7.11. Taming & Breeding Animals (Chickens, Pigs, Bears, Wolves)
Beyond survival, Rust offers the opportunity to establish a sustainable farm and even tame wild creatures. This section explores the mechanics of taming and breeding various animals, from passive chickens and pigs to formidable bears and wolves, enhancing your base's utility and defense.
Animal husbandry in Rust adds a unique layer to the survival experience. Tamed animals can provide resources, act as guards, or even be bred to create a self-sustaining population. Understanding the specific requirements for each animal is key to successful domestication.
Taming Mechanics:
Taming generally involves feeding the animal its preferred food and then interacting with it to initiate the taming process. This often requires a specific item in your hotbar.
- Food: Different animals have different dietary needs.
- Patience: Taming can take time and multiple feedings.
- Safety: Tame animals in a controlled environment to avoid them being killed by other players or wild predators.
Breeding Mechanics:
Once tamed, animals can be bred if they are of opposite genders and are fed their preferred food. Breeding takes time, and successful pairings will result in offspring.
Specific Animal Guides:
- Chickens:
- Taming: Feed them Seeds.
- Purpose: Produce Eggs, which can be eaten or used in crafting.
- Breeding: Feed two chickens their preferred food. They will eventually lay eggs that hatch into chicks.
- Housing: Keep them in a pen or enclosed area.
- Pigs:
- Taming: Feed them Pumpkins or Corn.
- Purpose: Produce Meat and Fat.
- Breeding: Feed two pigs their preferred food. They will eventually produce piglets.
- Housing: Require a larger pen than chickens.
- Bears:
- Taming: Feed them Corn or Pumpkins. Requires a sificant amount of food.
- Purpose: Act as powerful guard animals. Can be ridden.
- Breeding: Feed two bears their preferred food. They will eventually produce cubs.
- Housing: Require a very large, heavily fortified enclosure. Taming a bear is a sificant undertaking.
- Wolves:
- Taming: Feed them Raw Meat. Requires multiple feedings.
- Purpose: Act as guard animals and can be ridden. They are faster than bears.
- Breeding: Feed two wolves their preferred food. They will eventually produce wolf pups.
- Housing: Require a large, fortified enclosure.
Building Animal Pens:
To effectively manage your animals, you'll need to build pens. These should be:
- Secure: Use stone or metal walls to prevent predators and players from attacking your animals.
- Spacious: Ensure enough room for animals to move and breed.
- Accessible: Include gates for easy entry and exit for feeding and collecting resources.
Important Notes:
- Tamed animals can still be killed by other players or wild animals if not properly secured.
- Breeding takes time, so plan accordingly.
- The effectiveness of tamed animals as guards depends on their AI and your ability to position them strategically.
Establishing a farm and taming animals adds a new dimension to Rust, providing a more stable and secure existence. Experiment with different animals and find what works best for your playstyle.