So you want to build your own little farm in Hytale? Smart move. Animals are basically walking resource dispensers in this game—they’ll hook you up with hides, meat, feathers, eggs, and a bunch of other crafting materials you’re going to need. But here’s the thing: you can’t just walk up to a deer and expect it to follow you home like a lost puppy.
Before you can start your animal empire, you need to understand the mechanics of actually getting these critters to cooperate. We’re talking Feed Bags, Capture Boxes, and a whole lot of patience. Let’s break it down.
Also check complete Guides of Hytale
Quick Heads Up About Early Access
Just so we’re clear—Hytale is still in early access, which means not everything is fully baked yet. The animal taming system seems like it’s still getting tweaked, so if something feels incomplete or doesn’t work exactly as described, that’s probably why. I’ll keep this guide updated as the devs roll out changes.
How to Lure Animals with Feed Bags in Hytale
Here’s the problem: most wild animals in Hytale are naturally skittish. The second you get close, they bolt. Predators? Different story—they’ll charge you instead. But for everything else, you need to make yourself look less threatening.
Enter the Feed Bag.
Crafting a Feed Bag
You’ll need to craft this at a Farmer’s Workbench (if you don’t have one yet, get on that). Here’s the recipe:
- 10 Wheat
- 5 of any Vegetable (lettuce, carrots, whatever you’ve got)
- 5 of any Fruit
- 10 Essence of Life
Most of these ingredients are pretty easy to find while exploring, but Essence of Life might trip you up if you’re new. Pro tip: harvest crops and plants like Wheat to get them. You can also set up a small farm at your base by tilling some dirt and planting Wheat seeds—super handy for keeping a steady supply going.
Using the Feed Bag
Once you’ve got your Feed Bag, equip it and approach smaller animals like chicks, piglets, or rabbits. You’ll notice hearts appear above their heads, which is adorable and also means they’re no longer treating you like a threat.
Now, here’s where it gets a little murky. In the current version of the game, not much happens beyond those hearts appearing. The animals don’t exactly follow you around or become instantly tameable. This suggests the mechanic isn’t fully implemented yet—which, again, makes sense for early access.
Food-Specific Luring
Some animals respond to specific foods instead of (or in addition to) the Feed Bag. For example:
- Rabbits and horses will follow you if you’re holding a carrot
This is super useful for leading animals back to your base without needing any fancy tools. Just hold the right snack and they’ll trail behind you like you’re the Pied Piper of the barnyard.
How to Capture Animals with Capture Boxes in Hytale
Alright, so luring is one thing, but what if you actually want to move animals? That’s where the Capture Box comes in. This thing is clutch for relocating small critters like rabbits, chicks, and piglets—perfect for stocking up on leather sources or building a sustainable food supply.
Unlocking the Capture Box Recipe
Before you can craft a Capture Box, you need to upgrade your Farmer’s Workbench to level 2. Here’s what that upgrade costs:
- 50 Essence of Life
- 5 Wheat
- 5 Lettuce
- 5 Softwood Trunks
You can craft Wheat and Lettuce Seeds at the Farmer’s Workbench using Essence of Life, then plant them at your base and harvest when they’re ready. As for Softwood Trunks, those come from Beech trees, which are super common in meadow biomes. Just chop a few down and you’re golden.
Using the Capture Box
Once you’ve unlocked and crafted the Capture Box, using it is straightforward:
- Equip the Capture Box
- Aim at a small animal
- Press Left Mouse Button to capture it
The animal gets stored inside the box, and you can carry it around wherever you need. When you’re ready to release it (like at your farm or upgraded backpack storage area), just press Left Mouse Button again while holding the box.
It’s basically a Pokéball for farm animals. Simple, effective, and honestly pretty satisfying.
Why Bother with Animal Farming?
Look, I get it—running around capturing chickens might not sound thrilling. But trust me, having a well-stocked farm pays off big time:
- Sustainable resources: No more hunting expeditions every time you need leather or meat
- Crafting materials: Feathers, eggs, hides—you’ll need all of it for various recipes, including repairing items
- Base aesthetics: A thriving farm just looks cool and makes your base feel alive
- Resource efficiency: Instead of constantly depleting wild populations, you create a renewable system
Plus, once you’ve got the system down, you can expand to breeding and really optimize your setup.
Tips for Successful Animal Wrangling
Here are some things I’ve learned that’ll make your life easier:
- Start small: Focus on easier animals like rabbits and chickens before trying to wrangle larger creatures
- Build your farm infrastructure first: Have pens or fenced areas ready before you start capturing animals
- Stock up on Essence of Life: You’ll need tons of it for crafting Feed Bags and upgrading workbenches
- Plant early, plant often: Get those wheat and vegetable farms going ASAP to support your animal farming efforts
- Explore meadow biomes: They’re animal-rich and great for collecting both creatures and the Softwood you’ll need
- Keep materials organized: Use your backpack upgrades to manage all the resources you’ll be collecting
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tame all animals in Hytale?
Not all animals can be tamed or captured in the current version of the game. The Capture Box works primarily on small creatures like rabbits, chicks, and piglets. Larger animals and predators can sometimes be lured with specific foods (like carrots for horses), but the full taming system appears to still be in development.
What’s the difference between luring and capturing animals?
Luring with a Feed Bag or specific foods makes animals less afraid of you and can get them to follow you, but it doesn’t give you permanent control. Capturing with a Capture Box actually traps the animal inside a portable container that you can carry and release wherever you want this is the method you’ll use to build your farm.
Do I need to keep feeding animals after I capture them?
The guide focuses on the capture and relocation mechanics, and ongoing care systems like feeding captured animals aren’t fully detailed yet. Since Hytale is in early access, these farming maintenance mechanics may not be completely implemented. Keep an eye on updates from the developers as they expand the animal husbandry features.
Where can I find Essence of Life for crafting Feed Bags?
Essence of Life is obtained primarily by harvesting crop plants like Wheat, vegetables, and other farmable plants. You can also gather it while exploring, as it’s a fairly common resource. Setting up a small farm at your base with tilled soil and planted seeds is the most reliable way to get a steady supply for all your crafting needs, including Cindercloth Scraps and Linen Scraps production.
Building a functioning farm in Hytale takes some work upfront, but once you’ve got the hang of Feed Bags and Capture Boxes, you’ll have a renewable resource station right at your doorstep. Happy farming, and may your chickens be plentiful!
