Recently, I’ve been toying with the idea of introducing donkeys to my homestead. A friend told me they make excellent guard animals, and, as I’m looking for something to protect my dwarf goats from the ravenous jaws of the black-backed jackals and genets that roam the area, I thought they might be the answer. I …
Raising Animals
Chickens have a surprisingly varied diet and will gulp down the most disgusting-looking insects and worms just as happily as they will their normal chicken feed. As chickens enjoy a wide range of different foods, you can easily find tasty treats for them. Admittedly, mine get little more than a few comfrey leaves in the …
Chickens are fun but noisy, ducks are completely quackers, and geese are, in my humble opinion, the devil incarnate. But what about emus? Are the benefits of raising an emu chick sufficient to offset the expense of keeping these large, flightless birds? Some suggest that keeping emus simply isn’t practical for your average homesteader. They …
Do you know what really gets my goat? People who confuse rams with goats. True, both are kind of white and woolly with four hooves and a couple of horns, but there are some distinguishing features there if you look closely enough. Is a Ram Strangely Goatee or a Bit Sheepish? Although a ram may …
Do you want to keep your chickens safe from predators or prevent your beloved flock from escaping and wreaking havoc upon your neighbor’s lawn and garden? How high should a chicken fence be to keep your flock in and predators out? I’m naturally paranoid about predators attacking my chickens, so I say the higher and more secure the chicken fence, …
For humans, an apple a day is supposed to keep the doctor away. But for cows, tackling a fruitarian diet isn’t quite so straightforward. Can cows eat apples? Do they enjoy them, and are apples good for them? We’ll go into all the details in this article! During fall, any homesteader with both apple trees …
This is your complete guide to the best animals for small farms and homesteads! These are some of the best animals to raise when you’re just starting out, or even if you’re an experienced homesteader. We’ve included detailed info on animal health, the type of shelter they require, reproduction, different breeds, the equipment you’ll need, …
The arrival of a new baby goat is always a joyous occasion, but that joy can quickly turn to despair if your doe starts showing signs of mastitis. Today, we’re looking at mastitis in goats and natural treatment. A hungry baby goat is one of the noisiest creatures on our homestead, and probably on yours …
It sounds like my hens are being tortured. The shrill cries, cackles, and shrieks they make when laying an egg are enough to have the neighbors making noise complaints, or, on a particularly bad day, reporting a suspected murder. The ruckus made by my backyard chickens certainly sounds like an expression of discomfort, but do …
It’s a beautiful spring day but, rather than enjoying the fresh new grass, your cows are all swishing their tails and stamping their feet. Why? Because they’re surrounded by flies. Not only are flies annoying, but a heavy infestation can also cause all manner of unpleasant side effects for your bovine buddies. Biting flies not …
Not all chickens were made equal. Some, like the Polish chicken, wear their crests with all the style of the most eye-catching fascinator at Ascot while others strut around in their tufts and buffs like something out of a Jane Austen novel. Chickens with fluffy, feathered feet don’t look quite as stylish, but are very …
A chicken twisting its head upside down is a disturbing sight. A symptom of wry neck, this condition is easy to treat, if a little time-consuming, and even easier to prevent. Wry neck can be caused by different issues, all of which we’ll address below. Genetic disorders Head injury Toxins Vitamin deficiencies You can prevent …
When looking into raising pigs it can be very overwhelming to figure out what all you need to provide for them. One thing they will definitely need is some form of shelter. Buying everything can get pretty expensive so it helps if you can make a few things yourself. You may be asking how in …
Chickens can add a new dimension to your life, whether you’re homesteading or living in an urban environment. Their most incredible super power is their ability to produce eggs but that’s not all they’ve got going for them. What Do I Need to Know Before Buying Chickens? Chickens bring multiple benefits to your backyard, homestead, …
Few of us will ever know why the chicken crossed the road, but we do know that they’re intelligent, amusing, and, sometimes, challenging. Why do chickens eat their own eggs? Can chickens swim and, if so, do they do breaststroke? Read on to discover some home truths about your feathered friends, their origins, and their …