[aunlanpo]

We live in NH, and extended family's needs are taking us back to AL. Well, at least the husband (dh) is from AL, I'm actually from CO, lived in NH for 24 years and I haven't lived in AL before. We're in our early 40s and have to go back to take care of his mom. We want to start a small backyard farm once we get there with a couple of cows, chickens, and my dh wants to raise goats to sell for meat. We've farmed in NH, but neither of us knows anything about keeping animals in a hot, humid climate with poisonous snakes, poisonous spiders, and other creepy crawlers.

I know how to protect my animals from large predators, but not from snakes and spiders. My mother-in-law (mil) is concerned about coyotes as well. We have them here, but have never had a problem with them. But we don't graze our animals here, since snow takes out the graze land for a good part of the year.

A lot of folks grow and take in there own hay for their animals, but we've always bought it. We'll have the land in AL to grow hay, and to graze cows and goats, but we don't know how with predators like coyotes.

We know how to keep water from freezing, and chicken's combs from freezing, but we don't know how to keep everything from dying of heat stroke.

If you don't have a natural water source on your land, what do folks do? Here, we just dig a well, and you're sure to hit water. There is water on our land in AL, but it's infested with water moccasins. (!!!)

How do you get rid of water moccasins? (without going anywhere at all near them where they can drop on my head from trees or sneak up on me on the ground...)

How big of a problem are snakes there? Are you constantly in danger?
(NH does not have any poisonous snakes.)

We have naturally good soil in most parts here, but a super short growing season. People that do have poor (sandy) soil, have topsoil delivered and turn in some pete moss (for a backyard garden, obviously not the commercial guys). The most we do is turn in our own composte. How do you all deal with soil that looks like red clay?

How much graze land do you need there to support a couple of cows and a herd of 25-50 goats?

Does anyone know what the market is like there for goats?

Here organic farming is big... is it there also?

Thank you so so much to anyone who answers! Even if you can only answer one thing!

[dadbud]

I would advise if you have fears such as the ones you write about then you will have a hard time anywhere in the south and about 2/3's of world. Snakes can be almost anywhere but are rare. You have to be aware of them but fear is not required. There are creepy crawly things everywhere but again fear is not an option. About 2 acres per cow. Water is everywhere.

[southernnaturelover]

Despite what most people think of mocassins they usually will run away from humans and only bite if they feel backed into a corner. The chances of them falling out of a tree onto your head is slim to none. Just watch where you walk, if you see one coiled up on the ground turn around and walk away.

I live in the most southern part of the state I have never heard of livestock having heatstrokes. You will need to provide them some type of cover though, that will give them shade from mid-day sun and shelter from hail (if it occurs). I only have one goat which is more of a pet, and I think I gave $50 for her. Goats LOVE Smilax vines and privet which you'll likely have growing everywhere.

[Southlander]

Contact your chosen county's office of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Service. They have all kinds of information - brochures, flyers, booklets. Talk to the agents - they are very knowledgeable and are eager to help.
Alabama Cooperative Extension System