silky and thick coat. You will like the white spot under the neck. 

You will find a distinctive mark on the eyes with an intelligent sign. 

Bernese Mountain will help you with multiple tasks, and it can survive in cold weather. The breed can perfectly live in a family with senior citizens and kids.

You will get extra support in off-grid living if you choose this dog breed. The price of this breed is around $800-$2,000. 

Siberian Huskies

If you are looking for a medium-sized dog, it will be your best partner in off-grid living. The breed is known for its great endurance, dignity, and friendliness. 

It can survive in cold weather, including snow and rain. The dog is clean and easy to maintain. You don’t need special care or tools for it. 

Besides, the brown eyes with a smooth body convey the graceful attitude of this dog. You can take it in off-grid living for a powerful and effortless attitude.

Furthermore, this breed is friendly with humans and other dogs. So, you will have a simple and elegant family dog. The friendliness of this dog will make your kids happy.

You will like the fast-running speed and loads chasing power of this dog. You will have a friendly and powerful pet when living off-grid. You can get this breed easily and the price starts from $600. 

Bullmastiff

Now, we have a muscular dog that is fearless and harmless at home. The Bullmastiff is powerful and ready to help you in off-grid living. 

It has a large shape with a heavy weight. In general, an adult Bullmastiff weighed between 100 to 130 pounds. 

Besides, it will make a great impression on humans and other animals with V-shaped ears and dark eyes. 

Furthermore, the dog will make you happy with different activities. You can use it for playing and walking alone in the morning.

Though it has a large shape and size, you can easily control it in every situation. Proper training and socialization will make this breed ideal for family and off-grid living. 

The dog will help you with different tasks. It can be used for security, rescue, and outdoor activities. The bullmastiff price starts from $1,000.

Coonhound

Finally, we have the Coonhound that is a sleek and racy dog. If you are looking for a sporty dog with great performance, it will be the best companion in off-grid living. 

The dog is ready to give you company in different sports activities. You can start your exercise and morning walk off-grid with this dog. 

This medium size dog comes with a muscular look and gentle behavior. You will get a sweet temperament and gentle behavior from this dog. 

Besides, the dog has an attractive color and a beautiful outlook. It is naturally clean and comes with a smooth body. 

The dog needs special training and socialization to make them physically and mentally stable. So, you will get a gentle and active dog in off-grid areas.

This is an expensive breed, and you have to pay $5,000-$8,000 for this breed. 

lynxking Check Cord Dog Leash Long Lead Training Tracking Line Comfortable Handle Heavy Duty Puppy Rope 10ft 15ft 30ft 50ft for Small Medium Large Dog

lynxking Check Cord Dog Leash Long Lead Training Tracking Line Comfortable Handle Heavy Duty Puppy Rope 30ft for Small Medium Large Dog

• SUITABLE THICKNESS CHECK CORD: To find a balance between weight and strength. 3/8” is a suitable thickness for long training dog leash, it has both strength and portability
• NO TANGLE LONG ROPE LEASH: the round climbing rope and 360 degree rotating clasp design long training leash will not tangle whether it is in use or when you roll it up, great for hiking, camping, training, hunting, backyard, beach, recall training, outdoor play with tennis balls, and swimming
• LIGHTWEIGHT AND NOT ABSORB WATER: soft and lightweight Non-absorbent material won't get more and more heavy in the water and won’t sink, it will float when submerged and highly visible against any background.

$18.49

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Personality Thinking

I had a dog when I was 10 years old. He has been with me for 11 years. Up to now, he still has great memories in my mind. I have never known such an intelligent and loyal dog.

Luckily, I still have a few pictures of him. You know, if your family has kids. Get a dog. That can create wonderful meanings in life beyond your imagination.

Best Dog Breeds for Off-grid Living FAQs

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, it can be said that a dog will give you the best company in off-grid living. You have to select the best dog by considering several features and issues. 

You can select a breed based on your choice, location, and wish. Besides, it is also important to consider the characteristics and behavior of a dog before finalizing your decision.

