8 animals that practically take care of themselves
Some animals need constant attention, while others thrive with basic daily care. If you want to keep animals without being tied down to hours of chores, the right species can make life much easier.
These animals still need proper food, water, and shelter, but they’re naturally low-maintenance once you’ve got their setup right.
Bees
Bees are among the lowest-maintenance animals once established. They forage for their own food and need only seasonal inspections and occasional feeding in poor nectar conditions. They can produce honey and pollinate your garden with minimal hands-on work.
Quail
Quail require very little space and adapt well to cage or pen life. Once you have a clean, predator-proof setup, caring for them is mainly a matter of feeding, watering, and collecting eggs. They’re hardy and rarely cause trouble.
Ducks
Ducks are resilient and adaptable, thriving in a modest pen with fresh water. They forage for insects and weeds, reducing your pest load, and don’t require constant handling to stay healthy. As long as they have clean water and feed, they’re easy keepers.
Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are low-maintenance and don’t require pasture or complex housing. With fresh hay, pellets, and vegetables, they stay healthy and active. They’re hardy when protected from extreme temperatures and don’t need daily outdoor time to thrive.
Chickens
Once your coop and run are set up right, chickens mostly take care of themselves. Feed and water them daily, keep bedding fresh, and they’ll keep producing eggs with little extra work. Automatic feeders and waterers make care even easier.
Goats
Goats are independent and hardy, especially if you have good fencing. They browse on brush and weeds, cutting down on feed costs, and require only basic shelter and daily feeding to stay in good shape.
Sheep
Sheep, especially low-maintenance breeds like Katahdins, thrive with minimal handling. Good fencing, access to forage, and shelter from bad weather are usually all they need. They’re quiet and steady animals once settled in.
Rabbits
Rabbits are easy to care for if you keep their housing clean and well-ventilated. Daily feeding and watering take minutes, and they don’t require large spaces or special equipment. They’re quiet and adapt well to different living setups.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
