Buying house near a farm

[Doesanyoneknowwhattheyaredoing]

We have seen a house we like however it is near a farm. Not next door but 2 along. I think its cows mainly. I’m a bit worried about smells, flies etc.

Anyone that’s lived near a farm have any opinions on this - party of me things it will be lovely to watch the cows in the field but the other part is thinking we might not be able to sit outside in the summer?

We don’t live by a farm but live in an area which is surrounded by countryside. At certain times of the year you will smell the muck spreading on the fields. I’m used to it as have lived in this area all my life but my husband coming from a built up city area can’t stand it 🤣
the other things to consider is noise, traffic etc depends what type of farm it is and how big.

it wouldn’t bother me at all personally

Is it beef or dairy cattle? Do the fields surround the house? How large is the herd?

Go and sit outside the house from 5am to 8am.
Dairy farms have milk tankers turning up at all times.
Personally, I think you are right to be apprehensive.

I’m surrounded by sheep fields, so many flies in summer. Also lots of ticks so I have to drive before I walk the dog.

I live next to a cattle farm.

We can sit outside just fine in summer, no worse than anywhere else I have lived.
Flies in the house are a constant annoyance from spring onwards (we have to use door screens when it’s hot).
Rodents go hand in hand with living near a farm - our cat is constantly bringing back dead things (or not quite dead things) so we can’t have a cat flap. If it weren’t for the cat, I’d worry about them in the house but it’s old and substantial and she wouldn’t settle if there was anything about.
The yard is busy but I don’t mind that

Oh I shouldn’t say that the herd is beef but they do calf once a year. They are loud but we have good double glazing! The attached photo is from my utility to the barn so we are v v close

I live on a farm but we're not the farmers, we live in the old farmhouse, the proper farmers live in a barn conversion next door. Smells, flies... yes. Lots of machinery... check. Occasions where the door knocks and we all traipse out to help round up escapees... check.

Overall I wouldn't change it for the world, we love it, just check whether there will be any donkeys with the herd (they calm them) they're the noisiest element.

If you're used to country living it's a joy imo and the kids get a lot out of it as far as life skills- what my lot can knock up with blue pipe and baler twine in a pinch is quite impressive, if you like your house smelling of zoflora and follow Mrs Hinch... perhaps it's not the ideal situation!

I would expect there to be some extra flies. It's difficult to say without seeing the farm itself, some farms are tidier and cleaner than others. I would be concerned if it's a right tip.

Ah yes the escapees, I forgot about those! The bi annual ‘should the cows be there’ discussion! I love it though, and I am an indoor girl for sure.

We rented a cottage on a dairy farm for a while. But mousy at times, but no wires than the traffics noises of living in a large town. We were too far from the milking sheds to be bothered by tanker movements. We did have rats in the roof though - we didn't use it for storage anyway, but could hear them scuttling around.

Our main issue was the cost of lpg as we weren't on mains gas.

I think it’s beef not milk. Farm itself is very tidy - its on the edge of a town. Currently those wrapped bales for winter feed and stacked neatly. In a touristy area so farm also does B&B

We are by a couple of farms. Occasionally it's a bit smelly, once in a blue moon the road might be blocked. Not for long but it might affect my drive by five minutes.

On the upside they maintain the local road, which is much more of an impact in my life.

If you're living in the countryside it's part of the deal.

Flying insects / spiders etc are also part of the deal living in the the countryside

Cows are quite noisy, lots of moo-ing

Ours are taken in and out for milking in the morning and afternoon crossing our entrance so we have four slightly unpredictable five minute periods a day when it's impractical to go out in the car

Occasionally we wake to 20 cows in the garden

Can't walk through the cow field as they're quite bolshy animals

Overall life is quieter than previous house on dodgy estate.

We're surrounded by both cattle and arable/forestry land. I'd say the tractor noise from the arable work is more noticeable than any disturbance from the cows (not that I mind the tractors at all) We do have a magnetic fly screen on the back door in summer, but that's a tiny price to pay for the views and scenery. No issues outside at all.

Used to live near an arable farm. The tractors passing used to shake the house.

I would find out what farm it is. My sister is a farmer and her farm doesn't smell (cattle) but the farm next to her is a chicken farm and it absolutely stinks and in summer it attracts loads of flies!

Definitely not chickens - I used to keep chickens as pets but agree would not want to live next to a chicken farm.

I spent last summer next to a cow farm.

Cows were very noisy in the morning, I suspect that they needed milking and expressed it very vocally.

There were also lots and lots of flies.

Other than that it was no hassle.

The countryside smells. It's a working environment, and that's just the way it is. We live in a small rural town and for a couple of weeks every year the entire town is mired in a cloud of onion pong when they are being harvested.

Fly's shouldn't be an issue (that tends to be an issue if you're close to a rendering plant) You will get the odd smell depending on which way the wind is blowing, and the mooing when the cows are being taken for milking. But for me, thats the joys of living in a rural community. I'd much rather cow smell and noises than town noises

We nearly did, it was winter and the sale fell through. We went to view again in the summer and my god the stink. I'm not week stomached at all, but I'd never have gotten used to it, it brought tears to my eyes. Also saw the biggest rat I'd ever seen running across the grass and it all just put me off. I'm clearly not a country girl at heart.

We have a beef cattle farm next door. Cows are elsewhere in pasture most of the time so we just get occasional residents. It can be a bit whiffy every now and then and we get some noise when they load and unload into the barns, but honestly it doesn't really bother me. We are in a small village in the Cotswolds and it's just part of country life. We have two acres of paddock and the farm runs along one side of our field so we aren't literally looking out on the farm and there is a long row of trees and hedge separating us. We do out out fly traps in summer to keep the fly population down.

I should add that split time with a flat in London so I am actually a city girl - and the farm still doesn't bother me. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I lived on a farm, how far is the house from the farm? There will be noise in harvest which runs from summer for about 3 months and there can be quite a bit of dust from combining. There was only sheep on the farm but a lot of work in the surrounding fields, also if there is sheep in the surrounding fields there will be quad bikes in lambing season. If there are cows there will be a smell of manure but again this should be seasonal (I think). In the farm house we didn’t have a problem with flies (no more than anyone else in summer) also I’m not sure if you have any pets? Dogs? Be very careful of this when entering any fields, I think the public are entitled to walk on the fields if there are walkways. But remember the rules if there are sheep, farmers to have rights

also when the cows have babies the cows become very protective and will be aggressive

to be honest overall it’s a pleasant experience, I would say it depends on the distance you are from the farm!