The Best Animals For Your Small Farm

So you want to have livestock, but you don't have a lot of acreage. No worries. There are lots of types of farm animals that will work for a small acreage. In this post, we'll cover a few farm animals that you might want to consider if you're pressed for space.

Determining Your Farm's Purpose and Resources

Determining your farm's purpose and resources is the first crucial step in planning a successful small farm. Begin by defining your primary goals—whether you want to raise animals for personal consumption, such as eggs, milk, meat, or lawnmowers, or for commercial purposes like selling products to local markets.

Understanding your land’s resources is equally important. Assess the size of your farm, the availability of pasture, water sources, and shelter options, as well as your budget for feed, infrastructure, and veterinary care. Matching your goals with the farm's physical and financial capacities will help you choose the right animals and management practices for sustainable growth.

Our Recommendations for Animals for Small Farms:

Pekin duck

Ducks are great for a small farm. They are well-tempered, produce wonderful eggs and they can also be raised as meat animals. On average Pekin ducks are about 10 lbs so they are too heavy to fly which makes them ideal for free range. They are fast growers and at around 6-9 weeks are big enough to eat. They are fair layers and will lay an average of 140 eggs per year. All ducks need a clean source of water to stay healthy and happy so be sure that you provide them with a reliable clean source.

Learn more about getting started with and raising Pekin ducks.

Quail

The quail is a small, pretty bird. They get to be an average of 3.5 ounces. They lay small, speckled eggs and are primarily table birds but you might also sell the fertilized eggs for others to hatch locally. You can have a fair amount of quail since they are so small. Quail are also known to be fairly hardy birds so they don't tend to get sick often. As a specialty bird, you might be able to find a local chef to sell directly to and make a nice profit.

Rabbits

Small and a great option for small spaces. There are many options to choose from when deciding on a breed. Rabbits give birth to multiple offspring (up to 15 in 4-6 weeks) and grow fast, so be sure to plan to provide enough room for them. Raising rabbits for meat is most common, but some rabbits are also raised for fiber or to sell for stock so others can raise rabbits.

Chickens

This is a pretty standard animal to put on this list and definitely the gateway animal to farming. Chickens are easy to find at your local feed store, by hatching chickens yourself, or by finding other specialty birds locally. You can raise chickens for meat or eggs or both. Selling chicken eggs can be relatively easy and profitable. They are very easy to care for just remember to protect them from predators. Raising chickens for meat or eggs can also provide some extra income for your small farm without a lot of overhead.

Check out these chicken breeds for colorful egg production.

Goats

There are many breeds of goats to choose from but if you don't have a lot of space you might want to consider Nigerian dwarf goats. They are small in stature, have a sweet disposition, and are easy to milk. Just like all the other animals on this list, this is another breed that you will need to protect from predators. Goats are typically easygoing, friendly, and curious animals. They are excellent foragers and produce high-quality milk that can be used for milk, cheese, and soaps. Breeding goats can also be a profitable side business for your farm.

Pigs

There are many options for breeds of pigs. One breed in particular is Berkshire pigs. They are both small and versatile. Pigs can be a great addition to your small farm. Not only are they relatively easy to keep they can also be a helpful ally in tilling fields.

Learn more about raising pigs for meat.

Keeping Bees

Bees are an excellent addition to any farm. You can have multiple hives in a small space, they require little maintenance, and provide honey which is often in high demand at farmer's markets. Bees are an outstanding helper with pollinating around the farm as well.

Learn about getting started beekeeping

Miniature Cows for Small Farms

There are a ton of different breeds of cows that can be a good addition to your farm if you have the space. Depending on your land, miniature cows might be a good option, assuming that you have 2 acres or more. Miniature cows need at least 2 acres to utilize rotational grazing. Since these cows are smaller, about half the size, they consume about 1/2 the amount of resources of a standard-sized cow. Cows are versatile and can used for breeding, meat, or milk.

Learn about buying cattle for your small farm.

Ducks and Other Poultry

There are a variety of other types of poultry and breeds of birds that might be a good fit for a small farm - from ducks to geese to turkeys to pheasants and even peacocks. Each poultry type has different forage and environmental needs, so do your research first to make sure you can provide them with a happy home.

How many Farm Animals per acre?

Curious about how many animals you can keep per acre. The number can vary depending on different factors, like your climate, terrain, property zoning, etc. Here are some ballpark numbers of animals per acre.

• Horses: One to two acres per horse

• Beef cattle: One to two acres per beef cow

• Dairy cattle: One to two acres per cow

• Goat: 6-8 goats per acre

• Sheep: 6-10 sheep per acre if grazing

• Pigs: 12-14 sows per acre

• Chickens: Up to 500 birds per acre if grazing them in a chicken tractor

The best small animals for a small farm are those that are low-maintenance, versatile, and suited to your farm’s space and resources. There are many to choose from and it all depends on how much time and resources you want to get out of them.

The animals we've suggested offer a range of benefits while being manageable on smaller plots of land. We hope this has been helpful to you as you decide to bring on new types of animals on your farm.

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