Ultimate Guide to Hobby Farm Animals

Learn everything a hobby farmer needs to know about farm animals! What's a hobby farm without a small flock or herd (or several)? A single, information-packed volume with everything a small-scale hobby farmer, breeder, or homesteader needs to know about farm animals, this updated and comprehensive manual to selecting, caring for, and breeding livestock provides the expertise of five seasoned hobby farmers, each of whom has real life on-the-farm experience with the animals discussed. Whether you're contemplating adding a small herd of sheep or goats to your existing hobby farm, or you've always wondered about the benefits of raising Angora rabbits or Muscovy ducks, this must-have resource provides the guidance and helpful hints you need to begin a herd or flock and expand your pens and fencing. With exhaustive detail, the authors — five experienced hobby farmers and writers — share the wisdom and knowledge gained from years of animal keeping for pleasure and profit. In 384 information-packed pages, you'll find complete coverage of chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, beef cattle, pigs, and rabbits, including the shelter, facilities, special needs, advantages, and challenges of each, as well as how to feed balanced nutrition at all life stages. You'll learn a responsible animal raiser's healthcare plan, including vaccinations, health clearances, common illnesses, and first aid, find advice on selecting the right animals for your particular farm, lifestyle, and aspirations, and learn how to best handle and work with your animals. Also provided are strategies for marketing and selling your animals' meat, milk, eggs, fleece, or feather down, plus overviews on the animals' history, their typical behavioral traits, personal anecdotes, and more. This revised edition includes updated information across all topics for the most complete and up-to-date insight in hobby farming, from shelter, care, health, and medicine to nutrition, behavior, marketing, and profit. Get the comprehensive guidance you need to welcome new livestock onto your farm and into your life, with Ultimate Guide to Hobby Farm Animals !