The size is also an important issue when it comes to off-grid dog breed selection. It is better to select a large and medium-sized dog to get a muscular attitude. 

Furthermore, you need an active and gentle dog that will take care of your different tasks in a remote area. 

If you want to know more about keeping pets when off-grid, click here.

The best homestead animals will give you support for different purposes and enable you to fulfill multiple demands. 

It is a wise solution to select necessary and active homestead animals. Before selecting animals, you have to ensure that you know about them. 

Without having proper accommodation, residence, and knowledge, you cannot start your homestead animal farming.

Besides, you have to understand the breeding process, daily activities, and cost. It will allow you to get a holistic idea about selected animals.

In this writing, we present the best homestead animals for off-grid living. We include different parts of these animals to ensure proper cultivation. 

Benefits of Homestead Animals

The benefits of homestead animals are more than you think. You will get distinct opportunities from different animals. 

It depends on the types of animals. You will get food, security, and a sustainable off-grid farming opportunity with homestead animals. 

You can also earn something more from homestead animals. Besides, some animals will maintain a healthy chain in farming.

Furthermore, you can manage fresh food items instantly at home. So, it is better to cultivate and increase the number of homestead animals at your home. 

How To Choose Homestead Animals To Raise

Selecting the right homestead animals is not so tough. You can select them easily if you have proper guidance and resources. You have to consider several things and ensure that you are on the right path.

Our goal is to enable you to select the most beneficial animals. We include four significant features that will enable you to select the best homestead animals. 

Determine The Purpose

First, you have to consider the purpose of the animal. You cannot produce an egg from rabbits. You need chicken for egg and meat.

So, it is an important issue, and you should prioritize the matter while selecting homestead animals. 

Your Environment Suitable For Animals

You have to consider the geographical location and environmental suitability of the animal. Different animals require distinct climates and weather.

All animals can not survive in the same location. 

Besides, you have to understand the surroundings and other available animals in the place.

Care Requirement

Wild animals can grow independently, and they don’t need special care. But you have to maintain the standard caring time for each type of homestead animal. 

It is important to select the best place and ensure proper care. Similarly, you need to select the working time and the exact number of animals. 

Personal Preference

Personal preference is an important issue. If you don’t like an animal, you won’t give time to it. It might reduce caring hours and productivity.

So, you have to prioritize your choice and ensure that you have passion for them.

10 Best Homestead Animals

In this article, we review the best ten homestead animals. We selected these items because they are ideal for your backyard.

You will get a charming and healthy environment with these animals. Besides, we consider the benefits and home compatibility of each animal. 

Dogs

First, we include dogs. It is a friendly and helpful homestead animal. You will get several benefits from a dog. You can select your favorite dog breed and get it as your best companion.

However, a dog is the best homestead animal for security, playfulness, and companionship. You will have an enjoyable time with this pet. 

In general, dogs are the most common homestead animal. There are different sizes and shapes. You can choose the most affectionate breed.

You can keep a dog with you indoors, and it doesn’t require special shelter. After the socialization process, it will act as your family member.

You can buy dog breeds from the local livestock breed sellers, and the price varies depending on the type. You have to spend around $300 to $1,800 for a perfect dog breed. 

Furthermore, a dog is friendly to senior citizens, kids, and other animals. You must keep this trustworthy animal with you. 

Pros

Friendly and trustworthy

Easy socialization process

Can be used for security and hunting

Cons

Need regular food and vaccine 

Chickens

Can you imagine a home backyard without chicken? The most common and beneficial animal/bird that you will find all over the world is chicken. 

Chickens will give you meat, eggs and you can produce it on a large scale without too much investment.

Chicken meat is suitable for different dishes and recipes. You can use chicken as a secondary item to prepare other food. 

This bird has no objection to other animals. It can be cultivated openly or under a close shade. If you go for a large scale, you will need a standard shade house. 

You can purchase chicks from the nearest hatchery or produce from eggs. It is the easiest way to cultivate chicken at home. 

You will need less than $30 each month to maintain a backyard chicken farm. 

Chickens don’t have any effect on senior citizens and kids. But you have to ensure cleanliness and the vaccination process. Sometimes, chickens bear deadly viruses. 

