I was just wondering what is your favorite homestead animal or bird? What has the best temperment & what ones do you really enjoy watching?

For me, I would have to say that our calf-Uttie has the best temperment. We have had him since he was a few days old, and, now he is about 6 months. The children can all go down in the fence with him and carry on. He is such a big baby!!

My favorite to watch are my ducks and chickens. The ducks will all get in a row and go through the yard. They really are fun to watch. The chickens also, do something for me. I just love to see my big old rooster going through the yard with all the hens behind him. I certainly love to hear him crow.

What is funny is ,when you are on the phone and the rooster is crowing, and, the person on the other end comments about it.

Yeah, homesteading sure is fun!!! I love it!!

Marsha

-- Marsha (Thankful4Jesus@excite.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

We only have 2 1/2 acres (more suburban than rural), which doesn't leave much room for animals unless you want to irritate the neighbors. We have a dog, and a few hens.

I love to watch my girls pecking around in the yard, and they always come running to see what I have when they see me. We used to have a rooster, and my neighbor over the back fence has a macaw that learned to crow before he learned to talk, because he imitated the rooster! I went out one day shortly after we moved in, thinking my rooster must be SICK, he sounded so horrible! Then, I finally figured out it wasn't the rooster, it was Ariba over the fence in her aviary crowing instead!

Sometimes when I'm in a bad mood and it's warm enough out, I just find something to take out to the chickens and sit on the grass and listen to them cluck. Best stress reliever on the place!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), February 15, 2002.

On our actual, current homestead, it's Domino the rooster.

On my dream homestead, which I shall one day get, Lord willing, it's Bessie the cow. I don't have a real cow, but my dream Bessie is a sweet, gentle Jersey who gives good, rich milk. The milk is used for ice cream, butter, buttermilk, milk shakes, cheese, cottage cheese, etc., etc.

-- Cathy N. (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), February 15, 2002.

GOATS!!

They are also my favorites to watch, especially the kids. Nothing is funnier than a baby goat.

Around here, when the phone rings the person on the other end usually can hear dogs barking, roosters crowing and my goats screaming at me for something. It almost always gets a comment.

-- Lenette in OR (kigervixen@webtv.net), February 15, 2002.

Goats are my favorites, hands down. I could be very happy with just goats and no other animals. Sprite is my favorite doe. When I got her, she was stunted, ugly, and wild. But she had great bloodlines and a perfect udder so I bought her. With a lot of time and love, she tamed down and is one of the gentlest, kindest does I have. We have a special bond and we understand one another. She is the only doe that I don't think I'd ever sell. She is still small and ugly and I could not be assured that she would not be abused- after everything she has already gone through I would rather have her put to sleep than to risk that. The bright side is that she has lots of genetic value and has settled A.I. every time I've tried. She is bred to a very nice buck this year and I can hardly wait! :)

The other night I was feeding Sprite grain in a milking stand. She is a very slow eater ( she has a crooked mouth) so I fed out the hay while she finished. Then I went to the house and to bed. When I got down to the barn in the morning, poor Sprite was still in the milking stand!! She had stood there all night long, in the cold. She is such a quiet doe that she didn't holler when I left the barn, the way other goats would. She hardly ever makes any sound at all. Talk about feeling guilty!!

I enjoy watching Saffron the most, she is so long and elegant, and pretty. There is a lot of pleasure in watching a beautiful animal.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), February 15, 2002.

I'm supposing the animals I'd least want to do without are chickens. But none of them, individually, is my favorite, and they could be easily enough replaced for me.

As far as individual animals go, it'd be much harder to lose one of the goats. I know them individually, almost like friends. And as much trouble as they sometimes can be, I do enjoy them tremendously.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

bees,, sitting next to the hive,, watching them bring in a honey flow

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 15, 2002.

It would be a toss up for me, between Maggie, the lab and Emma, one of Mary's little Nubian kids! She is such a cutie! I do enjoy the horses, too, tho. Just watching them run in the pasture, tails flying, as if they hadn't a care in the world. Never will move back to the city, no matter what! Jan

-- Jan in Co (Janice12@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

Chickens as of now, we only have those and cats and dogs. They're so funny and watching them is relaxing.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

My favorite animal is our white tailed deer. We found him orphaned 7 years ago. He's the joy of the county and kids and adults come from all over to feed him apples, popcorn, carrots or whatever they have that he likes. He loves people but is still a danger with those antlers so he's in an enclosed area that's about 200 yards long and 100 feet wide and 10 feet high.

One year I asked my husband why we didn't name all our animals with the letter corresponding with the year. For example this year our animals names will all begin with the letter B. It makes it so easy to know immediately how old the animal is without having to look it up in the records every time you want to know or someone asks. Our first goat kid this year is named Bristol and he's just a cute as can be. Just a thought for anyone interested.

-- Anna in Iowa (countryanna54@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

You know it is really hard to say. One of the things that amazed me the most when we first started homesteading is how each and every animal has its own personality and traits.

I love baby goats because they are such a joyful little creature! They will be just walking along and then just jump in the air for joy!

But, after careful consideration..., I guess I have to say the chickens. They are so fun to watch as chicks and they still are when they get older. People will complain about their roosters crowing, but I love it! It is just so...well....so farmlike!!

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), February 16, 2002.

CHICKENS hands down are the favorite around here. Hogs are second

-- Sandy(FL.) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), February 16, 2002.

I know a lot of people don't like cats, but my kitty is my favorite. She's definatly mine-she tolerates the kids but she sleeps at my feet, she always comes around and purrs when I'm feeling down and she keeps the mice out of the basement.

Goats are fun to watch, and I like the chickens too-its hard to say!

-- Kelly (KY) (homearts2002@yahoo.com), February 16, 2002.