Brainstorming....

[elhuerto]

We've decided to put a bit more of the allotment over to "livestock" = we already have 3 chicken runs for different breeds and are going to start soon on a new area around 15 or 20m2. We have enough chickens and would like to have the new part for something different and preferably a mixture of "livestock".  We've talked about geese, ducks, quail, pig, goat, ostrich (I'm exaggerating a bit there) and I thought I'd come here for some suggestions. The space could be increased if necessary, no problem putting in a small pond if required but the main thing is to have a mixture and to be productive.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

Cheers!

[elhuerto]

[birdsrfun]

Only just read this - guinea fowl might be nice, noisy(good alarms), but lovely birds. Small breed pigs would be fun too as long as you don't mind them making the area a mud pit.

[goodlife]

Well pigs and goats would certainly provide different 'products' but it all depends what you would use and how much work you want to put in..
Both of those are relatively easy to look after day by day basis (not that I have any but I've been gathering the info for the future dream) but like with any animals there is the bits for each species that needs doing every now and then.
Pigs would keep the ground well 'cultivated' and fertilized and perharps good idea for keeping up with 'crop' rotation.
Goats..ahhh... ;D...for meat?, milk? or both..would you have enough time process all that milk for other products?...choises choises ;D                   

[elhuerto]

I'd love to have pigs but the heat in Summer worries me a bit. I've seen a lot of adverts for pot bellied Vietnamese pigs here but don't know anyone that keeps any. We actually were offered a goat but turned it down. Hadn't considered guinea fowl, will read up on them. A local farm is offering 3 week old turkey chicks which might be another option.

[elvis2003]

you must be joking,goats,the animals that will eat anything? they will destroy your plot! I would check your tenancy agreement carefully first,we are not allowed anything other than chickens and bees

[elhuerto]

Not joking, we own the land as there aren't council run allotments in Spain. As I said we were offered a goat but don't really have the space to keep more than one or two. Not really into goat meat either.

[goodlife]

Pigs should not be a problem..as long as they have 'puddle' where they can have a mud bath and have some sort of shelter to go under into shade...even if it is just open sided thingy with roof...that could be turned into warmer one during winter by piling up some straw bales to make walls..that's if you get straw bales over there ???
Have you been to see any farms where they keep pigs..I think you could do some 'snooping around' trips to see how others do it..

[Robert_Brenchley]

My sister used to keep goats. They're not too much work, provided extremely creamy milk - the cream doesn't rise - and we ate them regularly.

[RW]

It all depends what you want as end products.

Any other poultry is perhaps too much like keeping more chickens.

For something different I would be tempted by a goat or simply bees for honey.

[Digeroo]

I know someone who keeps Rheas.  A little bit smaller and less ferocious than ostrich,  though I think the turkeys would be a better option.

[elhuerto]

I think RW hits the nail on the head here

Any other poultry is perhaps too much like keeping more chickens.

We currently have 15 chickens for eggs and 24 hatching eggs in the incubator which will mainly be for breeding / meat. Maybe looking into goats again might be the way to go. Our neighbours near the allotment are beekeepers, and have offered to get us started so that is another possibility.

Cheers!

[goodlife]

As a beekeeper myself I always try to 'drop' those who are consering to start beekeeping into the good and bad sides of beekeeping..like with any other 'live stock' , there is lots to get involved with.
Of course it depends how 'deep' you take beekeeping but it can take over your life :o...yes.. ::)
If you 'just' want to do because of the honey..well..getting the honey from hive to the jar is the biggest and most time consuming job in beekeeping...chore of its own..and if you want to make good use of the spare wax..eg. candles or beauty products..well, again big job.
Generally bees them selves are "easy" to look after and don't take huge amount of time or space but the spare equipment needs storage space, starting up cost is not too bad neither.  I like looking after bees but it is 'everything else' business that I'm starting to get over worked with. ::)

[ripley]

I had two weaner piglets in the garden last year. They are a pleasure to have and real characters. Although they are a big commitment they are easy to look after and eat ALL waste from the allotment. They are really aware of what they need and ours spent warm days under the bushes in their run to keep cool.

I would love to have them again this year but holidays are difficult with - no kennels for 50kg pigs!

If you have enough land to rotate I would say let the pigs do the digging for next year for you.

Ripley ;)