What a hobby farm day looks like

Expect 30 to 60 minutes of chores every morning and evening: check every animal is bright and moving, top up water, feed hay or pellets, and pick up manure from the shelter. Once a week, usually a weekend half-day, you walk the whole fence line and test the hot wire, scrub the water tank, and haul manure to a compost pile. A farrier trims donkey hooves every 6 to 10 weeks, and the vet comes out a few times a year for vaccines, teeth and a checkup. The animals live outside year round, so the chores happen in rain, heat and snow, and someone who knows your animals has to cover them when you travel. Goats, sheep, alpacas, chickens, ducks, rabbits and bees each have their own HobbyHobby guide; this page covers donkeys, mini pigs, miniature cattle and showing.

An open-sided wooden shed stacked with square hay bales, with loose straw on the ground in front — Winter hay, stacked dry under cover

Which animals to start with

Open a card for the first thing to do this week. Adding an animal puts its gear into the barn kit.

Donkey keepingCalm, long-lived companions that often pass 30, so adopting a pair is a commitment of decades.

Start here

Call two or three donkey rescues near you, ask whether they have a bonded pair ready to adopt, and arrange a visit to see how the pair is handled and fed.

American Donkey & Mule Society

Mini pig keepingClever, social, food-driven animals that root up any ground they live on.

Start here

Phone your county zoning office this week and ask whether pigs are allowed on your parcel (many towns treat a mini pig as livestock), then ask a breeder for the adult weight of both parents.

American Mini Pig Association

Miniature cattleSmall breeds that eat grass and hay, stay manageable to handle, and suit a few acres better than full-size cows.

Start here

Pick one small breed, look up its adult size and temperament, and visit a breeder to watch the cows being handled before you commit to a pair.

The Livestock Conservancy breed profiles

Livestock showingRaising and training one animal for a county fair or breed show, usually through 4-H, FFA or open-class entries.

Start here

Contact your county extension office about 4-H or open-class shows, then go to this year's fair and note the entry deadlines, ID rules and health papers each species needs.

National 4-H

Zoning comes first

Livestock is often only allowed on agricultural or rural residential land, with minimum acreage, animal-unit limits and building setbacks. Deed covenants and HOA rules can ban animals the county allows. Get the answer in writing before you buy.

A mini pig is usually classed as livestock, not a pet, under zoning and state animal health rules, whatever the seller calls it.

Premises registration

Many states ask livestock owners to register their farm for a premises ID number, which you also need to buy official ear tags. It is free through your state animal health office.

Movement and ID

Cattle and pigs crossing state lines, going to shows or changing hands often need official ID tags and a vet-signed health certificate. Donkeys usually need a negative Coggins test (for equine infectious anemia) to travel interstate and to enter most shows.

Feeding pigs food scraps that contain meat is regulated under federal law and banned outright in many states, because it spreads swine diseases.

Feed a commercial pig ration.

Rules differ by state and county, so call your state veterinarian's office before your first purchase or show and ask exactly what applies to you.

Official ID and movement rules

USDA APHIS Animal Disease Traceability Free guide to premises ID numbers and official animal ID for moving livestock

Land, fencing and shelter

Land: Plan on about half an acre of grazing per donkey, and roughly an acre per miniature cow, plus hay in winter. A pair of mini pigs needs a secure pen of a few hundred square feet at least, more if you want grass left.
Fencing for donkeys and cattle: 4 to 5 foot woven wire or board fence, never barbed wire for donkeys. Pigs need woven panels or wire right at ground level, because they root under anything else.
Add an electric strand: An offset hot wire at shoulder height for donkeys and cattle, or snout height for pigs, stops leaning, rubbing and digging and makes a cheap fence last.
Shelter: A three-sided run-in shed facing away from the prevailing wind, big enough for every animal to lie down at once. Donkey coats are not waterproof, so donkeys must be able to get out of rain.
Pigs cannot sweat and sunburn easily: Give them full shade and a mud wallow or sprinkler in hot weather.
Water: Clean water every day all year, which means a plan for frozen tanks in winter.

