The 10 Best Homestead Animals for Small Acreage

There’s a big misconception that you need big acreage to add animals to your homestead. Truth be told, you can successfully keep small farm animals without much space.  Let’s take a look at the best homestead animals for small acreage or even on small plots of land.

But First, What is Your Farm’s Purpose?

Knowing your farm’s purpose and specific needs will help you get started. Do you want protein, free fertilizer for the garden, meat production or dairy products? Perhaps you want to grow your own food or even want to generate extra income. Knowing how to utilize these homestead animals for small acreage will help you maximize the benefits for your small space.

Top 10 Homestead Animals for Small Acreage or Hobby Farms

There are some great choices when it comes down to the best homestead animals for small acreage. It really all depends on your personal preference, your setup, and what your homesteading goals are.

Chickens are Great Homestead Animals for Small Acreage

Ah yes, chickens! The gateway animal into farming.  Chickens are a good choice because they can be kept however you wish.  

They can free range or you can really nerd out and have a nice little chicken coop with all the fancy chicken accessories. It’s really whatever suits your personality. Either way, having access to chicken manure will feed your garden well. 

​Chickens for Egg Production

Chickens can pack a punch when it comes to providing your homestead with a steady supply of chicken eggs. They are a popular choice for hobby farmers because you only need about 3 1/2 square feet of space per laying hen in the coop, plus some run space. A general rule of thumb is to keep two laying hens for every person on the homestead to stay in fresh eggs. 

Meat Chickens

Did I mention protein? Not only can you keep chickens for egg production but also for meat production. Meat chickens are great animals to raise in a small space.  They require even less space at 1 1/2 square feet per meat chicken.  Raising them in a moveable chicken tractor gives extra versatility to small farms.

Sheep are the Perfect Homestead Animals for Small Acreage

Sheep are excellent foragers and require very little space.  You can keep them for meat production and dairy as well.  They are one of the easiest farm animals to keep in my opinion.

Sheep are hardy animals that do not require extensive care. They have been one of my favorite additions to our farm, providing a great source of meat. Unlike my next suggestion… Sheep and Goats are Not the Same!

Goats on the Homestead

While goats are often a popular choice to keep on a homestead for meat or goat milk, be ready to pull out all the stops!  Keeping a dairy goat, or any goat, requires a lot more care than sheep with their specialized diets, hoof care, and their lack of respect for fences.  

They are small and cute, I will at least say that, but are notorious for their antics and ability to get themselves into troubling situations. You can opt to keep Nigerian Dwarf goats for goat milk or a larger breeds for goat meat.  

Meat Rabbits are Another Great Choice

With their ability to produce lots of rabbit meat that is high in protein quickly, meat rabbits are great homestead animals for small acreage.  Not only can they produce a ton of meat without much space, but manure also.  Rabbit manure can be added directly to the garden for a nutrient-rich fertilizer that will not burn your plants. 

Quail are Great Homestead Animals for Small Acreage

In my opinion, quail are one of the best animals to keep in smaller spaces.  They grow out incredibly fast, provide eggs and manure, and are quick and easy to process.  Quail can provide all this with very minimal space. 

Pigs are a Great Addition

Pigs can be kept in a relatively small space but require strong, proper fencing.  Electric fencing is a great option for pigs. Just be sure to use the electric fencing made for pigs.

Keeping pigs will provide a bunch of meat for your homestead and valuable lard also. Not all breeds of pigs are created equal though.  We have found that pigs with a shorter snout, like Kune Kune pigs, can be less destructive to your land with less rooting. 

Miniature Cattle 

If you happen to have a small pasture, miniature cows are great homestead animals for small acreage. Keep in mind though, the less quality pasture you have, the more you will have to supplement with hay or grains. You can keep dairy cows or beef cows.

Dairy Cows

Keeping dairy cows as homestead animals for small acreage is possible.  You can look for small breeds like a miniature Jersey cow or even Dexter cattle, which will be easier to keep on smaller acreage. Dairy cows are more work than beef cows so be sure to find a good mentor before diving in.

Beef Cattle

We keep Aberdeen Angus on our farm and have found they are easy on the land. They are small, compact Angus cows that provide hundreds of pounds of meat.

Aberdeen Angus are easy to work with and do good on smaller acreage.  Just be prepared to supplement with hay or grain if you do not have good pasture. 

Honey Bees are All the Buzz

Honey bees are an excellent choice when considering what animals to keep on smaller homesteads.  They take up very little space, provide pollination, and of course, honey!  

There’s lots to learn about beekeeping so be sure to join your local beekeepers association and find a good mentor before making the initial investment. 

