As you consider farm animals, cows, horses and pigs might be in your mind. Although these farm animals should be kept in the hands of farmers who have plenty of space for grazing, there are plenty of farm animals to keep around your backyard. They can assist with lawn maintenance and provide valuable products like eggs or milk.

Consider Local Zoning Ordinances

You might think it's your right to own a couple of sheep or chickens; however, where you live will determine the kind of farm animals you are allowed to keep. Some jurisdictions, for instance, prohibit roosters but permit the keeping of hens. Other jurisdictions have strict rules regarding hoofed animals.

To make sure you don't end up in problems for the animals that you take home, look up the local zoning regulations and see which animals are of interest to you. If you do decide to bring in animals that are permitted, you'll be required to comply with specific rules regarding them.

• A suitable location to keep animals on your property.
• Sanitation regulations, which include the disposal of animal waste
• Animal control situations in which it is possible to intervene, such as animals that have been abused, injured, abandoned, or sick

Consider the Responsibilities of Owning Farm Animals

The ownership of chickens, sheep or rabbits is a lot of the same responsibilities as owning a dog. You need to supply the following:

• A restricted space where the animal can sleep, eat and live
• A steady supply of bedding, feeding materials, and pest control products
• Checkups and vaccinations
• You will spend a lot of time caring for your pets

If you're living in a suburban area, your neighbor's home is only two feet away. It is important to ensure that your pet doesn't create a nuisance for those living next to your door. This means keeping noise and smell levels to a minimum.

Choose Your Farm Animals

Chickens

If you live in a place that allows backyard chickens, you're lucky enough to get fresh eggs as well as an inexhaustible quantity of manure to use to make compost to plant your garden. Chickens need a safe cage with nest boxes to lay their eggs as well as an area to rest in. It is important to ensure that you have chickens with a fence in an area where they can scratch to forage for bugs and enjoy the sunshine. To make sure that you're with chickens that fit the area you live in, buy chickens from your local farm supply retailer.

Rabbits

In small areas, rabbits are a great choice. They're quiet and leave a very small amount of mess, and don't leave a scent. If you're simply seeking pets to help you with the grass growing in your backyard, make sure you don't combine male and female rabbits together. Otherwise, you'll be in a plethora of kitties that will be running around in no time! But If you plan to keep rabbits to eat or for fur, the presence of a breeding male and female assures that your supply will never be exhausted.

Goats

Pygmy goats make wonderful companion animals and are nature's lawnmowers. They produce around a half-gallon of milk each day, so you should be ready to feed your goats twice daily for at least ten months during the year. Two goats will require approximately 50 square feet to reside in, with a shaded space to keep them from rain.

Sheep

They prefer to graze in grasslands. It is possible to add to the diet of your sheep with grains. If you're interested in wool from sheep, then you'll have to shear each spring. If you'd prefer to just drink the milk, select hair sheep, who shed each year naturally.

The raising of farm animals can be enjoyable but also stimulating and rewarding. We hope your region allows you to keep some or all of the animal species mentioned in this article.