200 Things: Animals

By Sharon Astyk. Reprinted with permission.****

Grow some food for your animals in your garden. Alfalfa, root crops, even wheat are easy to grow in garden beds, and the animals can sometimes even harvest them themselves.

****

Make sure your animals have updated vaccinations, in case the time comes when you are unable to revaccinate. Try and get 3 year rabies boosters when possible. Plan to keep pets indoors or contained if disease outbreaks in animals occur.

****

Shredded newspaper makes good animal bedding, as do dried leaves and even dried weeds. You don’t have to depend on purchased shavings or hay for your animals.

****

If you are attempting to get chickens in an area that hasn’t had them before, talk to your neighbors first. Ideally, bring samples of beautiful fresh eggs and the baked goods that come with them. Approach your zoning commission after you’ve gotten the support of those around you.

****

Some small varieties of sheep and goats are appropriate for even suburban lots. You might convince neighbors by offering to graze the animals on untended marginal areas that make the neighborhood look messy, or by letting goats clean up brush on other properties.

****

Spay and neuter any animals you do not intend to breed. Hard times are tough on animals, and we can expect proliferation of hungry, unwanted pets.

****

Consider training your dog to “go with” your children - train the dog to stay with your kids at all times when commanded, as an added measure of security. Or perhaps teach the dog to fetch small objects, guard animals or even dig holes for planting trees and perennials. Everything you can do to make your animals more functional will help you. Feel free to try it with cats.

****

If you are choosing a dog and taking peak oil and climate change into account, think seriously about a dog suited to your climate, environment and skills. A St. Bernard in the south may be miserable without air conditioning, a hairless dog unhappy in the wintery north without lots of heat. If your means of accommodating your animals include driving, fossil fueled temperature control, etc… choose an animal that doesn’t require these things. Remember that dogs and cats must be fed and have an ecological footprint. Think hard about how you will feed them in hard times.

****

If you are knowledgeable and committed to do it well, a small home business breeding working dogs, excellent mousers, meat or fiber rabbits or other useful animals might be an excellent source of income.

****

Consider horse transport and basic animal traction. Could you give up your vehicle if you had a horse? Do not, however, assume that hay and feed will be readily available - only raise horses if you have the land to feed them, or reason to believe it will be available.

****

Choose breeds of poultry that set, and can hatch out their own eggs in case replacement chicks are not available. Orpingtons, Cochins and most Bantams are good choices, although there are others.

–

Leave a Comment