Pros

Perfect for meat and egg

Easy and convenient cultivation

Cost-effective

Cons

Need special care in winter 

Ensure shelter against other carnivorous animals 

Rabbits

Next, we include rabbits in this list. This is a tranquil animal for your backyard. You can produce fresh meat home from rabbits. 

Rabbit farming is easy, and you don’t need to spend more time on this homestead animal. It comes with a low disease rate. 

Besides, rabbits don’t have problems with other animals. But you must give separate space for rabbits. Dogs or goats can be harmful to rabbits.

The size is perfect for the backyard, and you can cultivate a large number of rabbits at home. It eats less food and most of the time is engaged with vegetables. 

You can find rabbit breeds in the local breed seller or at your trusted farm. Make sure that you are getting the right breed for your home.

You need around $30 to $100 for a rabbit depending on the size and type. 

Pros

Easy to groom 

Require less food

No special equipment is required

Cons

You need separate space for rabbits 

Ducks

We have an attractive homestead animal that can produce eggs and meat. You will easily find ducks in any place. Ducks require the least caring and food. 

You can start duck farming without investing too much. You need a baby pool and a small shelter to keep them secure. 

In general, ducks spend all day on the water, and they don’t require any special equipment except the pool or pond. If you already have a pond, you can easily include ducks in your homestead gallery.

A duck will give you eggs that contain a higher protein value than chickens. Besides, you can use duck meat with different recipes. 

You can store processed meat for further use. It will reduce your cost of meat.

It is better to separate ducks from dogs and pigs. They might be dangerous to ducks.

Pros

You will get meat and eggs

Processed meat can be used for different purposes

Cons

Sometimes they are messy 

Goats

Now, we are introducing goats, a large homestead animal. It is available in off-grid areas and is famous for meat production.

Goats are tranquil, active, and useful animals all over the world. The size and color depending on the breed, and you can choose the most suitable one for your location.

You can produce meat and milk from goats. The milk is suitable for producing different types of dessert items. Goat meat contains high calories, and you can store meat for a long time with different processes. 

Goat breed is available in local breed stores, or you can use artificial insemination for faster production. This homestead animal can cope up with different animals without any problem.

Besides, goat farming is not expensive, and you can take care of this animal without spending too much time. It needs food in a timely fashion and most of the time takes grass.

Goats are friendly to senior citizens and kids. You don’t need special training and equipment. 

Pros

Easy breeding and affordable farming

Food is available everywhere

Cons

Need more space 

Sheep

Sheep is an ideal backyard animal, and you can raise it easily within a selected space. If you have some space and want to get fat-free meat, sheep will be the best choice.

Sheep can’t disturb your daily household work, and they will produce a lot of meat every year. 

The large and medium-sized sheep are perfect for the backyard. You can get a flock of sheep if you have a large space. 

Sheep come with almost the same eating habit as goats. They are not heavy eaters. 

You can manage their food easily within your budget. So, it can be said that sheep are friendly animals and best for meat production. 

You will get the best sheep breed from the local breed seller. It costs around $150 per head. 

Pros

Mild and friendly animal

Don’t eat excessive food

Cons

They can’t tolerate excessive cold weather 

Cows

In your livestock farming list, you cannot ignore cows. This is the best homestead animal for backyard farming since ancient times.

This large domestic animal is ideal for off-grid living and farming. You will get meat and milk from cows.

The size and shape depend on breed type. There are thousands of breeds available for cattle and dairy farming.

In general, cows eat straws and grass. You can produce a little bit of grass in the backyard for cows, goats, and sheep.

Furthermore, the process of cow meat is ideal for everyday use, and you can use it with other recipes. 

Cow stool is the best item for organic manure. It will enhance the fertility of your land and produce more crops.

Cows are friendly to other animals and humans. You don’t get any difficulty while caring for this ancient homestead animal.

The annual cost for backyard cow farming is between $500 to $1,000 per head. 

Pros

It enhance famer’s earning

Can survive in all weather conditions 

Cons

Need a large and open space 

Pigs

Pig is an ideal homestead animal, and you can start raising pigs in the backyard. 

