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Livestock |
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Poultry Goats Sheep Horses Cows
Click here to read "Practices to Keep Your Birds Healthy"
The chicken and rooster are used for
eggs, bug control in the garden, weed/seedling control (they will happily remove
chickweed from your lawn), and high-nitrogen compost. They live for 5-11 years
depending on the breed. You can distinguish adult roosters from chickens by
their plumage, long tails, shiny pointed feathers on neck and back, larger crest
on head, and larger flaps of skin under the beak. Many city ordinances and
zoning laws make it illegal to keep roosters due to noise pollution. They crow
throughout the day starting when the sun comes up, and also when they see
fast-moving objects, people or other roosters. Other restrictions are that
chickens must be kept on your own property and cannot free range. For adoption
through our shelter, you must have an enclosed coop that properly protects the
chickens from predators such as dogs, raccoons, and foxes.
Chickens are very low-maintenance and very useful. They can be tamed for hand feeding (roosters are too aggressive for this). They eat commercial chicken feed, plus leftovers, most veggies and fruits, and pesticide-free lawn clippings. They cannot eat raw potato, rotten food, strong-tasting food, onions, garlic, or fish. The majority of their food should be chicken feed, but foraging for garden bugs, weeds, and veggies will increase the vitamin content of the eggs. They produce many eggs, especially during the first year of egg production. They prefer to brood with other chickens (they are very social animals) and share the responsibilities of nesting and raising their chicks. Of course, without a rooster none of the eggs will be fertilized.
Safe enclosures usually consist of a "roost" or indoor chicken room for night time, and a pen or fenced garden during the day. The floor of the roost is normally covered with straw or wood shavings, which absorb the guam so that you can have lots of nitrogen in your compost. They can get overheated if they don't have access to shade and water on hot days. They will scratch the soil to look for bugs and seeds. This lifestyle and diet allows you to eat eggs with less cholesterol, less fat, more vitamins, and Omega 3. It also reduces the risk of e.coli contamination and prevents antibiotics, arsenic (used for growth promotion), and growth hormones from getting into your kitchen. The downside of having outdoor chickens is that they frequently get lice, mites, fleas, fungus, parasites, colds, and the flu. As with all things, sanitary practices will help keep you and your family healthy.
Ducks: Santa Cruz has a wonderful duck rescue group, Duck Lover Adoptions. You can contact them at 831-335-7756 or email ducluv@earthlink.net. This information comes from them. Ducks need pellet mash for the majority of their nutrients, with additional veggies, dried corn, garden snails, worms, or hard boiled eggs. It is very dangerous to feed ducks bread, popcorn, chips, and other junk food. They love these things, but will then be too full to eat their nutritious food. Most importantly, ducks need filtered water or water that is changed at least once a day. Bacteria and other toxins will accumulate in water, especially during warm weather. Clean water is also needed for swimming, playing, and cleaning their beaks. They use the water to help them break down food. If you don't have a pond in your yard, hard plastic pools (sold for kids) are great. Don't get the inflatable pools because they will pop due to the duck's sharp nails. Ducks enjoy ponds and water, but they really need a safe spot to dry out and preen themselves. If they do not properly clean and waterproof their feathers, they can get moldy and will get very sick. At night they need a warm covered shelter, usually made from heavy wire. They like to feel protected because they know that raccoons and other predators are very dangerous. Raccoons will dig under the side of the shelter, so it is best to have a proper floor or at least extend the heavy chicken wire 8" below ground level. During the daytime, hawks are the main predator.
"Geese" includes the male "gander" the female "goose" and the baby "goslings." There are many types of geese, including the famous swan. Geese are water birds with the same needs as ducks, but they are much larger. Geese do migrate if they live in an area that is too cold in winter. Domestic geese can lay 160 eggs per year instead of the average 7 eggs for wild geese. They are raised for their feathers, eggs, and meat. Of course, we would only adopt a goose to someone who wanted a feathery friend!
Peacocks and peahens are similar to turkey as far as health and care. Peafowl eat seeds, flowers, leaves, insects, spiders, and small reptiles. If you have a spider or insect problem, they will be your best friends. They live in harems with one male and several females. The males will fight for dominance over the women. They do not get along with other birds or with other pets. They are comparable to roosters because of their loud honking sound that starts before dawn. If you don't mind that, then you will be able to enjoy their beautiful plumage in your yard and in your trees.
