Magpie Duck Breed Guide – Start Here

Magpie Duck in front and Crested Blue Swedish in back

Magpie ducks are among the most beautiful and docile of all domesticated breeds. Even though Magpies are not as highly kept as some other well-known breeds, the duck keepers who breed them and collect their eggs are highly devoted to preserving these enigmatic poultry birds. Ducks of this breed are multi-purpose birds. They are equally … Read more

How Often Should You Inspect a Beehive?

woman in beekeeping suit inspecting a frame full of bees

Beekeeping is a lot of work with wonderful rewards for your labor. There are two types of people who purchase bees: beekeepers and bee “havers.” If you don’t care for the honey bees and beehive properly, you probably won’t have bees for very long. This begs the question: how often should you inspect a beehive? … Read more

How to Hand Spin Wool and Mohair Into Yarn

wool fibers and spinner

Spinning wool or mohair does not require a huge investment of money. Spinning wheels are beautiful – but very pricey. A handheld drop spindle typically costs less than $25, and can spin beautiful wool or mohair that you have raised on your homestead into a skein just as well as a large spinning wheel that … Read more

Cayuga Duck Breed Guide – Start Here

a Cayuga duck

Cayuga ducks are a beautiful and wonderfully docile breed. They were once the most popular meat duck in both the United States and England. Sadly, these docile and lovely poultry birds were classified as “threatened”, but have improved their population numbers to the point where they now have just a “watch” designation. Finding Cayuga ducks … Read more

So, Do Ducks Need a Pond?

Pekin ducks in pond on the homestead

Ducks need water – ducks love water … it is just that simple. Whether or not they need a pond is the one question most asked by potential newbie duck keepers. These cute egg birds are a great addition to virtually any homestead. This begs the question: do ducks really need a pond? No, ducks … Read more

Buff Orpington Duck Breed Guide – Start Here

buff orpington ducks

Buff Orpington ducks have an extensive history of being both high quality meat, and egg birds. These hardy beauties cannot fly away and can thrive both on large homesteads and in small town backyards. Ducks of this breed are affable, docile, and bond well with their keepers. In addition to being used just for their … Read more

How to Grow Oregano Step By Step

oregano plants in two containers

Oregano is a superb culinary herb. The delicious herb is not only often used in my homesteading kitchen, but also in herb balls that I made for all of our livestock to boost their immune systems and help keep them healthy. This herb plant is a part of the Origanum genus. Origanum vulgare, the scientific … Read more

Homemade Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Soap

brown sugar and cinnamon exfoliating soap

This brown sugar and cinnamon soap makes both a great part of your natural everyday beauty routine as well as a beautifully scented homemade gift. Using a goat’s milk melt and pour base takes the guesswork and lye concerns out of the soapmaking process. It takes just roughly 10 minutes to make multiple bars of … Read more

Why Do Beekeepers Charge Me for Bee Removal?

beehive up in tree

Finding a wild beehive in a backyard tree or hundreds of bees living inside of a wall of your home can be quite an unwelcome discovery. Beekeepers, both of the amateur backyard variety as well as professionals, often accept requests to remove bees from a home or yard – making bee removal necessary. So why … Read more

Winter Care for Baby Ducklings

baby ducklings in brooder

Caring for ducklings in the winter is not necessarily a difficult task, but does require the following of some specific husbandry techniques. Ducklings are, of course, baby ducks. And like all babies, they are fragile, vulnerable, and depend entirely on the help of grown ups (either feathered or human) for their survival. Both ducks and … Read more

Can You Really Make Soap Without Lye?

homemade soap

Making soap is not a complicated process, but it is a process that involves some very specific steps … unless you want to wind up with a useless pile of goop. Soap is basically a mixture of combined oils, fats, and a caustic solution. So, can you make soap without any lye? No, you can’t … Read more

The Ultimate Winter Care Guide for Ducks

four Pekin ducks in snow

Ducks are far easier to care for during the winter months than chickens, according to my years of personal experience. If you start preparing for the coming months of frigid cold in the fall, just as you do for firewood and hay bales, keeping your duck flock safe, healthy, and laying eggs will be a … Read more