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. …
Hummingbirds are some of the tiniest and most beautiful garden creatures you can allure to your home and garden. The first time you see one fluttering along your hedge or wall of flowers – you won’t believe your eyes! Attracting hummingbirds is also easier than you think – they’re tremendously curious. It all starts with …
Most chickens lay their eggs in the first few hours of daylight. But it makes you wonder… Could they lay eggs at any time of the day? Exactly what time of day do most chickens lay eggs? Does the weather impact egg laying? Let’s find out! As the cold winter weather settles in, we’re all …
Along with the fruits and vegetables you raise in your garden, you also raise livestock that depends upon you for a safe environment. If you love chickens, in particular, you will need to find the best protective shelter for them throughout each season. The best kind of shelter for chickens in your backyard is a …
Goats eat everything! Right? Well, my herd of Dwarf Nigerian cross Boer goats doesn’t. Offer them organic lettuce fresh from the garden, and they’ll turn their collective noses up at it. Offer them fresh oat hay, and they won’t even sniff it! Even some bales of alfalfa may prove too stalky for their delicate dispositions. …
As winter kicks in through the US, cows need extra nutrition! An extra feeding boost helps to you’re your cows warm and fight off the health problems associated with the inclement weather and drop in temperature. In most parts of the northern hemisphere, there’s little grazing available at this time of year, which means buying …
A good mulch is a gardener’s best friend, but when it puts another best friend’s life in jeopardy, it’s not worth the risk. If your dogs are anything like mine, they’ll put almost anything in their mouths, including mulch. While a mulch made of untreated wood isn’t likely to cause harm even if your dog …
My chickens know more about ancient customs than I do! Every Easter, they promptly stop laying eggs, obviously respecting the medieval tradition that banned the consumption of eggs during Lent. Tradition aside, why do chickens stop laying eggs? And, can we help our hens get back into the swing of things? It’s hardly surprising that chickens stop …
I’ve been preparing turmeric for horses on and off for years. I’ve used turmeric for horses to treat digestive issues, sarcoids, sore muscles, and itchy skin. The results have varied, but for the most part, I’ve observed turmeric to have a positive effect on my horse’s health. My one mare’s diarrhea cleared up within a couple …
If you’re new to keeping chickens, it may surprise you to know that they don’t like to sleep on the floor. Chickens need a place to roost, relax, and feel safe at night! A place where they can sleep stress-free and where predators or pests can’t reach them. Chicken roosts are also straightforward and affordable …
What are the main differences between raising sheep vs goats? We’re about to brainstorm the subtleties that most homesteaders overlook – including the cost of feed, potential profitability, and other muttony nuances! But first, let me tell you how my journey of raising sheep vs goats started. Nearly 20 years ago, I arrived on the …
There’s nothing more appreciative than a chicken at dinner time! One of our favorite games is calling the hens over for treats – the way they sprint to us across the meadow like wild beasts of the Serengeti is adorable! But as much as they enjoy our leftover scraps and treats from the vegetable garden, …
Backyard hens will produce just as many eggs without a rooster as they will with a rooster, but there are more advantages to having one around than just the possibility of getting a baby chick from time to time. Of course, not every chicken owner can have a rooster strutting about within their backyard flock. …
Ducks are some of the most impressive birds, and I love their quirky personalities! But – can you have a duck as a pet? What about domestic ducks? We have a flock of 12 ducks, but I’m not sure I would call them pets. Our Indian Runner Ducks aren’t the friendliest creatures on the farm and …
We all know that keeping chickens free-range provides them with the best living conditions – they can roam freely, pick the best natural food, and display all their natural behaviors. Free-range chickens have other benefits, too. Eggs from free-range operations are potentially more nutritious than the regularly farmed eggs because chickens have access to more food items …