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…
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…
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…
If you’re new to raising goats, the excitement of seeing your first kids arrive on the scene can easily distract you from the more important task at hand – managing your doe’s milking routine. You don’t want to starve her…
Want to learn more about Oberhasli goats, their traits, and their characteristics? Then read on! We’re about to brainstorm all about Oberhasli goats – including why they belong on your farm or homestead. But first, let’s talk about why goats are all the…
I recently decided to start clicker training my young mare and found myself hunting around in the refrigerator, looking for anything that might resemble a horse treat. While my Percheron cross, Pandamonium, adores bananas, they make a mess of your…
At some point or another – most homesteaders and chicken parents usually ask the following questions. Can chickens eat banana peels? And is it safe for chickens to eat banana peels? Maybe you’re trying to figure out a way to…
It’s guava time over here in South Africa and the soft, squishy fruits are tumbling from the trees with alarming regularity. Personally, I hate guavas, but my chickens are rather partial to them. I was a little concerned that they…
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…
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…
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…
All hoofed animals are susceptible to fungal and bacterial infections of the hoof. Horses often suffer from mud fever, greasy heels, and thrush, while our cloven-hoofed friends – sheep, cattle, and goats – are all prone to hoof rot. Whether…