Animals & livestock

Considering rabbit farming? Whether you plan to keep them as pets or use them for meat, some experts say that rabbits are easier to raise than many other animals. They can be low-maintenance, don’t demand immense amounts of space, and…
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Ducks are an entertaining and relatively low-maintenance addition to any homestead. They may make a mess with mud and water, but they are generally charming, hardy against the elements, and prolific layers of rich, delicious eggs. Once…
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Close-up of mealworms in a tub. | Courtesy of Robert Nathan Allen & Little Herds Sometimes the best way to save a buck on feed is to make it yourself. A DIY mealworm farm is a cheap and easy way to make treats for your farm fowl…
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Cleaning the chicken coop is a necessary job, but using harsh chemical cleaners isn't. Learn how to use natural cleaners for cleaning the chicken coop in this excerpt from 101 Chicken Keeping Hacks from Fresh Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele. …
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Ducks are a quirky, quacky and handy addition to any homestead for meat, eggs or companionship. Here's how to pick ducks for your homestead. Julia Bayly According to John Metzer, owner of Metzer Farms in Gonzales, California,…
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A good source of lean protein, crickets are easy to raise and can be eaten by poultry and humans. Here's what you need to know about raising crickets. If you can get past the chirping and hopping, crickets are a relatively…
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Nothing, and I mean nothing, goads a homesteader or backyard poultry farmer into action faster than the season’s first forecast of snow. Here's your checklist for getting chickens ready for winter. One minute you’re going along enjoying…
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A paddock is a pasture used for grazing. How do you build a perfect paddock? Find out in this excerpt from The Independent Farmstead: Growing Soil, Biodiversity, and Nutrient-Dense Food with Grassfed Animals and Intensive Pasture…
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Donkeys can be stubborn, but they are also intelligent, attentive animals that are good draft animals, guardians for other animals and more. A visitor to the Goughan's Berry Farm in Caribou, Maine, feeds Wilbur the donkey on Thursday. |…
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A molting chicken is not exactly a thing of beauty, but it is a natural process in the bird's life that comes with the shortening of daylight hours. | Julia Bayly Anyone who has owned chickens knows there is a time of year when there…
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From their eggs to their meat to their willingness to eat kitchen scraps, ducks are a great addition to homesteads. Wondering how to keep ducks? Find out with this excerpt from Self-Sufficiency Handbook: Your Complete Guide to a…
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Are backyard chickens OK in the cold? Learn about the birds' natural protections, and what's safe to help keep them comfortable in winter. Goldie, a backyard chicken and family pet that lives in Orono, Maine, was brought inside her…
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