Chickens, goats, bees

[JaySmith]

If you want food security, chickens are the way to go. They can scavenge, produce eggs, become meat.

You can get setup for under a grand with coop ideas all over the place. I've even seen them on marketplace for free, just haul it away.

I think my next venture is to get some goats for meat and milk. I think a quarter acre is good enough for 4 goats. I'm still in the research stage on this one.

Bee's give honey and pollinate. Honey is a great sweetener and much easier than growing sugar cane. I'm definitely getting back into bee's come spring.

[Walleye Hunter]

I don't know if zoning regs matter to you or not. To me, that would depend on what I had for neighbors. But goats could be crossing a line. I started with bees this year with one hive, was up to two and a half at one point and now it's down to about one and a third. I don't expect the third to make it but Imma give it my best. My best hive was caught from a swarm and they seem to be doing very well. Of course, I won't know until next spring.

[JaySmith]

What's wrong with goats? They're not loud or smelly? We had horses and goats growing up, and i grew up in the same neighborhood. My house is walking distance from my parents. We have 2 acres and it's sufficient.

I am trying to buy an acre off a neighbor. He doesn't use it or go outside much, it would just be his back yard. It would let me spread out a little more.

[Walleye Hunter]

What's wrong with goats? They're not loud or smelly? We had horses and goats growing up, and i grew up in the same neighborhood. My house is walking distance from my parents. We have 2 acres and it's sufficient.

I am trying to buy an acre off a neighbor. He doesn't use it or go outside much, it would just be his back yard. It would let me spread out a little more.

I don't have any problem with goats, it's those assholes at the township. I am not completely up on my regulations here because I don't have animals but there is a minimum acreage needed to get the first animal and then additional acreage to get more. Your local ordinance is probably available online.

[Walleye Hunter]

Here's what my twp says about goats.

3)
The raising and ownership of goats, sheep and/or similar livestock exceeding 50 pounds in weight is permitted in all districts, provided the minimum lot size exceeds two contiguous grazeable acres. The total number of goats, sheep and/or similar livestock shall not exceed five for all lots with less than five contiguous grazeable acres. For each additional contiguous grazeable acre over five, the total number of goats, sheep and/or similar livestock shall not exceed five per acre up to a maximum total of 100.

[Walleye Hunter]

And here's what we think of your chickens.

(4)
The raising and ownership of poultry is permitted in all districts, provided the minimum lot size exceeds one contiguous acre. The total number of birds shall not exceed 10 per acre for all lots under five acres in size. For each additional acre over five, the total number of birds shall not exceed 50 per acre up to a maximum of 1,500.

[JaySmith]

Here's what my twp says about goats.

3)
The raising and ownership of goats, sheep and/or similar livestock exceeding 50 pounds in weight is permitted in all districts, provided the minimum lot size exceeds two contiguous grazeable acres. The total number of goats, sheep and/or similar livestock shall not exceed five for all lots with less than five contiguous grazeable acres. For each additional contiguous grazeable acre over five, the total number of goats, sheep and/or similar livestock shall not exceed five per acre up to a maximum total of 100.

That's absurd. I thought this was america.

10 birds per acre? That means each bird needs 4356 square feet of space?

[JaySmith]

That's like saying "You can have them, but actually no."

Even the chinese have house chickens. Are you saying communist china is more free than here?

[Walleye Hunter]

I guess.

[JaySmith]