Chickens are at the mercy of a number of common pests and parasites. The impact these unwanted tiny critters have on chickens ranges broadly from mildly irritating to severe and a painful death. The good news is, preventing or treating chicken parasites can be accomplished naturally and incredibly inexpensively – as soon as you learn … Read more
Ducks have a language all their own. Learning how to interpret both the sounds they make and their behavior can provide keepers with a keen insight in how the ducks feel, what they need, and if predators are lurking about. The verbal language ducks use can vary widely by breed among both domesticated and wild … Read more
Learning the sex of ducklings can be a puzzling yet entertaining endeavor. All of the cute little baby ducks in your brooder or incubator might look and sound identical at first glance, but there are slight but distinct differences between the future drakes and hens. Although there are several different visual and audio cues that … Read more
Coloring homemade soap with mica powder is a quick and simple way to create a vibrant colored soap naturally. Using mica powder to make bold or pastel hues in homemade soap also allows the maker to match the color of the bar to the scented ingredients, season, or holiday celebration. You can use mica powders … Read more
Cooking oil is a pantry staple that has far more uses than just frying up some delicious fried chicken. Both the versatility and long-shelf life of cooking oil make it a fantastic multi-use item for preppers and frugal homesteading folks alike. Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause clogging either quickly or over time. … Read more
Cinnamon dough ornaments not only look rustically beautiful when hung on a Christmas tree, they also make fragrant hanging decor year round. The ornaments can be hung simply on a piece of twine to continue the rustic. You can also thin a piece of ribbon threaded through the hanging hole to add more color to … Read more
Feeding ducks should involve not only the use of a commercially manufactured feed, but fresh greens, vegetables, and foraged protein from insects and tadpoles. Ducks are incredibly economical to feed while maintaining proper nutrition levels, especially if the flock is permitted to free range. Ducks, like chickens, are omnivores. They will avidly consume protein foraged … Read more
Ancona ducks are both rare and beautiful poultry birds. These domesticated ducks have unique and broken – colored feathering patterns that makes them both easy to identify, and engaging to watch. Ducks of this breed are classified as multi-purpose or dual-purpose because they are raised for eggs as well as meat. The beauty and friendly … Read more
Keeping your homeschooled children learning during breaks is probably a whole lot easier than you think. In fact, the kiddos will most likely not even realize they are still being educated as you work in mind and imagination enriching activities outside of the regular homeschool environment. Parents and educators in public school frequently worry about … Read more
Raising ducks is practical as well as entertaining. Not only will ducks produce more eggs than chickens annually, the eggs are significantly larger. Unlike chicken hens, duck hens lay well into their sixth to even ninth year of life – making them perhaps the most sustainable small livestock one could keep on a homestead. Getting … Read more
Quiet books, whether it is the no sew version or a sewn/embroidered book are educational and interactive toys that are geared to toddlers through kindergarten age children. They first popped up in the hands of young children sitting in church pews. Homemade quiet books kept the children engaged and quiet when required to sit still … Read more
Farm fresh duck eggs are creamy, delicious, and are typically more durable than the thinner eggs laid by chicken hens. Raising ducks for eggs is not any more time consuming or difficult than raising chickens for the same purpose. In fact, I truly believe it is actually easier to raise ducks for eggs – or … Read more
Keeping a caught swarm of honeybees from leaving can seem like a daunting endeavor, but following a few simple steps you should have the wild bees making honey and wax for you in short order. Spring is the typical time that you can most easily spot a swarm of honeybees, although it is possible to … Read more
Pekin ducks are one of the most popular breeds kept in the United States both in backyards and on homesteads across the country. Pekin is a multi-purpose breed, meaning it has traditionally been raised both for egg and meat production. The fuzzy and completely adorable little yellow ducklings you see during “Chick Days” events at … Read more
Searching for the queen inside of a hive is often a daunting challenge – even for seasoned beekeepers. The bulky and shiny nature of a queen bee’s physique makes her discovery an easy one – but only if you get really lucky. Most of the time, the queen is fairly naturally camouflaged amongst her subjects. … Read more
Making jewelweed and plantain salve in the crockpot (or slow cooker) not only vastly speeds up the process of making an all natural homemade salve, but simplifies it, as well. By making jewelweed and broad leaf plantain salve using this low and slow heat method, you will no longer have to stand next to a … Read more