The Complete Beginner's Guide to Raising Small Animal by Cooper, Carlotta -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Dedication & Acknowledgment Table of Contents Introduction

Types of Animals Covered in This Book A Few Things to Expect When Starting Out Warnings About Raising Small Animals Benefits of Raising Small Animals

Chapter 1: Raising Small Animals 101

About Small Animals Raising Small Animals as Pets Raising Small Animals for Profit Raising Small Animals for Personal Use

Chapter 2: Rabbits

History of Rabbits and People Domesticated Rabbits in the United States Breeds Rabbit Husbandry Buying Rabbits Handling Rabbits Housing and Feeding Rabbits Common Rabbit Illnesses Rabbit Breeding Kindling (Birth) Raising Rabbits as Pets Selling Pet Rabbits Rabbits for Meat Rabbits for Fur Laws

Chapter 3: Chickens

Chickens and People Breeds Best Breeds for Exhibition Best Chickens for Egg Laying Best Chickens for Meat Best Chickens for Eggs and Meat Best Pet Chickens Buying Eggs and Chicks Beginning with Eggs Baby Chicks Pullets and Cockerels Purchasing Your Birds Housing and Feeding Chickens Preparing for Your Coop Feeding Your Chickens Chicken Health Breeding Chickens Mating Hatching Eggs Collecting and Storing Eggs Chicks for Sale Your Chickens’ Meat Methods of Killing your Chickens Processing the Carcass Professional Butchering State Zoning Laws Regarding Owning Chickens Chicken Coop Plans

Chapter 4: Ducks and Geese

History of Ducks and Geese Duck Breeds Goose Breeds Duck and Geese Husbandry Buying Ducks and Geese Housing and Feeding Ducks and Geese Feeding Ducks and Geese Duck and Geese Health Handling Aggressive Ganders Breeding Ducks and Geese Using Waterfowl for Weed Control, Insect Control, and as Alarms Ducks and Geese for Meat Web Resources

Chapter 5: Pigs

History of Pigs and People Breeds Pigs for composting Pig Husbandry Characteristics and Behavior Anatomy and Physiology Buying Pigs Handling Pigs Housing and Feeding Pigs Pasturing Fencing and Pens Hygiene Considerations Food, Water, and Shade Pig Health Breeding Pigs Building Your Herd Farrowing Characteristics of Newborns Health-Related Procedures Weaning Breed Registry Agencies Pigs for Meat Getting your Pigs Ready for Slaughter Slaughtering at Home Where to Sell Your Pork

Chapter 6: Goats

The History of Goats and People Breeds Buying Goats Begin Keeping Records Right Away Anatomy of a Goat Handling Goats Housing Goats Feeding Area Watering Buck Stables Accommodations for Kids and Mothers Pastures and Outdoor Enclosures Feeding Your Goats Water Goat Health Goat Diseases Breeding Goats Kidding Raising Kids Disbudding and Castration Tattooing or Microchipping Wattles Health Problems of Kids Using Goats for Weed Control Goats for Milk Milking Your Goats Goats for Meat Laws Goats for Fiber

Chapter 7: Sheep

The History of Sheep and People Breeds Buying Sheep Handling Sheep Housing and Feeding Sheep Feeding Lambs and Sheep Sheep Health Breeding Sheep Sheep for Milk Finding an outside butcher Handling and Cooking Lamb Sheep for Fiber Laws

Chapter 8: Cattle

The History of Cattle and People Raising Cattle What Kind of Farm Will You Have? The Differences in Raising Cattle for Milk and For Meat Building Your Herd Beef Cattle Housing Handling Pasturing Feeding Reproduction Dairy Cow Nursing After Weaning General Cow Health Dairy Cattle Housing Handling and Feeding Dairy Cattle Health Structures Shelter Fences Dairy Farm Facilities Other Equipment You May Need Water Troughs How to Introduce New Animals When to Cull Necessary Nutrition Body Condition Score Knowing When an Animal Is Ready for Slaughter Completing the Life Cycle Beef and Dairy Processing Knowing the Laws How to Choose a Slaughterhouse Meat Cutting Dairy Processing Getting Certified Selling Options Where to Sell

Conclusion

Keys to Success in Raising Small Animals

Life on the Farm: A Collection of Small Animal Photographs, Including Animal Fun Facts References

Chapter 2: Rabbits Chapter 5: Pigs Chapter 6: Goats Chapter 7: Sheep Chapter 8: Cattle

Author Biography