Your statement about a lack of money may be the answer. If someone doesn't have the money to buy an animal they sure don't have money to feed and care for one. Forget the horse and cow. Chickens can be had inexpensively or free and if left to range won't cost a lot to feed. Rabbits would be a fairly low cost project too. If there were money to take care of animals a couple of goats would fit too. But 1 1/2 acres really isn't much land for large animals. Chickens, rabbits and goats would fit on that parcel, provide food and lots of enjoyment. Plus there would be land left to garden and grow the food for canning etc. Tom

I agree completely with what Tom said!

she will let the animalks graze during the summer and in winter she will be getting hay from her brother's co worker..if that helps

On average quality native pasture, one cow needs four acres to graze year-round, (more or less, depending on the quality of the grass and breed of cow). Assuming the house and yard take up a chunk of the acre and a half, she can have 1/8 of a cow (or one goat) if she buys in hay only in the winter. Two if she buys it year-round. The chickens and rabbits are a better idea; they wouldn't mind being confined as much and the fencing and housing is less costly.

On 1 1/2 acres the horse or cow will completely eat all the grass in 3-6 months no grass will grow back. You can not reseed because it takes at least a year for the roots to get strong enough to replinish its self with out any animals grazing. You will have to feed hay year round for the life of the animal or until you decide to sell it or butcher it.You will also have to feed a little grain 2x a day for a horse. I dont know about cows. goats are easier and you can milk them.

I agree with everyone else. Smaller animals such as chickens, rabbits, and maybe goat(s). I would start with a garden and chickens first. A garden would be a big money saver if your friend will can or freeze produce for the winter. Plus, if he/she makes a chicken tractor the chickens will help weed between the rows and eat bugs. I call that a 3fer. Three 'fer one. Eggs, meat, and weed machine.

With gardening, your friend would need to make one time pusrchases of canning supplies and/or a large enough freezer to hold everything. My neighbor fed her family of 6 alll winter on a garden that was probably 30X80. She canned everything and when the plants were done she replanted another crop of something different.

Obviously, your friend would have one time expenses with the chickens and a couple of smaller routine expenses.

If your friend doesn't have experience feeding and dealing with illnesses of the animals she's thinking of getting, she may find that her vet bills from freebie animals will gobble up any money she might have saved...

I believe it's Old Macdonald who advises adding only one new kind of livestock per year. I think that's very sound advice!

Besides the expense, you can pace yourself so that you don't find yourself biting off more than you want to chew. My sister was once told this sage advice about marriage that reportedly came from an old farmer (enough wisdom in it to be true), "It's better to want something and not have it than to have it and not want it and not be able to get rid of it." I think it probably applies to collecting critters as well as marriage, or just about anything else.

Geese might be a good choice for your friend. They will graze for most of their food except in winter and are hardy, easy to care for and so much fun. A trio - one gander and two geese - would be a good start and if she raises them from goslings they will become very friendly.

Another possiblity might be to raise a weanling pig from early spring through to late fall and then butcher it. Good eating and it is a time-limited project.

1 1/2 acres with a home cant be too far in the country, where will she ride her horse? There will be nothing frugal in horse ownership especially in the winter months.I think your friend should ask herself,Does she really need it,or like to have it.

**Something that so many don't think of is that if she gets very many chickens, say 25 or 30 free ranging, will consume all the grass on 1 1/2 acres in no time. She will need to limit her numbers or not give them "total" free range, (or both). Mine are in a large fenced in area, and allowed to get out occasionally, so my yard won't be dirt.

Lesli, you are right about the need to consider the amount of grazing the property can take, but I do wonder if perhaps the climate in your area is a limiting factor. I free range 20 - 25 chickens and three geese on a parcel not much bigger (most of my acreage is brush and woods) and they don't even make a noticable difference in the grass, except just outside the chicken house itself. I don't know much about the climate in Illinois, but I see it is Zone 5, same as here. I wonder if perhaps we get more rainfall and therefore the turf can take more pressure from grazers.

Tom was 'right on' in the first post. If money is a problem now then animals, especially large ones are out of the question.

I notice a lot of people mentioned fowl of different types and rabbits. I agree that would be a better choice.

Also, if your friend is having to ask these questions it must be assumed that they don't know much about animal husbandry. It would not be fair to the animals to try to keep them with out proper feed and veterinary care. In most cases additional feed of some sort is essential to good health even with small animals. Grazing alone on 1 and a half acre parcel will not provide enough nutrients.

My personal suggestion would be that she do some intensive research, constuct a proper house and pen, and start with egg producing chickens such as Rhode Island Reds. Many people think that they want to produce thier own meat but when the time comes find that it is a lot easier said than done.

I used to raise goats to sell for BBQ meat. My children and exhusband liked the money that it brought in but each time I sold one they made sure to let me know what a cold hearted person I was to let the goat be killed.

There is a lot more to farm life than just moving to the country and buying (or adopting) a bunch of animals.

Hope you steer (no pun intended) her in the right direction.

Wow, well that could be and also I have some chickens that don't seem to need the same amount of greens for some reason. My marans hardly eat any grass etc when they are out but the brahmas, white leghorns, buff cochins really are major grazers. I was wondering before about that.

My climate is similar to Illinois, I have 2 acres and 30 mostly free ranging chickens, and my grass is fine. (The gardens looked bad, till I invested in some electric fencing--keeps the chickens and the dogs out.)

Chickens are easy and fun, you don't have to butcher if you buy pullets, you can raise more yourself if you so desire.

She doesn't have room for cattle. Horses are expensive, to buy, to feed, and to vet.

Beware of free animals--temperament and health problems come with them. And if you are a softy (like me) you will have trouble getting rid of them.

I'm willing to bet that horses or cows are not even allowed on 1 1/2 acre. Check with your zoning laws. I agree with the above posts and would like to add: Please please please educate yourself (friend) as to what the requirements will be before taking on the responsibility of any kind of animal. Where I live we all too often see people move to the country, invest in animals without really knowing how to care for them or realiazing the time involved and then leave them suffer because they loose intrest. That's just not right! As far a chickens go, I'd say give a few hens a try. Probably no more than 3-7 for starters. Make sure you have a sound coop BEFORE you get the hens. Also you might want to skip a rooster as the neighbors might complain (assuming you have them fairly close on 1 1/2 acres). Again check zoning rules in your area first. If your in a subdivided type developement you may not even be allowed chickens!