If you are like me you probably went into homesteading thinking that you’d save a bunch of money providing your own things. It’s almost laughable the amount of money I have put into this journey. Now, I am sure you can do it without wasting as much money as I have by planning things out a little better, but it is still going to cost you money.
Let’s talk about a few things that I have done on the homestead that required money in some way or another. First, my garden. Now, I did save a bunch of money on this by having a friend plow the plot for my garden. I still did pay him though because fuel isn’t cheap and maintaining tractors and equipment costs money. Next we have seeds. I bought a few from my kids school fundraiser (before we started homeschooling), my mother bought me some, I also ordered a plethora online from The Seed Guy during a sale. I really did save a ton of money through that sale too! I bought a bunch of seed starting containers. You can cut costs here by upcycling plastic containers from things like yogurt, milk, water, juices, etc. I have also seen people use old toilet paper/paper towel rolls and even egg shells. Personally, I have never tried either of those, but I know people who have.
At the end of the day you have money into seeds, creating the garden, and seed starting supplies. Oh, I forgot fertilizer. I didn’t buy any for my garden. I raise rabbits so rabbit manure is my fertilizer. Beyond gardening we have canning and storage which create additional costs, but we will leave that topic for another day.
On that topic of abbits. Getting into rabbits also costs money. Now you can save yourself tons of money compared to what I spent in this area, but I will be honest. Rabbits are not just a homestead item for me, they are a hobby. I raise them for more than just meat. Anyway, back to the subject. You will need to purchase at least two rabbits. I suggest a trio or two trios to get started depending on what your goals and your needs are and here is why. Sometimes a doe is not receptive to a buck. In this case it is good to have a back up doe just incase. Ask me how I know…. Likewise, you could end up with a buck that just doesn’t get the job done. This is super rare, but it has happened. This is why I suggest having a second buck. Now, rabbit math is real and you could get in over your head real fast here so be careful with your breeding plans.
I should probably back up and say you need cages. Unless you are planning colony style in which case you’ll need ot build a colony. Wire bottom cages are best for many reasons but health in particular. You’ll need to invest in resting mats to help avoid sore hocks. Now, I know plenty of people go without them, but I use them. People will intentionally breed to avoid sore hocks and that is perfectly fine. You can invest in nice cages from a cage builder, but depending on where you live shipping might just not be worth it. You can build your own or hit tractor supply for some cages. I have had so many people tell me their TSC cages don’t last. I have a few that are on year 3, but mine are never out in the elements. The problem I have is they are flimsy and some of my rabbits are escape artists and will bounce around in the cage until they manage to push a wall just right and get it to unlatch from the top. Simply invest in a package of zipties. I promise you’ll use them for plenty of other things on the homestead too. In short, cages cost money whether you build them or buy them.
If you want to do a colony style you still need to build a pen. Rabbits like to dig and tunnel so you will still need wire on the ground. You also need a lot more space. People will tell you rabbits need socialization, but rabbits really don’t actually like to live with others. They like their space. If you go this route, buy rabbits from someone who already raises in a colony style or you could have some problems.
A few other costs you will need to account for with rabbits are food, water dishes, feeders, nest boxes, straw or shavings for the nest boxes. Depending on your set up there may be some other costs around trays for waste or shavings for the trays. In my case I have some with tray and some that it just goes on the ground, but because they are inside I put down either straw or shavings to absorb the urine in between the times I remove the waste.
Are you getting a little overwhelmed yet? I hope not too much because we are just getting started. Truly, we are, but I will end with chickens for now. You will need to purchase some chicks or some already laying chickens. Your chickens will need a coop. Or at least a place to get inside out of the elements. I bought a coop, but my chickens free range and they decided that inside the garage on top of the rabbit cages was better than their coop. My chicks I am raising this season are not free range because I lost way too many to free ranging. I need them enclosed while I rebuild my chicken population. That being said, starting with chicks requires setting up a brooder. Now this can be a tote or a cardboard box, or you can build something. Just be mindful of fire hazards with whatever you choose to use. You will need a heat plate or heat lamps. Lamps are the bigger fire hazard, but if you are careful and pay attention to your set up, you should get by just fine. You will need feeders and waterers as well as feed. If you are not free ranging you will need a fencing set up. You may choose just a simple fence to keep them in, but chickens can easily get out if it is not high enough to keep them in. Also, predators can be other aviary creatures. I had a falcon pick off my bantam chickens. You will likely want shavings for the floor of your coop. You will also probably want nest boxes for your hens to lay eggs at some point.
There are simplified get started costs. Depending on what you want to do, what you have at your disposal, and where you live these costs will all vary greatly. Nonetheless, they are all things that require startup costs as you get into your homesteading journey. Take a little time. Think about what you might be able to find cheap and/or second hand. Figure out what you have for predators and what your goals are. DON”T FORGET TO CHECK YOUR ZONING LAWS!
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