This livestock is perfect for farmers and off-grid residents. You will get multiple benefits from pigs. For example, it will produce meat and clean your land.

Pig comes with a muddy nature and always destroys the weeds. You can start raising a flock of pigs to get a stable backyard farming experience. 

Vegetables are the most common food for pigs, and you can provide other foods, including bread. 

The cost is affordable, and each pig requires around $120 per year.

Pros

Dual benefit

Easy to maintain and take less space

Cons

Messy and lack of cleanliness 

Fish

Fish cultivation is a challenging part of your backyard farming. You can reduce the pressure from meat and cultivate different types of fish in an off-grid house.

You need a medium-sized pond and freshwater for fish farming. 

Besides, a pond can be used for raising ducks and fish. It will save cost and space.

The size and shape are different depending on the types. You can start with your favorite fish item and include more after understanding the condition.

Fish can’t interact with other animals because they will live in the pond. So, you don’t need to heritage about the friendliness and characteristics of fishes. 

You have to spend around $3,000 per acre for farming fish in off-grid areas. It depends on your location and average cost. 

Pros

Doesn’t require special care

Grow faster than other animals 

Cons

You need a pond

270 Gallon Pond Kit with Lighting

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Koolatron Koolscapes 270 Gallon Pond Kit with Lighting, 270 Gallon with Sola, Black

• Flexible 8x10 Ft Liner: One-piece sheet design lets you make your 270 gal pond the ideal shape to suit your space without being limited by a molded plastic insert; durable non-toxic material is safe for koi, goldfish, and frogs
• Customizable Fountain: Kit includes two interchangeable fountain head nozzles, diverter, and telescopic riser to let you create a water bell or double daisy spray effect, customize fountain height and flow rate, and add an optional waterfall
• Filter-Free 200 GPH Pump: Fully submerged 200 gallon per hour pump (Koolscapes PJ-200) runs quietly with minimal power consumption; filter free design is easy to clean and maintain

$153.99

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Bees

Honeybees are the best option for homestead farming. You will get raw honey from this small animal, and it is almost free of cost.

You have to prepare a suitable shelter. It might be your garden, poolside, or in a bunch of trees. 

Before starting, it is necessary to learn the harvesting process. It is a skilled task, and you can do it the first time.

The initial set is expensive, but you will get more fresh honey. 

Bee cultivation requires special security, and you have to install the equipment at a safe distance from kids and other animals.

Bamboo Nesting Habitat – Garden Shelter for Bees

Navaris XL Wooden Insect Hotel - 9 x 16 x 3 Inches - Natural Wood Insect Home Bamboo Nesting Habitat - Garden Shelter for Bees, Butterflies, Ladybugs

• AIR-BEE-N-BEE: With the Navaris Extra Large Insect Hotel, you can offer mason bees, butterflies, ladybugs, green lacewings and other pollinator insects a safe environment for shelter and nesting in the backyard, on the terrace, patio or the balcony.
• ALL NATURAL: All materials used for the bug hotel are made of natural materials, such as pine wood, bamboo and pine cone, and are not painted. The different filling materials attract a variety of different bugs and address their needs.
• PROTECTION FROM RAIN: The pointed roof has been fitted with sheet iron to protect the bee house from rain, so less moisture enters the wood.

$43.99

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4 Important Things to Help You Raise Homestead Animals Better

Here, we find some important things that will allow you to raise homestead animals better. We considered several issues and included these four items. 

Our target is to enrich you with valuable knowledge to ensure healthy backyard animals’ growth. Let’s explore.

A Plan For Homestead Animals

You need a clear and concise plan to start. At the very beginning, you have to estimate your investment and the number of animals. 

It will enable you to operate and manage all the secondary things related to homesteading animal farming.

Research How To Raise Homestead Animals

Each animal comes with a distinct requirement for food, care, and needs. To fulfill their requirements, you have to collect data and go systematically. 

Learn How To Harvesting Livestock Products

Harvesting livestock products is a challenge, and you can’t do it without proper training. You have to learn the process and ensure that everything is going systematically. 