Pekin Ducks

Ducks are easy keepers that require little space.  Their eggs and meat are amazing. The one downside to keeping ducks, especially if you do not have a pond, is keeping a water source for them to flounder around in.  Kiddie pools work great but are hard to keep clean.  Ducks are notorious for getting the eater super dirty. 

Keeping Fish on the Homestead is a Good Option

For several years we had a mini aquaponics set up that not only grew produce but fish as well. The trick is to get a breed of fish that is suitable for your climate. For us, it was Tilapia.

You also have to have an aquaponics system that functions properly.  Unless you have a pond, then you can consider stocking the pond and fishing for dinner!

LGDs on the Homestead

While this may not be a great choice for everyone, livestock guardian dogs can be good animals to keep on small acreage.  Be prepared to pull out all the stops and spend lots of time training them.

While they have been essential in providing predator protection for our small livestock they have also been hard to keep at times.  They are notorious for wandering and chasing off predators, which some neighbors find rather annoying.

How Many Animals You Can Keep Per Acre?

These numbers can vary depending on the quality of your pasture and how much you are willing to supplement their feed. Generally speaking, it’s 1,000 pounds of livestock per acre. Here are some general guidelines you can follow:

• Horses- One to two acres per horse
• Beef cattle- One to two acres per beef cow
• Dairy cattle- One to two acres per cow
• Goat- 6-8 goats per acre, more if they are miniature
• Sheep- 6-10 sheep per acre if grazing
• Pigs- This really depends on the size and breed. 
• Chickens: Up to 500 birds per acre if grazing them in a chicken tractor 

Deciding What Animals to Raise on Your Small Homestead

When deciding the right animals to keep on your homestead, there are several factors to consider before bringing any animals home.  I also recommend starting with one thing at a time.

Find your footing with it before adding another animal to your homestead. Things can get out of control quickly!

Before You Bring Animals Home You Should Consider…

Are They Useful to Your Small Homestead? How are you planning on utilizing those animals you are bringing on to the homestead?  

Keeping livestock on smaller acreage often means you will be feeding them more as opposed to them foraging for food.  Can your budget handle the feed bill or will they be a hindrance to your homestead?

What Kind of Space Do You Have?

While there are plenty of small animals on the list that can be easily kept in small spaces, there are some that you should carefully consider the size of your space.  Like the cows for instance, even if they are mini. Having enough space and quality pasture will lighten to feed bill and make for happy cows that can graze a little.

Are Animals Allowed Where You Live?

Every county has different rules when it comes to livestock and such. If you have a smaller homestead you may find that you have more local restrictions than someone in an area with larger parcels of land. Always check you local laws before you commit to bringing any livestock home. 

Housing Needs, Fencing, and Pasture

Be sure to have any shelters and good fencing up and secured before bringing animals home. Do you have the resources to provide what these animals need?

If you aren’t set up before livestock arrives you will be adding extra stress to the homestead. Having proper infrastructure makes keeping livestock so much easier! In my climate, simple, three-sided shelters are usually sufficient for most livestock.

Protection Against Predators

If you are keeping smaller livestock you may want to consider how you will protect them from predators. Will you use LGDs, reinforced coops or shelters, or electric fencing? You can even use miniature donkeys. Having a plan in place will help keep those critters safe. 

Do You Like to Go on Vacation?

I know I do!  Some livestock make it easier to get away than others.  For instance, free-range chickens are pretty self-sufficient as long as they have a water source.

On the contrary, having a dairy cow in milk will require daily care and milking, giving upwards of a gallon of milk per milking.  Finding a farm sitter will be much more challenging. 

Are You Considering Breeds That Are Suitable for Your Climate?

When you choose breeds that are suitable for your climate it makes caring for them a little easier. For example, keeping miniature highland cows in Florida will require extra work on your part to keep them cool.  I am all about setting the farm up for ease, as much as possible. 

In Conclusion, the Best Homestead Animals For Small Acreage May Look Different for Every Homestead

The best advice I have is to take the time to really consider how these small animals can fit into your homestead. It will help set you up for success.  Once you do decide, starting with one addition at a time and adding slowly will help keep the craziness in check that can sometimes happen when building your dream homestead!

Happy Homesteading, Friend!

Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for more than two decades. They currently live on a 10-acre farm in Northeast Florida, which they built from the ground up, nine years ago. On their farm, they grow 100% of their meat and most of their vegetables. 

With a small herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, pastured poultry, sheep, and seasonal pigs, they not only meet their family’s meat needs but also sell their surplus to the local community. They are dedicated to sustainable practices like making compost, seed saving, and processing much of their garden and animal harvests at home. You can find Jenny wandering through her garden, making herbal tinctures, preserving food, making bone broth, and one of Jenny’s favorite hobbies, tanning all types of hides.