Not too many people want to think about keeping animals for food, but it is certainly one way to be prepared in the case of food shortages, oil shortages when food cannot be transported, or an economic collapse that makes the cost of food out of reach for most families.
Storing an emergency food supply can be a good idea in the short-term, but in order to be prepared, you have to consider having a renewable source of food. A garden is a good example of something that can give you a continual supply of food. Animals are another.
There are several animals that can be kept for food. The average family, however, will want to stick with animals that can provide a variety of food sources, are small enough to raise in a suburban yard, are easy to care for, and are resistant to disease. Animals that can forage or eat scraps from a garden if needed are a plus, in case you cannot provide them with food directly.
Most survival experts recommend three different animals for the average person who just wants to be able to be prepared to provide food to his family. These are chickens (which are very popular right now, even for folks not worried about being prepared for a food shortage), rabbits and goats. Each of these animals can provide good sources of food, including eggs, milk and meat. In addition, rabbits can also provide leather and fur if needed.
If you are considering raising animals for food, you’ll want to make sure that you do your research and pick specific breeds of these animals that will work for you. Picking up a couple of rabbits at a pet store isn’t a good idea. For goats, look for dwarf breeds; for chickens, determine whether you want good egg layers, good meat providers or a combination of both.
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