For example, you cannot collect and harvest meat and eggs from rabbits. Harvesting milk from goats or cows also requires skill to do it properly.

Learn to know the products of each type of livestock. That helps you choose the right, care for them better, and also better address your needs.

Learn How To Process Your Livestock Products

You cannot use all the livestock products directly. You have to learn the systematic way of processing. It will give you the proper guideline to store and use the products.

Each item requires a distinct process, and you should know your selected animals. 

Conclusion

Finally, it can be said that homestead animals are perfect for multiple benefits. You will get a stable resource for producing meat, milk, eggs, and honey. 

Besides, you can prepare different items with meat. So, you will have a reliable and flexible backyard farming experience.

You have to understand the surroundings and weather before selecting the animal list. You cannot raise all the animals in a particular area.

It is important to establish proper shelter and living space based on the characteristics and habits of the animals.

We recommend researching the possibility, cost, profit, and benefits of the animal. 

But how much land do you need for that? The ability to determine the size of land you need can make the difference.

Some people enjoy living off the grid because they have the right resources, including land. Before making the decision, you should consider it and where to buy it.

Knowing how much land you need for self-sufficiency is a lengthy process. But with the factors described in this article, it should never be a problem for you. Continue reading to find out more!

What Does Self-Sufficient Mean?

Self-sufficiency means being able to satisfy one’s basic needs without seeking outside aid, especially regarding food production. You can also become emotionally and intellectually independent.

To become independent or self-sufficient, you can grow your own food and access all necessary resources.

If you are self-sufficient, you possess a strong locus of control. You determine your own course and make decisions without any influence from an outsider.

Depending on others for help can be easy, but it is not the best habit to adopt. However, becoming independent can also be scary.

Apart from producing your own food and pulling your resources, you also increase your self-esteem.

Self-sufficiency saves you money. It also protects you from the vicissitudes of life. It also helps you protect the environment.

As an independent individual, you can live comfortably without anyone else.

How Much Land Do You Need To Be Self-Sufficient?

Being 100% self-sufficient can be a fantasy that many people are willing to achieve. It may look easy at a glance, but there is much more to consider.

We are not saying it is impossible to live off the grid without depending on anyone. It is that you need to know what factors to consider.

The main factor, in this case, is the land. You need a plot where you will establish yourself. But how much land do you need? A simple homestead can be constructed on a ¼ acre of land.

But if you plan to fetch firewood on the same piece of land, you will require at least 5 acres of land per person.

If you have a family of 4, you will need about 20 acres of land. It can be less or more, depending on the age of the individuals.

Also, if you want to keep livestock, you will need much more land. That can be about 30 acres.

The figures mentioned here assume that the area receives enough rainfall and is productive. Otherwise, you may need much larger land parcels or heavy investment to be self-sufficient.

So, does it mean you cannot be self-independent on a smaller piece of land? No. It is possible to be self-sufficient on a small parcel, but you will need higher initial capital.

The general rule is that the smaller the piece, the more starting capital you need. You need to highly develop the land to sustain yourself and your family.

6 Importance Factors That Influence How Much Land You Need

The size of land needed for self-sufficiency depends on many factors. You have to consider everything before making the bold step. Don’t do it because your friends did, but first consider the following:

• The number of people in the family.
• Land for growing.
• Land for livestock.
• Your diet and lifestyle.
• The available workforce to make land work.
• Other purposes with your land.

These are the key factors to consider when determining the land size needed for self-sufficiency. With them, you will get more accurate approximations. Let us discuss them in detail.

The Number Of People In The Family

Your household determines the size of land you need to live independently. As mentioned, you need at least five acres per person. So, you can always do your math.

You may even need less if you don’t plan on fetching firewood on the same piece of land.

Some off-gridders adopt other ways of getting their energy for cooking, such as biogas.

If you have animal waste, you can eliminate the need for firewood by installing a biogas digester system. However, that will raise the starting capital.

If you want to be self-sufficient in a small piece of land, you should be ready to invest heavily in it. Otherwise, go for the convention of five acres per person.

