Animals

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

When it comes to domestic animals, most species look quite different but not all. It’s common to confuse a donkey with a horse, and sometimes ducks and geese can be mixed up. But other times the differences can be very minimal indeed. Let’s compare rams and goats, for instance. They’re about the same size, both … Read more

When it comes to domestic animals, we really don’t have a hard time telling different species apart. Different breeds, sure, sometimes, but not different species! For instance you’ll never get your cows mixed up with pigs or your chickens mixed up with horses. Even chickens and ducks look highly distinct. But there are a few … Read more

It’s often asked if sheep and goats are related, given their physical similarities. About the same build, the same freaky rectangular pupils, similar diets, and so on. You’d be forgiven for thinking that sheep are just wooly goats, honestly! But sometimes even the most similar things can be different at a basic level. So, what’s … Read more

Donkeys are known for many things. Stubbornness, endurance, and of course that iconic laugh. This unique “laughing” sound, which is often seen as a sign of happiness or bemusement, is the stock sound that we associate with donkeys! However, this sound might just be misunderstood by humans who interpret it in the context of their … Read more

For livestock keepers, the gold standard of care and compassion for our animals is letting them truly free-range. And I don’t mean that corporate doublespeak definition that we see slapped on egg cartons, either. I’m talking about letting our animals get out and wander, explore, frolic, and exercise the way nature intended – or at … Read more

The most fundamental question when it comes to farming livestock is what kind of animal you are going to raise. Cows, chickens, goats, sheep, and pigs: all have advantages and disadvantages, requiring differing amounts of room, care, food, and room. In return, they can offer you equally diverse products in the form of meat, milk, … Read more

When it comes to worming livestock, there are many different ways to do it. Some people choose to use chemical-based wormers, while others choose to use natural methods. In the old days, there were only a few ways to worm livestock, and most of them involved using chemicals. However, there are several natural methods that … Read more

Bison is one of the largest and most impressive mammals in North America. Iconic, majestic, and traveling the countryside in immense herds, these shaggy bovines are making a big comeback since their numbers were depleted to near extinction by overhunting. In fact, the American bison is one of several reasons why many tourists throng to … Read more

Cats are cute, clever, and very adventurous. They also happen to be apex predators in their size category wherever they are found, and feral cats or indoor cats that are allowed to roam without any restrictions are single-handedly responsible for decimating entire populations of birds, rodents, and insects. Naturally, you would want to keep unknown … Read more

I’m going to let you in on a little secret, I’ve got a serious phobia of sorts revolving around birds. I can handle little ones – parrots, for example – but larger birds make me nervous. This makes emus a bit of a weird wild card. Yes, their sheer size makes me nervous, but the … Read more

Bumblefoot is a common ailment in chickens and ducks. If you’re not familiar with it, don’t worry – here’s a quick overview of what it is and how to treat it. Keep reading for information on how to prevent bumblefoot from occurring in the first place! What is Bumblefoot? Bumblefoot, also known as pododermatitis, is … Read more

Both goats and cows are popular features on many homesteads across the globe. Bred for meat and dairy, both have value. But if you’re trying to pick one, which one is right for you? Should you raise goats or should you raise cows? While goats take up less space, they are much harder to contain … Read more

Looking for profitable farming animals you can raise? You’ve stumbled upon the perfect resource… Mention raising animals for profit to anyone, and I’m sure that the first animal that they suggest will be chickens. This is because chickens are perhaps the easiest livestock to care for and make money from – and with so many … Read more

There’s nothing I love more than letting my dog run around outside during the summer. Granted, he can run around any time of the year, but he likes the summer the most. In fact, I don’t think there’s anything that dog loves more than jumping off the deck and rolling around in fresh grass and … Read more

I commented to my husband the other day that it seemed like we had an awful lot of birds hanging round the farm this year. From cardinals to starlings, mourning doves to crows, we’ve had no shortage of feathered friends flitting about the place! The bluebirds, though, are some of the most remarkable to behold. … Read more