Livestock

Cattle Prods: What They’re For and Why You’ll Rarely Need One

I bought an electric cattle prod my first year running cattle because every old-timer's advice seemed to assume I already had one. I used it maybe a...

Why Your Chickens Might Be Poisoning Their Own Eggs

You walk out to the coop in the morning, open the nest box, and there they are. Warm eggs from your own hens. You know what those birds eat, where...

Working Dogs – The Complete Guide to Herding, Guarding, Hunting, and Vermin Control Roles

Ask ten homesteaders what a good working dog looks like and you will get ten different answers, because the term covers jobs that have almost...

Fur Hen – The Complete Guide to Fluffy, Fur-Feathered Chickens

If you have ever seen a photo of a chicken that looks more like a small, walking pom-pom than a bird, you have met a fur hen. It is not an official...

Mini Pigs – Everything You Need to Know Before Bringing One Home

A neighbor of mine bought what she was told was a "teacup pig" from an online breeder, a piglet small enough to fit in a purse in the photos. Two...

Why Did My Hens Stop Laying Eggs?

You wake up and it’s a beautiful morning. As usual, you grab your basket or bucket and go to the chicken coop to gather the eggs. You lift the nest...

Cashmere Goats – A Homesteader’s Complete Guide

The first time I ran a metal comb through a goat's winter coat and pulled out a handful of fiber softer than anything I owned in my closet, I...

Holstein Cow – What Every Homesteader Should Know Before Getting One

If you ask most people to picture a dairy cow, they picture a Holstein. That black-and-white spotted animal is the face of the dairy industry, and...

How Many Eggs Does a Chicken Lay a Day?

The honest answer is that a healthy hen can lay at most one egg a day, and most don't even do that. It physically takes a hen 24 to 26 hours to...

Chicken Dewormer – The Complete Guide to Treating and Preventing Worms in Your Flock

Every flock I've ever kept has carried some level of worms, and honestly, that's normal. Chickens live outside, they peck at the ground, they eat...

Do Cows Have to Be Pregnant to Produce Milk? The Straight Answer

This is one of the questions I get asked most often by people visiting my homestead, usually while they're watching me milk a cow that very clearly...

Cattle vs Cows: What Is the Actual Difference?

Most people use cattle and cows interchangeably, and honestly, most of the time it does not matter. But the moment you start planning to bring...

How Long Do Chicken Eggs Take to Hatch? A Complete Incubation Guide

If you are raising chickens on a homestead, hatching your own eggs is one of the most rewarding things you can do. It closes the full loop of...

Goat Hooves: Everything You Need to Know About Structure, Trimming, and Common Problems

If you keep goats, managing their hooves is one of the non-negotiable maintenance tasks that comes with the territory. Neglect it and you will have...

Can Chickens Have Pineapple? What Every Flock Owner Needs to Know

If you keep backyard chickens long enough, you find yourself holding a piece of fruit and wondering whether it is safe to toss into the run....

What to Feed Pigs – A Complete Guide to Pig Feed for Homesteaders

Getting pig feed right is one of the most important decisions you will make on your homestead. Feed typically accounts for 60 to 75 percent of the...

Domestic Sheep Herding: A Practical Guide for the Small-Scale Homesteader

Sheep are one of the most forgiving livestock choices for a homestead. They ask for less than cattle, produce more than chickens, and reward patient...