Land For Growing

Being self-sufficient implies you can grow your own food. So, you should have at least a garden where you will plant vegetables, herbs, fruit trees, and many others. You also need forested land for fetching firewood.

Once you know the number of people in your family, you can calculate the quantities of vegetables and crops you need to produce every season.

Using that fact, you can calculate the land size needed for self-sustainability.

Land For Growing Vegetables and Other Crops

The size of the land you need for growing vegetables and other crops depends on the individual crops you need. Every crop variety requires different spacing in the field.

Also, the method of cultivation determines the land required. Check more information in the table below:

You don’t require as much land for greenhouse vegetables as you need for open field cultivation.

You can get a considerable quantity in a small area if you opt for a greenhouse system. But again, you should be prepared for high initial capital.

Land For Growing Orchard Cultivation and Fruit

Fruit trees cover a large piece of land. The more you need, the larger the parcel you will require.

Whether you plant them for family use or to sell, you will have to consider the space requirements for every fruit tree in your garden.

We also know that some fruit trees require larger parcels of land while others can even use the fence as their growing space.

Vine fruits can be planted along the fence line to save on space. But you cannot do the same with mango trees and other fruits. So, determine the fruit varieties you wish to include in your orchard.

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• Comfortable Folding Garden Stool – The included stool with steel frame and polyester canvas seat provides a comfortable and stable surface while planting or weeding. It helps reduce strain during longer gardening sessions.
• Heavy-Duty Tools with Wooden Handles – Each tool features durable wooden handles with hanging holes for easy organization. Strong, rust-resistant steel heads withstand tough yard work, soil turning, and weed pulling.

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A Forested Area

You need a forested area for different reasons. Your life off-grid can never be complete if you can’t emulate the natural environment.

In many cases, the forested area takes the most land. Trees in the forest ensure the air around your home is pure.

Trees also act as windbreaks and absorb noise. You also can use dry twigs as firewood. The forested area can be as big as you want, but it should be enough to meet your family’s firewood needs.

Provided you have a place to build a house, grow vegetables, and a playground, the rest can be under the forest.

Land For Livestock

Keeping livestock in the same piece of land you live in will significantly increase the size required for self-sufficiency.

You need meat, milk, and eggs for a balanced diet. Being self-sufficient implies you can get all these off-grid. So, how much land do you need for livestock?

Chickens

Chickens require the least amount of space. Many off-gridders have been able to keep chickens in the backyard without additional land requirements.

You can comfortably raise 10 chickens in the same plot of land without the need to increase the size.

However, if you increase the size of your flock, you will need an extra piece of land to sustain them. They will need an elaborate coop and run.

Also, the size depends on the method of chicken rearing adopted. Caging takes a much smaller space compared to free-range. Each bird requires about 250-300 square feet of space.

Goats

Goats are the easiest to keep after birds, especially if you have a forested area. They are mainly browsers that can survive on the leaves and twigs.

So, the number you keep may determine the size of the natural forest you need on your parcel of land.

You don’t need much land for your goats to meet your family’s needs. However, if you venture into large-scale farming, you will need at least an acre for 50 goats.

You can scale that down to about 10 or 20 goats, depending on the size of your family. Again, the size of land required for keeping goats depends on the method of rearing you intend to use.

Other Animals

Other animals you can keep include cattle, pigs, and sheep. Cattle will need much more land for growing fodder or grazing. Adopting a zero-grazing method will help you save space.

In the case of cattle rearing, you can opt for zero-grazing if you have the starting capital.

You can also reduce the forested area for pasture and use cattle droppings for biogas production instead of firewood.

The size of land needed depends on the animal breed you intend to include on your property.

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• The wire fence roll can be not only as snake fence,gopher wire mesh underground,rats/gopher baskets or small critters guard fence,garden plants bed/raised bed,flowers guard,tree guard,compost bin,drying rack,but also be for chicken coop,chicken run,rabbits run,duck pen as cage wire for poultry. Also the welded wire can be used for home maintenance,screen door,gutter guard or farm animal barrier,animal containment,garden plants guard,and cut into special shape to satisfy your DIY craft & hobby.

