Before you bring home new livestock, there are a few housekeeping tasks you should have completed. If you follow this checklist, you will ensure the safety of your new animals and minimize the likelihood of them contracting pathogens from the animals housed there previously.
On our farm, the goats earn their keep. Not only do they pay for their own feed, but they financially support other animals and projects on our homestead. Here are a few creative ways that we generate income with our herd of goats.
Goats are browsers by nature and as such, are well-equipped for feeding on unwanted plants like brush, prickers, and weeds. Goats can provide several ecological advantages over traditional methods of vegetation management like harsh chemicals and machinery. Contract grazing is becoming more commonplace as landowners discover the unique benefits of the temporary presence of goats on their property.
To prevent rodent-carried diseases, contamination of your livestock feed, and wasting money, it’s important that grain be stored securely. Here are a range of ideas for keeping mice and rats out of your animal feed.
If you have a pregnant goat, there are several things you will want to have on hand for the day the kids arrive. Here are our favorite items to have in the kidding kit. This will help you be prepared for routine procedures as well as issues and emergencies.
How a queen bee leads may surprise you, she is a queen unlike many others. Taking notes on the leadership attributes of the colony matriarch will ensure unity, productivity, and resource management that will ensure the success of future generations.
A metal roof can add beauty, protection, and energy savings to your home. If you are worried about it looking like a barn, never fear, there are plenty of color and style options for today’s metal roofs. Read on to learn the ten reasons we love our metal roof.
There are a few things you can investigate to determine whether your laying hens are free-loading or contributing to your farm. Common egg laying indicators will be shown and discussed. Use this information to make cull decisions or establish pet status for specific birds in your flock.
The eggs you get from your laying hens need to be handled with care to stay fresh. Here are our recommendations for when and how to wash eggs or leave them “au-naturel.” Decide what is best for your family or farm customers.
It is extremely rewarding to be able to provide home-grown meat for your family. Here are the reasons we raise a variety of species of livestock on our farm. If you don’t have the space or time to raise your own, these can also be reasons to buy local, humanely-raised meats.