Backyard Chickens | Livestock | Homesteading | Gardening
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
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
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
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 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? 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
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
There are a few pertinent questions that anyone looking to raise goats or go into goat farming needs to ask themselves. One of the most important ones is how much space do goats need? While there are some adorably miniature goat breeds, such as the Pygmy goats and Nigerian dwarf goats, all goats need enough space and land to browse and play. For your goats to thrive, they need pasture and as much open space … Read more
Pig lovers around the world keep pigs for several reasons. The reasons often vary depending on the pig breed. For instance, some people love keeping small pig breeds, such as the Vietnamese potbelly pig, as pets. Other than that, keep feeder pigs for the pork and commercial value. Many still keep pigs, mostly because they want a variety of farm animals on their property. Whatever your reason for keeping pigs, the breed or type of … Read more
Few things are quite as exciting to most cow breeders as having pregnant cows in the herd. This often means that, with the right management, the herd size will increase as soon as the cows give birth. But how long are cows pregnant, and what kind of complications can you expect during this gestation period? How Long Is a Cow’s Gestation Period? How long is your cow going to be pregnant? On average, a cow’s … Read more