Wranglerstar why no critters yet?

Hey yall, been following your adventure for a while now and I am always learning something or my kiddos enjoy seeing what yall are working on, cutting down, or what Jack is building. You guys have a great place with pasture, ponds, and even barns and outbuildings....so why no animals yet? I would have thought some chickens at the least by now as they require the least time to manage imo and are easy enough to keep in.

You guys seem to live an active lifestyle and it's hard to do that if you'll be away for a few days with critters that need watching. I get that as its hard for us to be gone 3 or 4 days at a families house because we are always worried what the animals are getting into. Will we see you guys raising any animals soon? Jack needs a flock of sheep,

Time and money....someone has to take care of the animals when we are gone and we already feel like we are pushing the limits of neighborly kindness and/or housesitters (depending on how long we are gone) to take care of our 3 animals. Plus we all are busy enough. Animals take time - even chickens. Money - to fence, to prepare a place warm enough for zone 3, a few years ago there was about 8 feet of snow here so shelters need to be more than a flimsy coop, etc.

We WANT animals but they haven't moved up on the time/money priority list yet. Taking care of cross-cut saws is easier

mrsW

Well yall are in the middle of a renovation now lol. Our coup is made of slag wood(cants) and recycled lumber and metal roofing. Birds are fairly tough, your county extension office, or if jack is interested, 4h will be able to get yall the Info for birds this spring. Ours usually live in a spare bathtub in a tote for a month or more before we kick them out. Those old apple crates you use in the garden would make a great brooder.

When we went on vacation in July we filled up a 55 gallon barrel of water and a deer feeder along with traditional feeders. The deer feeder was on a timer. They all made it except one I guess something got it.

I totally under stand the time it takes for critters. Our goat, sheep, and pigs are a pain when we need to be away for a few days. But it teaches my Littles some responsibility, where our food comes from, and how to keep them in pens as they usually get out. Plus we have a instant food source for bad times. Our feed bill has not been offset yet by money but when my kids enjoy picking eggs out, loving on a sheep, or oinkinging at the dirty pigs it is mostly worth it. Plus they all show their chickens, produce, eggs in our county fair too and get awarded for that as well.

Planning for them someday, perhaps spring,with repurposed stuff and a lean too style shed on a barn or building would work perfect.

Glad they are working out so well for you and your littles. I'd love to do that with Jack in the future. MrsW