All creatures who are born eventually die. There is no exception to the rule. The only variation lies in the time each species gets to walk on Earth. But – what about cows? How long do cows live naturally? Is there a difference between how long dairy cows live and beef cows? We’re about to …
Animal health
Duck pen ideas! Many people put off keeping ducks after seeing duck pens that are muddy and filthy! But although ducks love to play in the water, the correct duck accommodation doesn’t have to be somewhere you’d only venture into with waterproof boots. Let’s look at some clever and innovative duck pen ideas, as well …
If you’re new to keeping hens or want to expand your little flock, then the nesting boxes are vital. Here’s why. Hens are fussy (and fickle) creatures. And if they don’t like their nesting boxes or there aren’t enough, they will start to lay elsewhere instead! And, as someone who spent hours last year retrieving …
If cows, sheep, or horses live on your homestead, you will likely have come across alfalfa. This versatile animal food contains loads of nutritional benefits and is excellent for keeping your farm livestock in prime condition. But what about your backyard chickens? Can chickens eat alfalfa too? Maybe you’ve thought about growing alfalfa to feed …
There are about 825 species of tick in the world, and it feels as though all of them want to suck my horse’s blood. In areas like ours, where the winters aren’t cold enough to kill off these blood-sucking critters, constant vigilance is needed to manage tick populations and prevent tick-borne disease. As a result, …
While the Northern Hemisphere is in the grips of winter, here in South Africa, we’re quietly sweltering. The temperature doesn’t drop much at night either, and as I’m a natural worrier (not warrior), these warm nights have me tossing and turning as I wonder whether my chickens need water at night. Our small coop leaves …
Very few natural phenomena cause as much disgust in humans as a clump of tiny, wiggly maggots. However, your chickens have a completely different perspective. To an average chicken, maggots are equivalent to French fries. They don’t care if they’re on wet feed, excrement, or rotting flesh – a fine batch of maggots is too …
When I first considered raising hens on my backyard hobby farm, one benefit rose quickly to the forefront – no more wasting food! Two of my three kids are champion food wasters. Well, the chickens will eat it, soon became a normal part of the post-meal cleanup in our house. Over time, I learned that giving …
A few years ago, after many failed attempts, one of our hens finally managed to hatch a clutch of six chicks. Soon afterward, my delight turned to despair – four of the six were roosters! As our cute fluffy chicks matured into gangly juveniles, all hell broke loose! Our chickens stopped laying and lost most of their …
If someone asked you, what do cows eat? Your reaction would probably be to sneer and say, well, grass, of course! Everyone knows cows eat grass, but farmers and homesteaders raising cattle for meat, milk, or both know that a cow’s diet is more complicated than that. We’re about to explore what types of snacks, treats, and food cows …
Many new chicken owners take on a small flock of hens, thinking that chicken-keeping is a doddle. But then realize that their newly-introduced poultry is much pickier than they thought! That’s because chickens need a few home comforts to keep them happy. But do chickens need light at night to lay eggs? Do chicks need light at …
For many years, I only fed my chickens whole or cracked corn. I hoped they were getting all the nutrients needed from the bugs, seeds, fruit, and the surrounding pasture. After a while, however, I noticed my chickens were hardly producing any eggs. Out of 14 hens, I was lucky if I got an egg …
Chicken meat is a healthy and classic family (and farm) staple! But rooster meat has a reputation for being inedible, chewy, bland, and not worth eating. Is that true? Can you eat a rooster? Or not? The confusion between chicken meat origin is because female chickens are much more straightforward and less troublesome to rear in …
Are you thinking about raising a feeder pig (or two – or twelve!) on your farm? If so, you’ll need to know a few feeder pig tips to maximize your luck. And no, a feeder pig isn’t just a pig that you feed – there are other tasks involved as well. In this post, we’ll …
Having spent most of my life in the city, I learned on the fly when I moved to my homestead. I managed well with a few horses and a couple of chickens, but I was shockingly unprepared for bottle feeding and calf milk replacer! Luckily, I learned quickly. I have bottle-reared several calves successfully since. …