Should I get a third cow pen?

I've been resisting for a long time, but I'm finally thinking of getting a third cow pen. I love the way my farm looks, lots of trees, flowers and fruit trees and I know a pen will take up precious room on my farm, but I'm having trouble getting enough milk from my 10 cows. Is it more of a hassle to make feed for the extra critters? Should I just persevere and hunt for milk among my neighbours' stalls and the DD or should I break down and buy the livestock. Once you get them they are yours forever, with all the responsibility that goes with them, so I'd like to hear from you farmers who have a full complement of bovine beauties. Decisions, decisions!

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Originally Posted by Macpuddleduck

I've been resisting for a long time, but I'm finally thinking of getting a third cow pen. I love the way my farm looks, lots of trees, flowers and fruit trees and I know a pen will take up precious room on my farm, but I'm having trouble getting enough milk from my 10 cows. Is it more of a hassle to make feed for the extra critters? Should I just persevere and hunt for milk among my neighbours' stalls and the DD or should I break down and buy the livestock. Once you get them they are yours forever, with all the responsibility that goes with them, so I'd like to hear from you farmers who have a full complement of bovine beauties. Decisions, decisions!

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You should! As time goes by, level progress, etc, your needs of milk and dairy products will increase and to support that you need a good stock of milk. As you know, milk is quite rare in newspaper and/or neighbor. So buy buy buy!

I manage my farm with just 10 cows till level 48 (4 weeks ago). I bought 3rd cow pen after discovering that the more animals I get, the quicker I get expansion item when collecting (just like wheating, there is a magic number ^^). And cow milk sell quickly.

I don't really care about decoration. Playing on a small screen, I prefer convenience and avoid to zoom or move the farm every time to see if something is ready.

I would add that I only have 10 cows, and those are 5 too many. I am constantly producing cow feed and then running out just trying to keep the darn things fed. I buy milk about 2 xs per week, usually if I can find someone who is selling it cheaply. More often than not though, I have to sell my excess milk at the default price just to make room in my barn. Assess what your current milk needs are and how much time you're willing to spend making cow food. Also consider if you're willing to buy milk occasionally at the max price.

Feed shouldn't be an issue if your mills have max slots.

Cow up.

You will definitely need that third cow pen, if not now, later on... Cow feed is made very quickly as you know, and any excess sells in a blink. My strategy to achieve the dairy mastery was to run cream, cream, cream, cream, butter (repeat) then put the cheeses in overnight, and I still run my dairy this way even now, so you do need a lot of milk to keep this pace up... Milk is quite scarce in the DD, but it's not expensive if you are lucky enough to find any. Later on in the game, you might even find one dairy is not enough, but I find it ample atm.

John.

Git them little dogies along in yer pen already! :)

Yes you most definitely should! You can sell the excess milk and cream in your stall. I'll nab every one of those jars of milk :p

I guess I should just rearrange my farm and dive into more milk maiding. Thanks for the advice and strategies. I never seem to be that organized Boroyob, but I'll give it a try. And Bobbyrae2, look for more milk coming to my stalls soon!

You will need it as you level up but be prepared to keep your feed mills going first. I expanded the number of bags I could make to cover all the animals first. They are no good to you if you can't feed them! Then if you are doing it because you really need the milk, open as many spaces in your Dairy as possible to keep it producing non-stop. If you don't do that, you can always make to sell to others. I actually made it to level 59 before getting 3rd pen but had to buy milk several times a week toward the end of that time. If you find yourself regularly buying milk you should do it now.

GC. HerbAnn2 level 63, Dogville Farm

i am thinking of the same thing...but i have a bit of ocd and its holding me back...

i regret buying 3 chicken pens, but if i buy another cow pen, i will need to buy another pig sheep and goat pen =.=

ohhhh the dilemma~

You are so right, HerbAnn, I am at level 55, I have every slot open in my dairy barn, but not on my feed machines, because I didn't feel the need, until now. I'm stretched having to get enough milk for all that cheese and butter! And from what you say, it only gets worse at the higher levels. Thanks for the warning. <sigh> I hate giving up more of my precious green space though. There go more trees.

