Birds are probably the very first things any new homesteader thinks about raising… and for good reason: they’re small and so easy to care for!
Chickens are of course, an all-time favorite, since they lay eggs almost all year round, and they’re a good source of meat, but guineas, ducks, geese and quail are also very good options.
Which ones are right for you? Read our articles to find out, not to mention everything about raising them, incubating eggs, butchering and more.
Corn is one of the “veggies” (actually a grain) that pops up everywhere. It is in every snack and is a fixture at every meal. It is also a regular ingredient in all kinds of animal feed. This begs the question, can chickens eat corn? Yes, chickens can eat corn. Chickens are able to digest … Read more
If you’re looking for a way to give your flock an easy and nutritious diet, then the chicken tractors are just what we’ve been waiting for! These lightweight trailers can be moved around every day or every few days so that they always have fresh pasture to feed upon. Not only that, but chicken tractors … Read more
If you’re wondering how to get rid of flies around your chicken coop, you probably aren’t alone. Although the flies may not seem to bother your chickens all that much, they are bound to irritate and aggravate you to no end as you go about your daily chicken keeping chores. Not only that, but flies … Read more
Chicken tractors are a great tool for providing your chickens with constant access to fresh grass, fresh air, and fresh soil. However, like any type of coop, they have their limitations – you can’t fit an endless number of chickens in a chicken tractor. So how many chickens can fit in a tractor? If you’re … Read more
The chicken tractor is a mobile coop that you can move around in your yard to cultivate the earth and weed it out. The scratching motions from chickens will loosen up to an inch or so of soil, helping remove pesky weeds while also fertilizing your soil. It can be tough to picture exactly what … Read more
Have you noticed that your nesting boxes look a little more barren than they did last week? If so, you might be asking yourself, “why have my chickens stopped laying?” There are a few reasons why you might be coming up empty-handed in the coop. Fortunately, most are easy to address. From a lack of … Read more
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 a severe and 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
The New Hampshire chicken was the first chicken my husband and I decided to raise on our small farm – back when we thought we would “just have a few chickens” for the eggs. Today, we raise a flock of 75 laying hens along with more than 300 meat birds each summer, as our farm … Read more
If you are new to raising chickens, the thought may have crossed your mind – is breeding chickens possible? It sure is! You can easily breed your own hens and roosters so that you have hatching eggs for adorable chicks. No doubt, you’re filled with questions. Before you can get started with hatching your own … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to figure out how to get your chickens to lay more eggs, you aren’t alone. I’ve had this problem many times myself – often, due to a change in the seasons – and have more than once found myself researching how to boost production. There are a lot of factors that … Read more
Anyone who keeps animals will understand that the biggest, and often most expensive task is feeding them. Buying commercially produced animal feed is convenient. This type of feed has the nutrients required to supply a balanced diet for your animals. However, we often have a surplus of homegrown products. Any surplus is great, we can … Read more
Herbs are awesome to have on the homestead, They make food taste better, they may help us stay healthy, but few of us consider giving them to our livestock. In fact, far too few of us are putting these herbs to work to ensure our flock of chickens stays happy and healthy. So, we’ve put … Read more
Raising chickens is a great introduction to homesteading. My husband and I jokingly refer to chickens as “the gateway drug.” We started with a flock of two dozen birds, and since then, have grown to raising several hundred chickens (including meat birds and dedicated layers) each year. When you think about popular chicken breeds, there … Read more
Owning chickens can be a rewarding experience for any homesteader. You can get farm-fresh eggs and healthy meat for the whole family. But, newcomers to the world of homesteading and having livestock, in general, tend to expect an easier process than it turns out to be. So how much does it cost to raise chickens? … Read more
Fermenting your chicken food comes with a lot of possible benefits and little risk if you do it wrong. Luckily, this guide is going to show you how, and why you should be fermenting your chicken feed. Following the process is easy and rewarding for your chickens and your wallet. Why Ferment My Chicken Feed? … Read more
If you’re wondering how to keep chickens warm in the winter without electricity, you’ve come to the right place – and I have a secret to tell you… For the most part, chickens can handle the cold weather themselves. They don’t need you. I know, that might break your heart. To some extent, you want … Read more