Animals

Keeping quail has become quite popular with homesteaders. While they may not replace chickens as the most common poultry bird on a homestead, they are being raised for both their delicious meat and tiny but tasty little eggs by many self-reliant folks across the country. Quail are a perfect poultry bird for small homesteaders to … Read more

Pheasants are one of those semi-exotic birds to raise on the homestead, that you may have heard are a good idea, but haven’t really met anyone who actually raises them. Diet is probably one of the reason, since they are known to be somewhat fussy eaters. They do need at least 90% of their foods … Read more

For many homesteaders, maximum efficiency is paramount, especially when it comes to raising livestock. Anything you can do that will save you time, effort, or money is to be implemented if you want to keep your sanity intact and your bank account in the black. Many turn to raising different species together when possible to … Read more

If there’s one kind of protein that is actually indispensable in the world, I would have to say that it is eggs. Aside from being a crucially important food source all by themselves, eggs are also an indispensable ingredient in countless dishes and recipes. It’s no exaggeration to say that many of the things we … Read more

Dogs get all the credit as man’s best friend and working companion, but you shouldn’t underestimate the contribution that cats have made to keeping human holdings safe. When it comes to pest control, particularly the elimination of rodents which can spread disease and cause damage, cats are peerless and constantly vigilant predators. Cats have accompanied … 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

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

It might seem like a bad idea on the surface, but mankind has a fair track record of hybridizing kinds of livestock animals. Mating horses and donkeys gave us mules, for instance, and crossbreeding various other breeds has given us the purebreds we all know and love today… But as you probably imagine, not all … Read more

If you’ve spent any amount of time looking into chickens, you probably already know there are a huge variety of domestic breeds out there. Over 400, in fact! But when you see all the different sizes, colors, body types, and behaviors it really makes for a remarkable variety among these common birds. But what you … 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

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 pros and cons, requiring differing amounts of room, care, and food. In return, they can offer you equally diverse products in the form of meat, milk, wool, … Read more