[JoanneB]

Chooks I have. I think a mix sounds great - a couple of sheep, and maybe something else just for fun. Tizaala I might take your lead and try a keeping a few blokes, I don't think I could afford the food bill though maybe they could over winter with the sheep?!?!  My poor chooks are plagued by foxes so I'm off to buy some electric fencing. Seems to be the very dab. Could a goat range with sheep? They are very entertaining.

[JoanneB]

I'd love something to keep the foxes away from my chooks. I hear lama's are great at this.

[Fowlman]

I keep chickens, ducks and shetland sheep happily together. Geese are always an option too.

[SallyintNorth]

cows - destroy the field with their big clumpy hoofs (especially in this weather)
 

Not my little Shetland cattle 

Jerseys are very light on their feet too, very friendly - they bond with their milkperson, nice with children, can rear their own and several other calves each year, plus give out-of-this-world milk and cream for the house.  Should live a long time too.

[Anke]

Could a goat range with sheep?

Please never buy a single goat, even if you think about running them with sheep. They are just not happy. Always have at least two, and three is a better strater option.
 
Don't run sheep and goats on the same paddock, unless you are a 100% certain that a) your land is free of worms and b) both your goats and sheep are also totally free of them. Nigh on impossible, so better to have separate grazings. Adult sheep can tolerate a certain level of worms but goats don't and it would cause you endless problems and lead to resistant worms very quickly.
 
Also goats need a higher level of copper in their diet, whereas that could be toxic to sheep, so any concentrates you feed would be better separate and goats needs a different lick to sheep.
 
 
There are people who run them together, but -  imho - it needs a compliacted management system and it is easier to have them separate. Cattle and sheep together are an easier option and I have done that in the past.

[ellied]

Did you say "a few blokes" I'm just trying to think what the financial benefit would be, or even the cash crop   Bloke farming tho, intriguing idea..

Sensible answer from me would be chooks, more of if you have some already.  They're the only livestock I know that more than pay their way and if you protect them from foxies, they're a sound investment.  Sheep are too suicidal and/or houdini-natured for the most part, tho there are exceptions I gather.  The bigger the animal the higher the cost and lower number you can produce per acre, which concentrates risk of loss and high vet bills   As a hobby or to supplement, yes, but if you rely on them then a bad year or low prices can stop you in your tracks.  Diversification on a minor scale to try your hand, yes, that's smallholding, but don't go into single large species without a willingness to turn your savings into an overdraft

[Mallows Flock]

Sheep are a total pain , good eating, suicidal maniacs with bad teeth, feet and endless health problems, vet bills and medication

LOL...but Tiz...... without all their 'issues' what on earth would we be doing otherwise in the pelting rain and blistering sun day by day? 

[chrismahon]

Chickens eat a fair bit of grass. Perhaps 60 chickens equates to one sheep. We ran a great system for a while with 'pet' lambs fattened on the Summer and Autumn grass and then in the freezer. That left enough grass for the chickens over Winter. Then more lambs the following year. We have half an acre of which 3/4 is a grassed Orchard. So I think chickens without a doubt.

[Anke]

Sheep are a total pain , good eating, suicidal maniacs with bad teeth, feet and endless health problems, vet bills and medication

Actually my goats top the list in the vets bill and medication category....
 
I absolutely don't think that sheep are that bad, I have only lost one ewe unexpectedly from CCN (from an initial flock of 15 breeding ewes, upgraded last year to 35) in the five years I have kept them, and my lamb deaths (from 4 lambings) are also still in in single figures. I think a lot depends on the quality of stock you buy, the breed you choose and the effort you make in looking after them.

[princesspiggy]

i made most profit out of geese, they grazed all year and only got fed in winter, reproduced well, cast feathers got sold too, ie 5 for £1 on magic ebay. next to no labour required. they sold like hot cakes too.


not enough grass to have any now.
some animals are alot more labour intensive, ie rabbits, goats and hens take so much more time on a day to day basis than cattle.


couldnt b without pigs tho.

[Beeducked]

Only beginning my smallholding life but the surprise for me was quail.


Cheap initial set up costs, easy to hatch (but much higher chick mortality than I am used to with ducklings which is nearly zero), quick to mature. Hens start laying quickly and the eggs sell for a premium and the boys fatten up quickly, easy to kill, pluck and gut and also sell well.


Could never be without my ducks but the quail are far more profitable!

[goosepimple]

Ducks, especially Muscovy, I have lots would you like some?

[princesspiggy]

ooh quails are delicious, its a shame u have to kill so many  for a big family meal. mmm

[Shropshirelass]

I'd have to say sheep (But not shetlands for god's sake - they are useless, puny nervy things that are no good for anything but hill land) If your going to get sheep get something that produces a good fleece & large carcass like the clun forests - ok I'm biast  as their a very local breed to me & my family used to show them but their hardy do well on hill & flat land, are attractive to look at, fleeces are some of the most sought after, big carcasses, easy & quiet to handle - even for children, & rear twins & triplets well.

Also I'd have to say a nice section D welsh cob - Both Cart & riding trained, A good terrier & a few cats for ratters & some geese & a couple of house cows would be great (Pref dual purpose animals though)  as goat milk tastes VILE  x

[omnipeasant]

Aghhhh goats milk does not taste vile. I'd stake my reputation on it. You are doing something wrong if it tastes of anything but milk.  I had coffee at Tizaala's couple of weeks ago, met the pups, bought some kids. I wouldn't have known the milk was goat's If I hadn't seen the milk churn.