Button quail are very popular because of their good looks and sweet nature. They are usually kept in an outdoor aviary, although they usually stay on the ground. They need an aviary without a wire floor because their feet are very sensitive. It is best to use wood chips and replace them daily to maintain sanitary conditions. Newspaper is not sanitary because the birds will walk through their own waste and get very sick. They cannot use their feet to perch like most birds, since they are flat-footed. Their water and food dishes need to be kept low, and water should slowly trickle into a small water trough so that it doesn't get polluted with dirt and food. Button quail need 4 sq. ft. per PAIR, and they are usually happier with quail friends for company. Some can be hand raised and will become tame indoor birds, but you can't count on it. Females are very fragile health-wise because they can lay one egg per day for their entire life. This results in calcium and protein deficiencies, and females die very young if their egg-laying is not reduced using a few human tricks. If you have indoor quail, you can put a blanket over their cage after ten hours of daylight, which makes them think it's winter and reduces egg production. For a more reliable method, wait for the female to lay an entire clutch (12-18 eggs) and gather them into a nest for brooding. After 16 -20 days, take her eggs and put them in a dry, well ventilated place after marking them with an X. The next time she lays an egg, add about seven of her old eggs to her nest. She will think she is almost finished with her egg-laying, and will only produce a small number of eggs. Regardless, females need a calcium supplement and plenty of protein so their bones stay strong during egg production. Females can live 18 months to 4 years depending on nutrition and care, while males can live 5 to 9 years depending on nutrition and care. Basic diet requirements are a high-protein "game bird crumble" which can be put into a food processor if it's too large. Millet, hemp, and rape seeds are healthy. Veggies, mealworms, crickets, and maggots are great sources of nutrition. Indoor quails live much longer and should not be fed outdoor bugs due to pesticides and pollution that most bugs carry. You can raise your own maggots and crickets if you want! One last thing: button quail have a natural instinct to fly straight upward when they are startled. They can kill themselves by hitting the ceiling of an aviary or cage. Their cage should have a soft net or fabric over the top (rather than a wire or hard cover) to prevent serious damage when this happens. If you are keeping other birds in the aviary (who may eat through the net/fabric) then you should use a hard ceiling and pad it with fabric.
Goats will help with your yard work. They will do all the weeding and mowing necessary for your yard. They eat almost anything: wood, shrubs, weeds, flowers, and grass. They are resistant to most toxic plants that would kill a sheep or antelope, making it possible for them to free-range. They will not usually eat something that is toxic to them. They do not get into garbage or eat clothing and don’t eat mature trees.
Pet goats are also used for milk and wool/cashmere production. The breed of goat determines the type of wool. The females go into heat every 21 days for 2-48 hours, year round. This frequent heat cycle allows you to get more dairy. The females are called does or nannies, while the intact males are called bucks or billies. Castrated males are called wethers. Their kids are called kids!
If you have never played with a goat before, you are missing out. Directions: hop, skip, and run and the goat will follow. She will be playful and will be much better at skipping than you are. Some goats are very friendly and will nudge you with the top of their head to get pets. They do have small horns but are not generally aggressive. Some breeds have longer horns, but you can have these removed if you are concerned about friendly "head butting." Males are sometimes neutered if they are too assertive. You do need a fenced yard to have goats so that they don't get hit by a car or wander off. Goats also do well on a leash or tethered to a pole in the ground where they can graze. They need a secure place to live (usually a wire pen that is six feet tall or more). This will keep predators from harming them and also improves the quality of their sleep! Many goats are kept in secure horse stalls at night to keep away nighttime predators. Goats also have beautiful horizontal slit-shaped pupils (opposite of cat eyes) that function to increase peripheral depth perception due to the number of predators they have.
Sheep live in herds on grassland, and need to be moved regularly to keep the grass evenly mowed. Alternatively, you could adopt a sheep dog to move your sheep! Sheep are raised for their wool. They can eat native weeds or can be fed with a blend of beans, grasses, and clovers planted for their enjoyment! They do require annual sheering to keep them clean and cool during the spring/summer months. Other aspects of their care are similar to goats (see above).
The number of neglected and abandoned horses has grown over the last few years, partly because it is now illegal to sell unwanted horses to slaughterhouses. As a result, horse prices have fallen significantly, but the cost of their care has not changed. Horses require proper boarding, including an indoor shelter and outdoor exercise area. The average horse eats two flakes of hay every day, so horse-owners need to have a barn or other storage area where they can store bales of hay. Most horses also need pellets and supplements, and older horses need senior feed. Males are usually neutered to reduce undesirable behaviors. Neutered male horses are called geldings. Females (mares) are almost never spayed. Local shelters frequently confiscate neglected and abused horses, and owner's sometimes surrender them. The owners usually can't afford to maintain the horse living area, can't afford the food and vet care, are moving, or simply do not have time to train and ride their horses. Horses are very social animals and make great companions. Due to the complex care and handling required by horse owners, adoptions are usually to people who already have experience owning and caring for a horse. If you have questions about homeless horses in Santa Cruz County, please email julie@stockhorse.com.
Cattle and Cows:
You may not know the difference. Cattle are males bred
for work or meat, while cows are females, usually bred for dairy. There are many types of
each. Our shelter does not adopt livestock for eating, so cattle would only be
adopted out for lawn-mowing a large property. Cows can be adopted for dairy or
lawn-mowing. Cattle and cows that are surrendered to the shelter or confiscated
because of abuse or neglect often get sent to the
California Farm Sanctuary where they
can live out their lives in peace or be adopted to people who know more about
humane treatment of livestock.