Welfare, vets and staying safe

Line up a large-animal vet before you buy. Many small-animal clinics will not treat pigs, cattle or donkeys or make farm calls, so find one who will, and ask what vaccines and parasite plan they want for your species.
Never keep one alone: Donkeys, pigs and cattle are herd animals that get stressed and sick in isolation. Buy at least two of the same species, and keep bonded donkeys together for life.
Ask the vet to do a pre-purchase check on any animal you plan to buy, so you do not bring home lameness, parasites or a disease.
Even a miniature cow can weigh 500 pounds or more. Never stand between a cow and her calf, move slowly, and keep a gate or panel between you and any animal you do not know.
Wash your hands after chores and keep your tetanus shot current: Livestock can pass on ringworm, salmonella and other infections.
Lock the feed store. A donkey or pig that breaks into the feed can founder or bloat and may die.

How to get started

What you can get done in your first month

A zoning answer in writing

An email or letter from your county or town confirming which animals, and how many, your parcel allows.

A working hot wire

An energized offset strand along your fence, checked with the tester at the far end.

A vet on file

A large-animal vet who has agreed to take you on, plus their emergency number on the barn wall.

A filled water tank and dry feed store

A tank in the paddock and a lidded metal can holding the first sack of feed, ready for arrival day.

What trips beginners up

Fencing and shelter cost more than the animals and take longer to build than people expect. Budget for them first.
Mini pigs are often sold with promises of tiny adult sizes. Most reach 100 to 200 pounds, and many end up at rescues because of it.
Winter is the real test: Frozen water, muddy paddocks and hay that must be bought and stored before prices rise.
Do not bring home whatever is cheap at an auction. Sick or unhandled animals are a common beginner regret.
Do not overfeed donkeys: They evolved on sparse forage, and rich grass or treats quickly cause obesity and laminitis, a painful hoof disease.
Do not skip regular farrier and dental care, or wait for an animal to look really sick before calling the vet. Donkeys in particular hide pain until it is serious.

A spotted pig standing in a muddy wallow, its reflection in the water — Pigs need mud or water to stay cool in summer

Where to learn more

Your county extension office runs livestock classes, pasture walks and 4-H programs, and agents answer questions by phone for free.
Breed associations and registries publish care sheets, breeder lists and show rules for their species.
NCAT ATTRA has free publications on fencing, pasture management and parasite control for small farms.
Keep a beginner livestock book in the barn for quick checks on feeding, handling and common illnesses.

Free publications, breeds and clubs

About the kit

The base kit is what every hobby farm needs whatever animals you choose: the vet visit, an electric strand for your fence, water, a thermometer for checking a sick animal, and tools for manure and feed. Your permanent perimeter fence, shelter, hay and the animals themselves are bought locally and are not on this list. Add an animal in the section above on which animals to start with, and its gear joins the kit.

The first line, the vet visit, is not something you buy online. For the rest, compare the options and set your tiers in the barn list. Clicking a card selects it there, and clicking the selected card again takes that line out. The base kit starts in; each animal's gear stays out until you add that animal.

Large-animal vet farm call and pre-purchase exam

Essential · Animal health

A vet who already knows your farm is the one who comes out at night when an animal goes down, and a pre-purchase exam keeps you from buying a sick or lame animal.

Not sold on Amazon

Not sold on Amazon. Look for a large-animal or mixed-practice vet who does farm calls for your species; expect a farm-call fee plus the exam, often $100 to $300.

Electric fence energizer

Essential · Fencing

Powers the offset hot wire that keeps animals from leaning on, rubbing or digging under your permanent fence.

budget

Zareba 10 Mile AC Powered Low Impedance Fence Charger, 0.5 Joule Output

4.6(443)

$99.98

Hobby Farming

What a hobby farm day looks like

Which animals to start with

Zoning, ID and paperwork

Land, fencing and shelter

Welfare, vets and staying safe

How to get started

What trips beginners up

Where to learn more

About the kit

Stock the barn

Large-animal vet farm call and pre-purchase exam

Electric fence energizer

Electric fence polytape

Offset fence insulators

Electric fence ground rod

Electric fence voltage tester

Livestock water trough

Digital livestock thermometer

Manure fork

Rodent-proof metal feed can

Beginner small farm livestock book

Donkey halter and lead rope

Hoof pick with brush

Slow-feed hay net

Heavy rubber feed pan

Pig nipple drinker

Cattle rope halter

Livestock mineral feeder

Livestock show stick

Livestock grooming brush