I'm level 63 - only 2 chicken pens, 2 cow pens, 2 pig pens, 2 sheep pens and 1 goat pen. Wouldn't buy the third one. You rarely need the extra milk to fill production spots, milk is not that hard to find in paper, they take up a lot of space on the farm compared to what they give you. If you don't urgently need it, don't buy it, because once you've bought it, you can't delete it again.

My first post!! I'm level 58. I have two chicken pens, two cow pens, one goat pen, one sheep pen, and one pig pen. I find two cow pens to be plenty even with my dairy running 24/7. I only buy milk when I have an incoming boat needing milk. I find myself swimming in bacon most of the time so need to sell it off. Occasionally I need to buy wool (if I'm cranking out blue hats) and goat milk. I'd rather make an occasional small wool or goat purchase from a follower or lower-level friend and enjoy the serene garden and wooded space I've created for myself over on the side of my farm. IRL my world is hectic, crazy, and busy. I enjoy imagining myself sitting on my farm on that quiet bench with my trees breathing in the fresh air away from the little kids. Okaaaayyyyyy....that probably sounds strange. I'm really not a wacko! Great first impression on the forum, eh?:D

My farm has 9 cows at level 40. Since reading a post somewhere a while back where wished animals could be sold or traded and who felt stuck with surplus, I've tried to stay with just the amount that provides sufficiently. I'm following this thread with interest. It's encouraging hearing that ten cows work at level 63.

Six cows worked for me until about level 32 or so after getting the second cat and running out of milk. New products used cheese.

There are no pig pens at my farm. Bacon is readily available. Six chickens are enough. My 5 sheep aren't enough, so the store fills in. I'm considering getting more sheep, but not rushing into it. Three goats. (Multiples of three except with the sheep as it is easier with the feed.)
The feed production and feeding responsibility are also my considerations in choosing animal quantities.

Possibly others with more animals have been able to expand their barns and silos faster than mine. Or possibly it evens out with whatever style of farming we use.

Good wishes to you on your farming and the choice you make.

Level 67 here and only 2 pens, 10 cows. I have only 4 goats, 9 pigs and 12 chickens. I have more than enough of everything. Occasionally I have to buy milk or goat milk but it's pretty rare that I run out. And I play all day long.

I'm thinking of getting more goats though only because that's one of the few achievements i don't have yet - with only 4, getting to 2000 feedings is taking forever!

I would say you definitely need the third full cow pen. You always need so much dairy product!

Now I'm hearing great arguments on both sides of the cow pen! I too love the serenity of my virtual farm and hate to take up more space, but I am running out of milk every so often. KWNBH, thanks for replying to me with your first post! Add me in GC as a neighbour if you'd like. I'd love to see your farm.

I think I'll hold off just for a bit and see how it goes. Some of my neighbours are kindly selling milk, perhaps they're feeling sorry for me!

I finally broke down and bought the 3rd cow pen last night. It resulted in me needing to completely rearrange my farm, but since I run my dairy mill overnight with all 9 slots filled I was constantly running out of milk. I did have to open up a few more slots on each of my feed mills though as I generally like to keep enough on hand for two feedings.

I probably won't but the 3rd chicken coop though - I am always swimming in eggs!

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Originally Posted by Macpuddleduck

Now I'm hearing great arguments on both sides of the cow pen! I too love the serenity of my virtual farm and hate to take up more space, but I am running out of milk every so often. KWNBH, thanks for replying to me with your first post! Add me in GC as a neighbour if you'd like. I'd love to see your farm.

I think I'll hold off just for a bit and see how it goes. Some of my neighbours are kindly selling milk, perhaps they're feeling sorry for me!

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You're welcome, Macpuddleduck! I'll add you in GC. I wheat every day and almost always have my RSS stocked with 10 for 5 coins. Since I've opened all my land and fishing spots, I regularly sell LEMs, except deeds as I give those to family members who play. I also sell SEMs, except nails. Again, those go to family. Lots of saws and axes.

For me, I'd rather buy an occasional pack of 10 milks and preserve my farm's peacefulness. I've got enough coins and those gold mega-statues are too gaudy for my taste so I need to spend my money somewhere! LOL!