When your property has some acreage to spare, you can make it a little more lively by adding in some farm animals. While you give them great green pastures to graze, you’ll be able to collect your own eggs or milk, free from processed chemicals. Even better, many animals will work as natural lawn mowers. Although companies like John Deere and Kubota have been making agricultural equipment since 1890, allowing animals to take the reins in lawn maintenance can be beneficial for both you and your beloved farm creatures.
Animals That Are Natural Mowers
Machine mowers are necessary in city environments and neighborhoods that don’t allow for furry friends. However, when you allow these animals to mow your lawn for you, you’ll save time and energy while preventing the emission of carbon monoxide and dioxide.
- Goats
As a classic choice for a natural lawn mower, goats love munching on weeds, brush, twigs, and leaves. They are fine with fighting through thorns to get to the good stuff and can get into spots that are typically tough to reach. They’ll chew on the plain grass as well, while also making fun pets with plenty of personality. Goats have slightly unpredictable grazing patterns, so their mowing job could be a bit uneven. - Sheep
Sheep are very efficient at grazing over large areas of land, making them a perfect solution for natural lawn maintenance. They have very docile dispositions, so they won’t cause trouble, but you will need at least two as they are very social creatures. As a bonus, sheep can also be used for wool and milk. - Chickens
The more grass that a chicken eats, the better quality eggs they produce. As friendly birds, they make ideal grazers, and you can use their eggs to supplement your meals. You can construct A-frame coops with an open floor for grazing to keep them concentrated on a patch of grass, and then move it once they’re finished with an area.
How To Care For Your Living Mowers
Although you will save time on lawn maintenance when you have an animal naturally do the work, you will have to put in the necessary effort to care for them. You will need fences to keep them in designated areas and to keep predators out. Electric fences are an effective option in containing animals, especially goats that can easily escape by jumping. Make sure that your animals have other food to supplement their grass-based diet, such as hay and animal feed. They will need fresh water as well to stay hydrated while they do their job.
If you’re tired of using a lawn mower, ditch the machine and invest in farm animals to take over that chore. You’ll gain some furry friends while taking mowing off of your to-do list.
