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California Tan Chicken ~ Everything You Need to Know

The California Tan chicken is very closely associated with the California White chicken. In fact, it’s not uncommon for novice farmers to confuse the two. However, they are not the same breed of chicken. The California Tan chicken is technically not a breed of chicken but a hybrid. It crosses two other breeds—a Production Red (similar to Rhode Island Reds) and a White Leghorn. One of the main reasons breeders worldwide endeavor to come up … Read more

How Long Do Roosters Live and 4 Factors that Affect Rooster Lifespan

How long do roosters live? What factors affect a rooster’s lifespan, and does breed have anything to do with a rooster’s longevity? What is a rooster’s lifespan in captivity vs in the wild? These are all questions that any budding chicken owner would have-rightly so. Chicken keepers and chicken enthusiasts alike know that when left to their own devices, chickens can live for 5 to 10 years. However, due to one thing or another, this … Read more

Olive Egger Chickens ~ Eggs, Appearance, Temperament, Sexing and More

Olive Egger chickens are a cross between a brown egg layer and a blue egg layer. They are hybrids that mix Legbars, Ameraucana, and Maran chicken breeds. While mixed breed chickens aren’t uncommon, Olive Egger chickens are a special breed for a few reasons. The most notable is that Olive Egger hens produce olive-colored eggs. If you are a farmer looking to get into raising chickens but unsure what breed you should pick, raising Olive … Read more

Prairie Bluebell Egger ~ Productive Blue Egg Layers

The Prairie Bluebell Egger is a generally active bird capable of incredible egg production. A single hen can lay up to 280 eggs annually. One of the main standout features of this chicken breed is that it lays large powdery blue eggs that are cherished in most markets. Developed to be excellent foragers and hardy, these birds can be a wonderful addition to any backyard chicken farm interested in raising more than just the typical … Read more

Goat Barn Ideas for Creative Homesteaders ~ 4 Ideas to Consider

Goats are hardy creatures that can withstand a wide range of temperatures, including extreme cold and heat. Domesticated goats, however, need some kind of shelter to remain healthy, safe, and productive. There are plenty of goat barn ideas you can use to build a simple yet highly effective shelter for your goats. If you are the handy type or are simply looking for a cheap yet effective DIY goat barn, there are hundreds of goat … Read more

How Many Udders Does a Cow Have and Answers About Teats

Cow udders are some of the most fascinating organs for several reasons. To begin with, they are hardly ever visible until the cow goes through some physical transformation, in which case, they are unmissable. Some of the questions that most people who are not very familiar with raising cows would ask are “how many udders does a cow have?”, “does every cow have udders?” “What is a cow’s udder used for?” Let’s take a quick … Read more

Lakenvelder Cattle – Everything You Need to Know

Also known as Dutch Belted cattle, Lakenvelder cattle are a highly-prized breed of cattle raised mainly for its milk production but can also double as a dual-purpose breed for meat. Lakenvelder cattle are believed to be the only belted cattle breed that traces directly back to the original canvassed or belted cattle described in Switzerland and Austria. This is a majestic creature that has a rich history of nobility. It’s well sought after today, and … Read more

Gold Star Chickens ~ Everything You Need to Know

Gold Star chickens go by several names. They are typically referred to as the Golden Sex Link, Red Sex Link, or the Gold Star, among many other similar names. This type of chicken is a breed hybrid designed for increased egg production. It has many positive characteristics, chief among them being that its cold hardy. As a chicken keeper, the Gold Star chicken would make a wonderful addition to your backyard flock if you are … Read more

Do Chickens Need a Rooster to Lay Eggs? What to Know About Egg-Laying

Do chickens need a rooster to lay eggs? While the answer is simple and straightforward, many other factors come into play—factors that not only have legal implications but will directly affect the continuity of your farm. If you are going to keep chickens, whether you want to keep them for their eggs, meat, or breeding purposes, it’s important to know the rules and regulations surrounding chicken farming in your state. Do Chickens Need a Rooster … Read more

Protein Tubs for Cattle ~ Purpose, Pros and Cons, and More

Your cattle can’t tell you what is lacking in their diet, so it’s up to you to figure it out. While you can ideally monitor nutrition factors using protein and calorie intake calculators, some nutrients must come from supplements. And this is where protein tubs for cattle come in. Just like humans, cows also need their recommended daily protein intake to help their bodies develop. And at times, they need more nourishment than they can … Read more