Do you have enough room ? Do you have shelter for them in harsh weather ? Can you separate them if need be ? Are you able to control and protect them SHTF ? Are you able to care for them in a way that will keep them healthy ? ( a sick animal is only a drain on your time and resources and produces nothing ). Are you knowledgeable of the particulars and requirements of this animal ? For instance, if you pen up your goats in a confined area... you are asking for health problems . A lot of what-ifs here. Factor in your hunker down location and what your possibilities are. Be real and honest doing this.
Then there are 2 BIG factors. Food and water. You will need these 2 things 24/7.
The numbers below reflect the rate of gain ratios. Pounds of feed to produce a pound of meat. These numbers are based on having feed available. SHTF the feed store will be closed.
A good rule of thumb for cattle is 3 : 1.
Hogs 3.5 : 1
Chickens 2.5 : 1
The following table provides an estimate of peak rates of feed consumption and weight gain. The data were obtained from White Cornish Crosses under conventional management (without additional forage).
Age (weeks)
|
Type of feed
|
Feed consumption (weekly per bird)
|
Live body weight
| ||
kg
|
lb.
|
kg
|
lb.
| ||
1
|
Chicken starter
|
0.13
|
0.29
|
0.15
|
0.33
|
2
|
Chicken starter
|
0.28
|
0.62
|
0.36
|
0.79
|
3
|
Chicken starter
|
0.47
|
1.02
|
0.65
|
1.43
|
4
|
Chicken grower
|
0.67
|
1.48
|
1.03
|
2.26
|
5
|
Chicken grower
|
0.85
|
1.87
|
1.46
|
3.21
|
6
|
Chicken grower
|
1.07
|
2.36
|
1.91
|
4.21
|
7
|
Chicken finisher
|
1.18
|
2.60
|
2.36
|
5.20
|
8
|
Chicken finisher
|
1.30
|
2.86
|
2.79
|
6.14
|
9
|
Chicken finisher
|
1.41
|
3.11
|
3.20
|
7.03
|
Total
|
7.36
|
16.20
| |||
Based on data from Nutrient Requirements of Poultry. 9th Ed. USA National Academy of Sciences. 1994. Note that free-ranging organically fed birds will have both lower rates of feed consumption and slower rates of growth
Unless you have a lot of acres with a good fence, cattle are not a SHTF option. So I lean towards the foragers. Goats, chickens, rabbits , ( if you have land close for them to graze ( again, gathering every day, security, etc ).
And then... water.
A cow consumes between 5 to 7 gallons of water per day when the temperature is 50 degrees F and up to 24 gallons when the temperature is 95 degrees F. The amount of water a cow requires increases by one quart for every degree over 50 degrees F
Keeping livestock is site/situation specific.
I just received 18 Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens. They are not the best layers but are a broody breed and the best mothers. The " chicken store " might not be open SHTF.
I just received 18 Silver Laced Wyandotte chickens. They are not the best layers but are a broody breed and the best mothers. The " chicken store " might not be open SHTF.