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Your Diet And Lifestyle

People have different lifestyles. That influences the vegetables they grow and the livestock they keep. So, examine your diet requirements and what will make you self-sufficient.

For example, vegetarians do not need to keep livestock unless they intend to sell the products. Instead, they concentrate more on vegetables and fruit trees.

The Available Workforce To Make Land Work

You may not provide all the labor needed to produce your food. If you have a large parcel of land, you may be underutilizing the resources.

Before going for a large piece of land, consider the available workforce to help you on the farms.

Growing vegetables and crops, picking fruits, and rearing livestock require manpower. Don’t forget that.

Other Purposes With Your Land

There are many other uses of land that can potentially increase the size you require for self-sufficiency.

You can think of buying land and renting it out to other people who want to use it for growing crops and rearing livestock.

Alternatively, you may need land for natural energy production, such as solar or wind systems. You may also consider sharing the energy produced with others who need it.

In other words, land can be put to many uses, and all that determines the additional space required.

Consider everything just before you buy any piece of land. Know the most approximated land size that will let you achieve self-sustainability.

Personally Thinking

When you read other articles, you will find that they suggest the following factors:

• The climate where you live.
• The quality of the soil.
• How much sunlight the property gets.
• Amount of rainfall.

You will indeed consider these factors when looking for a piece of land to buy, but they don’t directly influence the size required.

In my opinion, they come much sooner before you have determined how much land you need for self-sufficiency.

The climate, soil quality, and sunlight determine where you buy the land. To get more insight into this topic, refer to this article on the 11 Best Places To Buy Land For Off-Grid Living.

Some Thoughts

You may not get your calculations right. Your plan or information provided here should guide you to determine the average land size you need.

It should not be too small or too big for your family. You should be comfortable living in it and providing for everything you need.

Thank you for your time at the Em-Offgrid. Please share this article to also help others who want to go off-grid.

These young birds don’t have enough feathers to help them regulate their body temperature. Hence, you should learn how to keep chicks warm without a heat lamp.

Some people have successfully used heat lamps. But if they are powered by electricity, then it means you will have problems when living off the grid.

Heat lamps consume a lot of electric power, which is limited if you are not connected to the utility system.

In this post, we will discuss the alternatives to heat lamps. You can still keep your chicks warm all year round without the mother hen or the heat lamps.

Why Chicks Need You to Help Staying Warm?

Birds are warm-blooded animals that can keep their body temperature constant regardless of environmental conditions.

They use their feathers for heat insulation, the same way you need a wooly jacket for winter.

In chicks, the feathers are underdeveloped. They cannot keep themselves warm. So, you will need to provide warmth if they are not with their mother.

Mother hen uses wings to keep the chicks warm. To raise chicks, you need a warm room to emulate the hen.

The temperature required in the chicks’ room is reduced as they grow and develop wings. That prepares them to survive without it when they are fully grown.

The table below outlines how the temperature is gradually reduced over the six weeks that chicks need to be supplemented with artificial heat.

5 Alternatives To Heat Lamps for Chicks

Heat lamps need electrical power to run, which many may not access when living off-grid.

Some can potentially cause fire, which doubles the risk when used. Fortunately, there are five alternatives to heat lamps, which include the following:

• Insulation for housing of the chicks
• Using hot water bottles and fleece
• Heating plate brooder plate
• Heated pads
• Sock filled with hot rice

Each method listed can keep chicks warm until they are ready to regulate their body temperature. But how do you go about it? Here are the details!

Insulation For Housing of the Chicks

Insulation simply means keeping the chicks’ pen warm by not allowing cold air. The heat generated is retained within the coop. You can do that through the following:

Line The Box With Mylar

The outside of a sizable box is lined with mylar. This box is then placed over the chicks, where you had prepared for them.

That preparation involves using straw, feathers, paper, or other natural materials for bedding.

The box lined with mylar should have enough ventilation holes and an entrance that allows the chicks to access food and water. After feeding, they come back to the insulated box for warmth.

