Small Space Homesteading Options

Are you in city limits too? Do you have regulations on what type of animals can inhabit your yard? Here are some small space homesteading options to consider aside from or in addition to chickens.

Coturnix Quail

Most if not all of these blog posts will be focused on Coturnix quail because we all focus on Coturnix quail but we all 3 have different setups to fit our needs. Coturnix quail you will find can fit in any space, even if it's indoors, to provide you with fresh eggs and meat. These birds are scalable to any size operation which makes them perfect for small spaces. At 3 birds per square foot and laying eggs as early as 6weeks you want to look into Coturnix quail for your homestead of any scale.

Bees

Even if you have a small yard, a small beehive is a great option in a small space. Beekeeping is a great skill to learn because sugar doesn't grow on trees and honey can be supplemented where and when sugar isn't available. Many cities have local organizations and will even provide mentors to help you get started on your beekeeping journey.

Rabbits

Rabbits can provide a freezer full of meat each year as they have a short turnover rate (30-day gestation and ready to butcher around 10-12wks). The meat has a similar taste to chicken. They are very quiet and don't need a ton of space. Their poop is also amazing for compost and can be placed directly into your garden/potted plants. They also make great pets if you want them just for fertilizer.

Muscovy Ducks

Usually there are rules about ducks in the city however, Muscovy ducks are quiet, quack less ducks that don't require as much water as regular ducks so they are great for the city because they are quieter and can be kept more discreetly. Their breast meat tastes like steak, which is a different taste from other types of waterfowl, and they are grown out and ready for butcher in about 12 weeks.

We raise Muscovy ducks mainly for meat because they only lay eggs seasonally (which means a clutch of eggs for them to hatch and then they are done for the year) but they are great moms and will hatch their own eggs so that's a benefit. They are also amazing pest control for bugs and rodents. A couple of downfalls is they do fly well so an enclosed area is best but if you're looking for something smaller and quiet for your space, that tastes similar to steak and grows out quickly Muscovy duck is a great option.

In conclusion, these are some of the things we have made work in the city on 1/10th an acre on a mountainside and many of these options are possible even in apartment spaces (Coturnix quail work indoors and so do rabbits). Hope this sparks some ideas as you guys prepare to be even more self-sufficient over time no matter what your space looks like! Thanks for reading and catch you guys next time for a Thanksgiving post!

With love,

Kelli