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Ever thought about raising a pig & a few chickens?
Topic Started: Oct 30 2011, 06:45 PM (356 Views)
Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Might wanna start:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/usda-predicts-surging-food-prices-in-coming-year/
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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brenda
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..............
Chickens, yes. Pigs, no. We live in town. In two weeks, our city will have an ordinance passed to allow a small number of chickens at residential properties.
“Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”
~A.A. Milne
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Both. Fenced yard big enough. Enough firepower to protect it.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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LWpianistin
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HOLY CARP!!!
My housemate and I have considered building a coop and having some laying hens. I'd even consider getting some for fresh chicken!
And how are you today?
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Pigs are too much trouble. Beef you just throw out a few salt licks and let them graze.

Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Seems to me there are easier ways to hedge food price increases than raising your own pigs.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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John D'Oh
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MAMIL
Mikhailoh
Oct 30 2011, 07:04 PM
Both. Fenced yard big enough. Enough firepower to protect it.
But will you have the willpower to overcome the temptation?


You know you want it.
What do you mean "we", have you got a mouse in your pocket?
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Well, there is that, I suppose. :lol2:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Dewey
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HOLY CARP!!!
I really doubt that I could raise a few chickens, or certainly a pig, for less than I spend on either them or their byproducts for food. Even if I had a larger household, I don't believe that the extra costs related to inefficiently raise a handful of animals would be more cost-effective than a mega agribusiness can do it in volume. Most of the people I've encountered who decide to raise a few animals like that are doing it more as a personal statement than they are for any actual cost savings.
"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685.

"Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous

"Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011

I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14
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kathyk
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Pisa-Carp
It partly depends on if you buy mega-agriculture products. I don't, and I have to go out of my way to get my eggs and meat. I've thought about chickens. We eat lots of eggs and it would be great to have our own supply. Plus, chickens are just cool. I love seeing them wander around in people's yards. Our town has recently allowed up to 8 or so within the city limits and we have a big lot so it would be doable. It's the winter time part that really turns me off - freezing water, snow, cold. Also vacations and having to worry about getting someone to come in to take over. Finally, I couldn't abide the killing part when the hens get to old to lay.
Blogging in Palestine: http://kksjournal.com/
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Not touching that line. Nope, not me. :lol2:
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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jon-nyc
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Cheers
Yeah, I delayed marriage for quite a while with the same reasoning.
In my defense, I was left unsupervised.
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Dewey
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HOLY CARP!!!
kathyk
Oct 31 2011, 05:49 AM
It partly depends on if you buy mega-agriculture products. I don't, and I have to go out of my way to get my eggs and meat. I've thought about chickens. We eat lots of eggs and it would be great to have our own supply. Plus, chickens are just cool. I love seeing them wander around in people's yards. Our town has recently allowed up to 8 or so within the city limits and we have a big lot so it would be doable. It's the winter time part that really turns me off - freezing water, snow, cold. Also vacations and having to worry about getting someone to come in to take over. Finally, I couldn't abide the killing part when the hens get to old to lay.
Quote:
 
It partly depends on if you buy mega-agriculture products. I don't, and I have to go out of my way to get my eggs and meat.


Which is my point. You are making a conscious decision - for legitimate reasons - to "go out of your way," and thereby paying more in several ways, for food that you consider to be of better quality or to have been more ethically or responsibly produced. You've made an economic decision to do so. The point of this thread, though, is the *cost* of food - i.e., cost, not other concerns, are what's at stake.

If food costs are going to rise, they're going to rise for the mega agribusinesses as well as the local mom n pop farms that stock the local farmers' markets and specialty retail outlets. They will also rise for people wanting to raise their own livestock, and this increase will continue to be inefficient for a person wanting to do so on a micro level than a truly dedicated agricultural operation will be able to do.

There are a number of good reasons to raise a few chickens or so, if you're in a setting where it's legal and your living circumstances can reasonably accommodate it. But the idea that it would end up being less expensive than merely purchasing those foodstuffs is not a very good line of argument at all. Businesses make a profit for the simple reason that by organizing and producing efficiently, they can provide a good or service less expensively than a person can, or will, do for one's self. Being a "boutique" gardener or livestock raiser has its benefits, but saving money is rarely if ever counted among those benefits.

And chickens may be "cool" but it's a whole lot less cool to have to constantly smell your neighbor's chicken sh!t just because they think chickens walking around the yard is cool, and that they're "saving money" on their egg budget. And I can guarantee you that any "urban farmer" who actually stocked a rooster in the backyard next to me would find the rooster very short-lived.
"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685.

"Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous

"Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011

I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14
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ivorythumper
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I am so adjective that I verb nouns!
My uncle used to raise a pig early year on his 6' side yard in an LA suburb. He worked for a pharmaceutical company and fed them out of date infant formula. He'd buy the neighbors' cooperation with rashers of bacon and pork loins. :)
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
Pigs and chickens are very cheap to raise, if you do it the old-timey way.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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sue
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HOLY CARP!!!
We used to have quite a few families raising chickens here on the island, until last summer when a bear (or two, depending on whose stories you wanna believe) appeared and developed a taste for poultry. And then someone dumped a wolf/dog hybrid who picked up where the bear(s) left off. It was mildly amusing watching all the back to the landers/being at one with nature types get all twisted over their egg suppliers becoming lunch.
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
I like bear meat.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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LWpianistin
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HOLY CARP!!!
Jolly
Oct 31 2011, 11:14 AM
Pigs and chickens are very cheap to raise, if you do it the old-timey way.
Some grain, water and scraps is what I would do. What's old-timey? And what's not old-timey?
And how are you today?
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Jolly
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Geaux Tigers!
LWpianistin
Oct 31 2011, 06:15 PM
Jolly
Oct 31 2011, 11:14 AM
Pigs and chickens are very cheap to raise, if you do it the old-timey way.
Some grain, water and scraps is what I would do. What's old-timey? And what's not old-timey?
Free range 'em, scraps and a bit of grain only when you have to.
The main obstacle to a stable and just world order is the United States.- George Soros
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Here's a chicken....

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Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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