When you think of a beekeeper, what comes to mind? Certainly, you think of someone in that big, puffy suit with a veil around their head, and probably a small can that spews smoke. Indeed, the smoker is an essential part of a beekeeper’s repertoire. But what’s the deal with smoke in the first place, … Read more
Rabbits are herbivores, but more than that, they are somewhat specialized herbivores. They need to eat a diet that is predominantly grass, hay, or tender, leafy green plant matter. That’s why it is hardly uncommon to see them passing up what we might thinkwould be tastier options for something that just seems kind of bland … Read more
If you’re thinking about getting some pigs of your own, you need to know that they typically enjoy a highly varied diet. And if you’ve kept a herd for any length of time, you knew that already! Pigs really do eat just about anything and everything, and that naturally includes a big variety of fruits … Read more
Whether you want rabbits as adorable and interesting pets or as productive animals for your homestead, there is no shortage of breeds to choose from… Today, now, and more than ever before, even the most exotic breeds are known to America and within the reach of amateur and professional keepers. Some of the coolest rabbits … Read more
Rabbits predominantly live on a diet of hay in a domestic setting or grass in the wild, along with various other choice bits of greenery mixed in. Some of the choicest foods for rabbits happen to be leafy green vegetables. All sorts of the so-called salad veggies are good for them, but not quite all … Read more
I don’t care what anyone says: there is no more delicious food on Earth than peanut butter. It’s a little sweet, a little savory and absolutely filling. It also happens to be surprisingly nutritious! So, there’s no contest that peanut butter is the ultimate food for people, so says I, but is it okay for … Read more
Most folks know that rabbits eat a diet that is predominantly grass, hay, and other sorts of green roughage. But they’re also strictly herbivores, and it makes sense that they can have other plant-based foods also. Naturally, fruits are plant-based, and we know that rabbits can have a few things like berries every now and … Read more
Did you know that pigs eat meat? It’s true, they do, and though they aren’t purely carnivores like some other animals pigs really like to tuck into any meat they can get. And, believe it or not, pigs have even been known to eat bones. I mean eat them entirely, not just gnaw on them! … Read more
Out in the wild, rabbits pretty much have to take what they can get when it comes to food. They’ll eat grass all the time, but must also resort to eating tougher stuff like twigs and shoots when the winter weather is against them. Domestic rabbits, on the other hand, typically subsist on hay but … Read more
Ask anyone who lives way out in the country, and especially anyone who owns livestock, and they will tell you that flies can be an absolute nightmare. Much of the time they are just an annoyance, pestering animals and you. But many kinds of flies, particularly horse flies, can be dangerous and have powerful bites … Read more
Much of the time, fruit isn’t something that our pigs should have on a regular basis. Though pigs are omnivores and can eat almost anything, fruit, despite being natural and healthy, is a bit too sugary for them to eat all the time. Nonetheless, it can still make a great treat for them or a … Read more
Concerning the typical diet of rabbits, pretty much the only things you’ll see or hear of them eating are grasses, hay, roughage and similar plant matter. Talk about a boring diet! But for any rabbits kept as pets or those kept in a domestic setting for any other purpose, they tend to enjoy a more … Read more
One of my favorite things about raising chickens is just how versatile they are. That, and how cheap and easy they are to care for generally. But anyway, when it comes to production chickens can give you meat and eggs, and some breeds are known for being great at both purposes. A properly chosen flock … Read more
Pumpkins are indisputably the most beloved of the winter squashes. Aside from being the centerpieces of fall decorations, serving as cheery (or scary) jack-o’-lanterns, and giving us delicious pumpkin pie they also lend their “spice” to overpriced coffee drinks. Jokes aside, pumpkins also serve as important food sources for all kinds of animals. But what … Read more
Out of all the different livestock species people commonly keep, I think there’s no question that pigs enjoy the most varied diet of them all. They get all different kinds of feed, grains, meat, and of course fruits and veggies. And speaking of fruit, you’ll often hear folks caution against giving livestock citrus fruits in … Read more
Rats and mice are everywhere. That’s just a fact of life. But if you live out in the country on a homestead with other animals, both are going to be a constant part of your ongoing struggles. They will poach eggs from your chickens and ducks, contaminate feed, scare animals, tear up insulation, and spread … Read more