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Animal Husbandry Guide - Vintage Story Wiki

Vintage Story Guide • Updated Jan 9, 2026

Vintage Story: Animal Husbandry Guide

Animal husbandry provides sustainable food, materials, and companionship. This guide covers taming, breeding, and managing livestock for long-term survival.

Farmable Animals

Animal Products Breeding Time Diet
Chicken Eggs, Feathers, Meat 6 days Grain
Pig Meat, Fat 10 days Vegetables
Sheep Wool, Meat, Milk 12 days Grass, Hay
Cow Milk, Meat, Leather 15 days Grass, Hay

Taming Process

Step-by-Step Taming

  1. Find Wild Animals: Locate in appropriate biomes
  2. Prepare Food: Gather their preferred diet
  3. Approach Slowly: Sneak (Shift) to avoid scaring
  4. Feed Repeatedly: 5-10 portions until hearts appear
  5. Lead to Pen: Use rope or guide with food

Taming Foods

  • Chickens: Grain (wheat, rye, flax seeds)
  • Pigs: Vegetables (carrots, turnips, parsnips)
  • Sheep: Grass, hay, grain
  • Cows: Grass, hay

Breeding Mechanics

Breeding Requirements

🏠 Enclosure

Fenced area with 4x4 minimum space per animal

🍖 Satiety

Animals must be well-fed (80%+ satiety)

👥 Pair

Male + Female of same species

⏰ Time

Gestation period varies by species

Breeding Cycle

  1. Feed Both Animals: Keep satiety above 80%
  2. Wait for Mating: Hearts appear when ready
  3. Gestation Period: Female carries offspring
  4. Birth: Baby animal spawns
  5. Maturation: 10-15 days to adulthood

Animal Products

Egg Production (Chickens)

  • Frequency: 1 egg per 2-3 days
  • Requirements: Fed chicken in enclosed space
  • Collection: Eggs appear in nests
  • Uses: Food, baking, breeding

Milk Production (Cows/Sheep)

  • Tool: Wooden bucket
  • Frequency: Once per day
  • Yield: 1-2 liters per milking
  • Uses: Drinking, cheese, butter

Wool Shearing (Sheep)

  • Tool: Shears (bronze or better)
  • Frequency: Every 10 days
  • Yield: 2-4 wool per sheep
  • Uses: Clothing, bedding, trade

Pen Design

Optimal Pen Layout

Minimum Size: 8x8 blocks
Fence Height: 2 blocks
Gate: Double gate for easy access
Trough: 1 per 4 animals
Shelter: Roof for weather protection

Multi-Species Farm

Section Size Animals
Chicken Coop 6x6 8-12 chickens
Pig Pen 8x8 4-6 pigs
Sheep Pasture 12x12 6-10 sheep
Cow Pasture 16x16 4-8 cows

Pro Tip: Build pens near your crop fields. Use animal manure as fertilizer for 50% faster crop growth.

Feeding & Care

Feeding Troughs

Automated feeding system:

  • Capacity: 8 portions per trough
  • Range: Animals within 4 blocks auto-feed
  • Refill: Check daily and refill as needed

Satiety Management

Satiety Level Animal Behavior Action Needed
100% Healthy, will breed None
50-80% Normal, won't breed Feed soon
20-50% Hungry, losing weight Feed immediately
0-20% Starving, will die Emergency feeding

Slaughtering & Processing

Humane Slaughter

  1. Select Animal: Choose oldest or excess livestock
  2. Use Knife: Bronze knife or better
  3. Quick Kill: One hit with proper tool
  4. Harvest: Collect meat, hide, fat

Meat Yields

Animal Meat Fat Hide
Chicken 2-3 portions 0-1 Feathers
Pig 8-12 portions 2-4 1 hide
Sheep 10-15 portions 1-2 1 hide
Cow 15-20 portions 3-5 2 hides

Advanced Husbandry

Selective Breeding

Improve livestock quality over generations:

  • Track Lineage: Keep best performers
  • Cull Weak Stock: Remove low-yield animals
  • Breed Champions: Pair highest-producing animals
  • Generational Improvement: 3-5 generations for noticeable gains

Sustainable Farming

Maintain population without overharvesting:

  • Breeding Pairs: Keep 2-4 pairs per species
  • Harvest Excess: Slaughter only surplus animals
  • Age Management: Prioritize older animals for slaughter
  • Population Cap: Don't exceed pen capacity

Build sustainable farms and never go hungry. Host your Vintage Story server with Supercraft for multiplayer farming and trading.

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