Now that you have decided to get a few goats, you’ll need to figure out what you should be feeding them. This is a can of worms, for sure! Some folks say “just let those goats eat brush and forage for their keep” others say “give the goats a pelleted ration and some high test…
Sheep are a wonderful and versatile animal to have. It’s no wonder they are growing in popularity, for both large and small acreages! Once you get your flock, what should you feed them and what feeds should you avoid? Sheep grow well on grass, hay and haylage, with stored forages (hay) eaten in the non…
Guinea fowl are interesting, no doubt about that! And I’m sure you’ve heard about their tick eating ability. Other than that, what can you do with them and are guinea fowl worth raising? Guinea fowl are worth raising if you want an easy care bird that will roam and debug, as long as you accept…
Your turkey poults are growing like crazy and they look pretty big in that brooder! The next step in the plan is to put the poults outside, but how can you tell if they are ready? When are turkey poults big enough to go outside and what’s the best way to transition them to living…
It’s easy to see why folks are looking into electric fence for their livestock, especially for anyone who is new. Electric fences definitely have a few advantages over permanent fence, two examples are portability and up front cost. At first glance, electric fencing looks good, but there are a few things that still need to…
Consumers want pork from pigs raised in a happy and healthy environment, pigs that live a good life. The opportunity to make a business out of raising healthy pigs is high in many parts of the world. What’s the outlook for pigs in your area? Are pigs a likely good investment of your time and…
When you are looking for poultry, you’ll want friendly birds, especially if you have kids. The most popular poultry for new people to start with are chickens or ducks. Which one is a better choice if you want a friendlier bird? Overall, ducks are friendlier than chickens, however there are individuals of either species that…
Electric netting, it’s all over the place! Why use it, what makes folks put up netting rather than putting up a permanent fence? If you’ve got animals, you need some sort of fence. Is electric netting worth the money? Basic electric netting costs start at $0.82 per linear foot. Electric netting must be used with…
Thinking about raising some turkey poults this year? Turkeys are interesting birds and tons better in both taste and quality than the turkey at the store! The key to success with poults all starts in the brooder. Your job is to keep them stress free, including heat, feed and environmental stress. Happy turkeys grow well,…
What on earth is a sorting board for pigs? And why would anyone want to use one to begin with, can’t you just use a gate or some plywood? A pig sorting board is a durable, light weight plastic panel used to block the sight of alternative options while moving a pig so the pig…