Last year, I had a superb harvest of cantaloupe melons from my garden. I absolutely love cantaloupe melons but they don’t store well for the long-term, so I gave many away to my friends and family. With lots remaining, I turned to my friends for suggestions on how to use the rest. I hated to …
When I was a kid, we had a small farm with various animals – including chickens. Now, because I was just a few years old at the time, I only have vague memories of collecting eggs from the chicken coops, walking over dust, and watching as the chickens rolled around in said dust. Chickens are …
8 Things To Add to a Chicken Dust Bath (and 3 Things Not To) Read More »
One thing any homesteader can appreciate is just how valuable their animals are. We do the best that we can to keep them safe and healthy. Of course, we can’t prevent everything from happening and sometimes they do get hurt or sick. Chickens, and birds in general, are fragile and can be injured very easily …
When you’re living off the grid, it’s important to make sure that you can use all resources at your disposal. You must keep your animals healthy if you intend to use them for meat, dairy, and, in the case of chickens, eggs. With all that said, all animals enjoy a good treat from time to …
If you are raising chickens, there is a good chance that you are doing so to enjoy their delicious, nutritious eggs. The average chicken will lay about one egg every other day, although this varies significantly by breed, disposition, climate, and other factors. If you’re curious about how to get your chickens to lay more …
It doesn’t matter whether you plan on raising five chickens or fifty – it’s essential that you outfit your coop with the right gear. The ideal chicken coop will not only be safe from predators, but it will also be easy for you to access. It will ensure that your flock can remain happy and …
These 20 Chicken Coop Must Haves Will Keep Your Birds Happy Read More »
We just brought home our final batch of meat bird chicks for the year. Now we have more than 100 little peeping, fluffy chicks under a heat plate in our basement. I don’t like having chicks this late in the year (August), but with meat birds, it doesn’t matter quite as much. They are mature …
Have you ever looked at a hen, and wondered if she misses her eggs when they are gone? The answer is simple: for chickens, laying eggs is something they do out of instinct. You will see a clear difference between a chicken who is just laying an egg, and a broody hen trying to hatch …
My free-range flock was at it again. They left the cozy acreage of our farm, and went to visit the neighbors. I could see them digging around the neighbor’s yard, looking for bugs, and contemplating what good things might be lurking on their back porch. My neighbors are very nice and understanding, but I didn’t …
Although the changing of the leaves is a splendor to behold, we homesteaders see the process as something else altogether. A reminder that the cold temperatures of winter will be following very close behind. November itself can prove to be quite a chilly month in and of itself. With that said, it doesn’t compare to …