Bedding With Fleece

Apart from creating the mylar-lined box, you can simply use the bedding with fleece. Fleece is a synthetic material with perfect heat insulation properties.

You just spread it on the floor to form the bedding. It will help retain heat from the chicks’ bodies and prevent them from getting cold.

Using Hot Water Bottles And Fleece

You will need a plastic gallon container and fill it with a warm temperature. You can mix boiling water with tap water at room temperature in the ratio of 1:1 to achieve perfect warmth.

The next step is cutting sizable strips of fleece and draping them on the outside of the container.

Remember to tightly close the container to maintain the water temperature. Your chicks will enjoy the warmth between the fleece and bottle.

Heating Plate Brooder Plate

This commercial product can help you keep up to 32 newly hatched chicks warm. It also uses electricity, but it is more energy-efficient and safe.

The electric power heats the underplate, radiating heat to the chicks below it.

The brooder plate stands on four, allowing the height to be adjusted. By doing so, you will be able to regulate temperature.

Brinsea Products Ecoglow Safety 1200 Brooder for Chicks

Brinsea Ecoglow Safety 1200 Chick or Duckling Brooder, Adjustable Height & Angle Brooder Plate for 35 Chicks, Ideal for Chicken Coops Poultry Heating with Safety Indicator, 18 Watts

• Safe & Economical: Radiant brooder heat plate is ideal for up to 35 newly hatched chicks; At 18 watts, chicken heater offers energy savings for continuous brooding over several weeks compared to conventional heating lamps
• Natural Heating Design: Chicken brooder warms by direct contact, mimicking nature without disruptive light helping chicks adapt to a natural day/night cycle for better growth; Metal plate provides uniform warmth and flared skirt retains heat
• Safety First: Operating at low voltage, panel heater is safer alternative to mains voltage chicken heating plates or heat lamps, significantly reducing fire risks and ensuring peace of mind for your chicks, ducklings, goslings, and quails

$129.98

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Heated Pads

This device keeps chicks warm when they lie on it. Some people like it on the wall so that the heat can be radiated outwards.

Heated pads are beneficial for their low energy consumption. They are rated just 25 watts. Even if you have a large flock, you can buy many heating pads to ensure sufficient heat in the room for the chicks.

K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Pad Tan Petite 9 X 12 Inches

Sale

K&H Pet Products Thermo-Peep Heated Chicken Pad for Brooders and Chicken Coops, Warming Chick Nesting Pad Coop Accessory Mat, Heat Lamp Alternative, Safety Listed - Petite 9 X 12in Tan 20W

• OUTDOOR WARMTH: Perfect for peeps and chickens, our heated chicken pad is specially designed to keep chickens and peeps warm when sitting or lying on the pad
• VERSITALE: Chicken heated pad is for indoor or outdoor use and with the pre-drilled hole can easily be mounted vertically or horizontally in your chicken coop to provide your flock with warmth
• DURABLE: Peck resistant features like rigid ABS plastic construction, steel encased capped cord and rounded edges make it perfect for large flocks and baby chicks

$52.14

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Sock Filled With Hot Rice

Fill several pairs of socks and fill them with hot rice. This setup can remain warm for several hours, keeping your chicks warm.

Chicks will huddle around the socks to get the warmth they need. The number of units you need depends on the size of your flock. So, adjust accordingly.

Pro Tips:

Baby chicks are heavily affected by the chilling moisture and draft, especially in winter. Keep them warm to enhance their health.

How Long Do Chicks Need A Heater?

Chicks need a heater as long as their feathers are not well developed. That can take up to six weeks, after which the birds can be allowed to survive on their own.

You should observe the chicks for the first few days to confirm that they are okay after withdrawing the heat source. Otherwise, you may need to reintroduce it.

FAQs

The Final Sentences

Don’t be worried about your chicks if you don’t have access to utility power.

You can still keep them warm using the alternative methods mentioned in this post. Just don’t burn them if you are using any of these methods.

Thank you for staying at the Em Offgrid. Please share our article with your friends, and don’t forget to check our previous and upcoming posts.