Part of keeping poultry is learning how to deal with problems. Some of those concern the health of the birds themselves. Considering our chickens, we’re fortunate that most breeds tend to be quite hale and hardy, but even these tough birds can get sick. You should know, as a chicken owner, that there are actually … Read more
If you want a piece of property that’s undeveloped and in a wooded area, or if part of your homestead is forested, you already know what a pain it can be trying to keep it clear. It never fails that, as soon as you take a season off, the next year you’ll have massively overgrown … Read more
For many homesteaders, free-ranging their animals is an increasingly attractive option. Most animals tend to be happier, healthier, and produce superior products when left to roam free, be that eggs, meat, or milk. But free-ranging requires considerable space in the form of a pasture, and cohabitating with different animals can make for additional challenges. Take, … Read more
I don’t really have a preference for seasons. I like them all for different reasons, but if I had to pick just one, it would probably be summer… Summer is a time of great activity, of fun, and opportunity, but it’s also a time for getting work done! Such is life when you’ve chosen to … Read more
One of the most fascinating displays of organization and industry found in nature is the humble beehive. Bees work together, in unison, both to construct their home and to provide food and resources for all of the bees living in it. But, at the head of every beehive is a queen bee. Most people think … Read more
If you want to go to great lengths of time, you know how downright ornery they can be, especially the bucks. They can be so recalcitrant it’s hard to believe any other animal would even want to be near them, but the reality is that goats have quite a few predators you’ll need to contend … Read more
Have you ever been in the middle of dinner when a thunderstorm knocked out power? Isn’t it crazy how it throws the entire day into chaos out of all proportion, when such a commonplace occurrence? It’s annoying, sure, but can also be costly. You might lose all of the food you’re trying to prepare, and … Read more
When it comes to most livestock species, you’ll rarely have trouble telling them apart. Sure, without a little homework and working knowledge, it’s difficult to tell different breeds apart, but nobody gets pigs and horses mixed up. However, when it comes to sheep and goats, it can be really easy to confuse them! They both … Read more
Have you ever wanted a goat of your own? I’m not talking about a big herd, but just one or maybe two? Doesn’t that seem fun? It turns out you aren’t alone. There are plenty of people who have started to get goats as pets… Even though goats are entirely common, in a way they’re … Read more
With the sharp rise in people moving away from urban and suburban living, and heading back to a more sustainable and agrarian lifestyle, permaculture practices are fast becoming a trending topic. Most folks that want to head out into the country and set up a homestead to call their own get animals of one kind … Read more
If you were going to associate one behavior with goats, what would it be? Eating, yeah, you’re right—that’s on me. But the second behavior most likely to be associated with would probably be headbutting. Goats headbutt for all sorts of reasons, and at the end of the day, it’s an entirely natural and instinctive behavior. … Read more
You know that old saying, “familiarity breeds contempt”? When it comes to animals in our everyday lives, familiarity might not breed contempt but it does breed boredom. And when you look at common livestock animals like goats, it’s easy to forget that they are as amazing, interesting, and in many ways, surprising, as any exotic … Read more
Chickens are some of the most adaptable animals out there, capable of withstanding nearly any weather conditions and eating just about anything… Sure, most domestic birds live on a diet of feed with a few choice things thrown in, but most keepers enjoy giving their flocks supplemental foods and treats to help keep them engaged … Read more
One trait that every gardener, farmer, landscaper, and plant-lover has in common is that they all love green things that grow. Whether you’re growing your own food for subsistence or just trying to bring in show-stoppingly beautiful shrubs and flowers, your chosen plants are going to need fertilizer to develop properly, grow quickly, and stay … Read more
For being so small, rats can be a truly huge problem. Whether they are in your home or just lurking on the homestead, there’s no end to the trouble they can cause… They routinely poach eggs, kill chicks and ducklings, contaminate feed, and spread nasty diseases that you, your family, and your animals can catch. … Read more
Every gardener and farmer I know works ceaselessly to bring in a good harvest, whatever it is they are growing. And for those of us who grow peppers, much of the time we feel the bitter sting of failure when some of them just fail to come in. It’s just the way it is, as … Read more