There’s nothing quite like spring on a hobby farm. The air smells like damp straw and possibility, the sun lingers a little longer each evening, and all around us—new life begins to stir. Tiny hooves, fuzzy ears, squeaky mews and peeps. If you follow Andersen Acres, you’ve probably noticed we’ve had a bit of a baby boom lately: kittens, bunnies, puppies, chicks… you name it, it’s probably squeaking in our barn right now.
But while baby animals might look like the pinnacle of farm life on Instagram, the reality of breeding on a small farm is a lot more complex. It’s messy, unpredictable, joyful, exhausting, and sometimes heartbreaking. So today, I want to pull back the curtain and talk honestly about what it’s really like to breed animals on a small-scale homestead like ours.
The Joy – Why We Breed in the First Place
Let’s start with the obvious: baby animals are magical. There’s a reason everyone swoons over a newborn goat or a just-hatched duckling. Watching life begin—watching an animal take its first breath, first steps, first wobbly adventures—is one of the most awe-inspiring parts of farm life.
We breed for a lot of reasons here. Sometimes it’s practical—we need working livestock guardian dogs to protect our herd, or new layers to keep up with egg demand. Sometimes it’s for preservation, like maintaining the genetic lines of heritage rabbits or rare chicken breeds. And sometimes, yes, it’s because we genuinely love helping create the next generation of healthy, happy animals.
The Chaos – Timing Is Never Perfect
You’d think by now we’d have a handle on the timing. (We don’t.) You plan for spring births… and suddenly a goat you thought wasn’t pregnant drops twins in February. Or you time litters so they don’t overlap, and the universe laughs as the bunnies, the puppies, and the kittens all arrive within 72 hours of each other.
When you breed multiple species, juggling the different gestation lengths, nesting needs, housing requirements, and weaning timelines turns into a complicated spreadsheet in your head. And forget sleeping in. Babies don’t care if you were up all night helping deliver a breech kid. They want milk now.
The Responsibility – Every Decision Matters
Breeding animals means you take on enormous responsibility. It’s not just about feeding and housing them. It’s about making decisions that shape their entire lives—and potentially the lives of the families they go on to join.
We spend months researching lines, selecting pairings based on temperament and health, tracking heat cycles, and preparing spaces. Once the babies are born, they need round-the-clock monitoring, socialization, and health checks. You become their first protector and teacher.
And then, at some point, you have to let them go.
That part never gets easier.
The Loss – Not Every Story Has a Happy Ending
Here’s the part a lot of people don’t talk about: not every birth ends in celebration. Sometimes you lose a baby. Sometimes you lose a whole litter. Sometimes, in the worst cases, you lose the mother too.
And every time, it breaks your heart.
You never forget the bunny who didn’t make it, or the puppy who passed quietly in the night despite your best efforts. You carry those losses with you. And yet—you keep going. Because the good outweighs the grief. But that grief is real. And anyone thinking about breeding on a small farm needs to be prepared for that reality.
The Ethics – Just Because You Can Doesn’t Mean You Should
One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned over the years is that breeding should never be casual. It’s not something you do “just for fun” or because the babies are cute. Every single animal brought into the world should have a purpose and a plan.
We don’t breed just because we have two animals of opposite sex and compatible parts. We breed because we have a goal: healthier animals, improved lines, trained working dogs, sustainable production, or rare breed conservation. And we make sure we have the space, time, and resources to do it well.
If we don’t have a plan for placement, we don’t breed. Period.
The Community – Raising With Support
One thing that helps keep us sane during these baby-filled months is the farm community. We have fellow farmers we can call at midnight when a delivery is going sideways. We swap tips on bottle feeding and weaning. We cheer each other on when the babies thrive—and we grieve together when they don’t.
Breeding on a small farm can feel isolating if you don’t have that kind of support. But you don’t have to go it alone. Whether it’s local farmer friends or online communities, find your people. Trust me—it makes a difference.
The Magic – And Why We Keep Doing It
So why do we keep breeding despite the chaos and heartache? Because when it works—when that bunny nest wriggles to life, when a mama cat starts purring as her kittens nurse, when a goat lets out a triumphant yell and stands up with twins beside her—it’s pure magic.
Because we believe in raising animals the right way, with intention, love, and care. Because we believe in doing our part to preserve breeds and build strong lines. And because, even on the hardest days, this life fills our hearts in a way nothing else can.
If you’ve ever thought about breeding animals on your own small farm, my advice is simple: do your homework. Be honest with yourself. Plan carefully. And above all—lead with love.
