If you decided to embark on a lifestyle of keeping livestock, one of the most important things to figure out is what size of animals you are comfortable with. Different species can run the gamut from truly tiny, like chickens, to humongous like horses. The size of an animal affects how much room it needs, … Read more
When it comes to raising livestock of any kind, and that includes poultry like chickens, watching their weight is important. No, not just for aesthetics, not all the time, but to make sure they are on target for their productivity, be it meat or eggs, and also healthy overall. A chicken that’s underweight or overweight … Read more
Bringing home a bundle of baby chicks, or hatching them yourself, is always an exciting time, but it is a perilous one, too. Chicks are incredibly delicate, and very easy to sicken or even kill accidentally. Not enough water, not enough food, and, arguably most important of all, not enough warmth. If your baby chicks … Read more
If you want chickens, and tell someone that you want to add a rooster to your flock, they might give you a funny look. If it’s because they also own chickens they might be worried about your sanity. If it’s your neighbor, they are doubtless worried about the noise your new addition is going to … Read more
If there’s one thing most folks tend to pity our animals for, it is the fact that they have to live outside pretty much all the time. Even our chickens that have nice, warm coops to live in spend most of their time outside exposed to the elements. That’s just the way things are, and … Read more
Compared to most other livestock species you could own, chickens have a pretty varied diet. Yes, they live mostly on nutritious chicken feed, but they can eat nearly anything and are true omnivores. Naturally, plenty of owners give them scraps from their own kitchen as a treat or to reduce waste. Some people assert that … Read more
Most folks don’t spare chickens even a second glance. They’re just poultry at the end of the day, and they are where our meat and eggs come from. Not much to them, right? Not if you pay attention to them, and admire them, like us chicken lovers do! Although they aren’t ever counted among the … Read more
Beans are one of the most versatile staples eaten around the world. Packed with protein and minerals, there are dozens of varieties out there, each with a different flavor profile and texture. They make a wonderful addition to nearly any meal, and are used in countless recipes, but dried beans can also be an important … Read more
If you own a flock of chickens, especially one that has a rooster or two, you already know that they can be pretty noisy. Roosters especially tend to sound off loud and proud throughout the day, and invariably first thing in the morning and in the evening. But what’s strange is that some folks report … Read more
One of the best things about keeping chickens is seeing just how many different breeds are out there. All different sizes, all different colors, every kind of temperament, and from every corner of the globe. It can be a hobby unto itself, especially if you’re something of a collector like I am. And another interesting … Read more
As with any livestock, giving chickens the right amount of food each and every day is mandatory if you want them to stay healthy and thrive. They must have enough calories and nutrition, of course, but it’s bad to give them too little or too much in kind. And believe me, it’s an easy thing … Read more
Every person who keeps chickens for any length of time will soon develop favorites. Favorite individual birds, yes, but also favorite breeds. That’s one of the great things about being a chicken fancier: there are so many unique and gorgeous chickens out here to appreciate! So many, in fact, that it can be a little … Read more
If there’s one kind of soil that every gardener and farmer fears, it has to be clay. Any soil that’s high in clay will be very hard to work with, draining very slowly, compacting into a solid mass that will stifle and strangle roots, and being too alkaline for many vegetables (aside from the typical … Read more
Learning how to gather food from the wild can be an important survival skill, but it can also make for an interesting and affordable meal at home. Everything from mushrooms to berries can be gathered and prepared in a whole host of ways, and many wild-foraged foods are very comparable to their store-bought counterparts in … Read more
If you’ve ever been doing any projects around the homestead involving landscaping, digging, or building, in your travels to get materials you’ve probably seen advertisements or want ads for fill dirt. They’re all over the place, and depending on where you are it’s either ubiquitous or in very short supply. For those of us who … Read more
Unless you live someplace very cold, there’s one thing you can always count on to ruin your time outdoors, whether you are working or relaxing: mosquitoes. These biting little scumbags will cover you with red, itchy welts, and worst of all they can spread disease. If you live anywhere it’s warm, and especially near water, … Read more