Home canners understand the value of food preservation and preventing waste, and many undertake the practice as a way to not only be prepared for tough times, but also to save money upfront. Nonetheless, at-home canning, of any kind, has its own associated costs. Naturally, clever and frugal canners are always looking for ways to … Read more
When it comes to homesteading, it rarely fails that you’ll wind up with a genuine menagerie of animals running around. Sometimes they will all get along, but much of the time there will be conflict. The fur, and sometimes feathers, will fly! There is hardly any arrangement I can think of that would cause more … Read more
Everyone knows that ducks love the water, but it’s easy to question that love when you see ducks out in the middle of a lake or pond during freezing cold weather. Much of the time they’ll just be sitting out there like there isn’t a thing in the world wrong, even when it is cold … Read more
Canning milk? It’s definitely a question that has crossed the minds of many DIY homesteaders. We all know that canning is an excellent way to store food and make sure it stays safe, but can we really can milk and other dairy products in jars at home like we do with tomatoes and okra? Is … Read more
Making the decision to expand your flock the old-fashioned way when you raise ducks is always an exciting time. Placing the viable eggs in an incubator or letting their diligent mother sit on them and try to hatch them, it is definitely going to be an experience when they first pip and the new arrivals … Read more
Composting is one of the single best things that you can do for your garden, or any other plants you take care of. It allows you to convert what would otherwise be kitchen, household and yard waste into extremely rich, nutritious soil that all plants will love. Composting is a surprisingly delicate process, one requiring … Read more
Have you ever wondered how fast a chicken can run? It does beg the question if you’ve ever watched them sprint across the yard in pursuit of a treat, or when chasing off a rival. It is always surprising because the usual, cautious waddling gait of a chicken does not do much to inspire confidence … Read more
If you are working on your own compost pile, you’re probably doing so because there is hardly anything better for nourishing the plants in your garden and elsewhere on your property. You also probably already know that your compost pile is actually a tiny ecosystem all its own, one that needs various organisms present in … Read more
No matter what kind of chickens you want to buy for your first flock, or what special edition you want to make to your existing one, there is a limitless variety of these special birds out there. You can choose based on purpose, size, temperament and of course color! For those who want a chicken … Read more
Chickens are certainly industrious eaters. Anytime they are awake and not confined they’ll be out pecking around, getting into things, and looking for that next tasty morsel. If you have an outside dog around, too, chances are you have probably noticed your chickens getting after the dog’s food when given half a chance. Is that … Read more
If there is one thing that all chicken owners know, it is that their birds generally love lush, leafy green vegetables. There is hardly a plant or a blade of grass that is safe from these enthusiastic eaters, including many plans that you wouldn’t expect. Naturally, there are many vegetables we enjoy the chickens also … Read more
Sheep shearing is an important part of caring for a flock of sheep. It’s also a skill that can be relatively difficult to learn. It requires a great deal of practice and know-how. If you want to learn how to become better at shearing sheep, you’ve come to the right place. In this blog post, … Read more
If you listen what the internet has to say about improvised pest control, you might have run across this gem. Purportedly, common, Ivory brand soap will reliably repel flies. Supposedly it has something to do with the fragrance, or other ingredients depending on who you listen to, but the assertion is that flies won’t come … Read more
Chickens can eat all kinds of plants that we might consider to be pests, or just completely inedible. There is hardly a weed or shrub that chickens won’t nibble on when given the chance. In fact, your chickens might actually help keep your lawn clear of some other eyesore plants. How about dandelions? Can chickens … Read more
There are all sorts of wild and cultivated vegetables making a regular appearance on your dinner table that are also good for chickens. If you have owned a flock for any length of time, you already know what a varied diet they enjoy but they can still surprise you. How about jerusalem artichokes? Can chickens … Read more
Chickens are known to nibble on all sorts of bushes, shrubs, and flowering plants. I think everyone who owns chickens and allows them to free range a little knows by now that none of your plants, be they decorative or in the garden, are safe. But how about fennel? Will chickens try to eat fennel … Read more