While it would be nice to have acres and acres to raise every source of meat and dairy you could ever need, this isn’t reality for most people. However, there are ways to raise your own dairy and meat even in the suburbs. Here is a list of animals you can raise on a small property for better self-sufficiency.
What animals can you raise in a backyard?
While it’s probably not the best idea to raise a flock of sheep on 1/4 acre, there are still many options for those living in the suburbs or on small plots of land. You can produce your own protein even in a small suburban backyard! There are actually quite a lot of animals you can raise on a small property. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Chickens
This is probably the most popular option for those living on little acreage. Chickens can be raised in a very small space. It’s recommended that each chicken has approximately 4 square feet of room to walk around in a run. This means you can raise up to 6 chickens in a small 6×4 run.
If you were to raise just six hens in your backyard, you could be getting up to six eggs a day or 3 1/2 dozen a week! For a typical family of 4 or 5, that’s more than enough and can make a significant impact on the amount of protein you can raise yourself.
You can also raise meat chickens in a backyard setting as well. This works especially well with a chicken tractor style coop. Check out this article here on how you can save a lot of money feeding chickens!
Rabbits
This is another popular option for raising your own meat source. As far as animals you can raise on a small property, rabbits may be the most space efficient. Rabbits can be raised in even smaller areas than chickens. While you can set up “rabbit tractor” style housing where they are moved to fresh grass daily, it’s not necessary. Rabbits can be raised in cages very easily.
The startup costs for raising rabbits is fairly cheap, especially if the cages are diy’d. Plus, a doe can produce up to 50 rabbits in one year. That’s a great way to fill up a freezer for very little input. Just be sure that you can go through with butchering the little fluff balls.
Quail
For quail, there are differing opinions on space needed. Some say two square feet per bird, while others say you can shrink that to .75 square feet per bird. Either way, they require a fairly small space and they can be butchered anywhere from 8-12 weeks old. That means you can get meat very quickly!
Quail eggs are highly prized at our local farmer’s market. Did you know that quail eggs have a higher protein content than chicken eggs? The meat is also delicious. Quail are an excellent choice if the area you live in has noise ordinances. They are quiet to raise and can keep you in an endless supply of meat if you have your own incubator.
Ducks
I will be the first to say that ducks are not for everyone, especially in small spaces. But, if you can maintain a clean environment (they are quite messy) they are an excellent choice for meat and eggs! Raising ducklings is fairly easy. Though they will need to have water deep enough to dip their beaks into, they are hardy. Adult ducks are entertaining, but they will need water to splash in and drink out of. This will sometimes mean changing their water 2 or 3 times a day.
Ducks are fun to have around, especially for kids. Plus, their eggs are absolutely delicious in baked goods! Selling duck eggs and meat are somewhat niche for small farms, but there may be a big market for them in your area.
Turkeys
We loved our turkeys as they were constant entertainment. Turkeys require about 6 square feet per fully grown bird, but you get lots of meat off of one bird. Turkeys can take up to 22 weeks to reach butchering age/weight according to the breed you choose. Heritage breeds will take longer while breeds bred for meat production are typically butchered a lot earlier.
Young turkey poults can be more delicate than baby chicks but are still an excellent choice to raise. More than likely, your turkeys will need an enclosed space due to the fact that they can take flight over a fence before you can bat an eye. But turkey tractors or stationary coops are both options for turkeys.
Turkeys due eat more than chickens, but you can sell the meat for a higher price. If you decide to raise meat turkeys as a side business, expect to spend more upfront. Keep in mind too that turkeys can be noisier than chickens and ducks.
Pigs
While it may be surprising, pigs can technically be raised in small spaces. You can raise one pig for meat in about 12 square feet. While it’s not ideal, nor is it close to pasture raised meat, it is an option if pigs are allowed in your neighborhood/area. One pig can bring in anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds of meat according to breed and butchering age. They can be fed out in as little as 6 months. Plus, they are great for getting rid of any garden excess and scraps!
In our experience, we raised our meat pig in far too big of an area. If we had raised him in a smaller area and with another pig, he probably would have gained weight much faster. However, he did enjoy running through his half acre enclosure.
Goats
While not always cost effective, goats can be raised in a backyard setting. They will need a constant supply of hay for eating which adds to the cost of raising them. But goats are great for both dairy and meat. Plus, they can be bred and babies sold as a lucrative side business!
Goats can also double as pets if used for dairy, as long as you can keep them in their designated area. Breeds such as the Nigerian Dwarf are good for small spaces because they eat less and take up a lot less room.
Goats are notorious for escaping. While we have managed to keep a number of goats within their pen, we have one that is a known escape artist. Be sure that if you do get goats that you have secure fencing.
Conclusion
There are so many creative ways that people manage to raise their own protein and dairy sources on small properties and in backyards. This list of animals you can raise on a small property is meant to inspire you to dream up what you can do in a small space.
