Congratulations! Getting a family cow is a huge step towards raising your own food, and you won’t believe how wonderful the fresh milk tastes! I’m sure you’ve asked yourself, are you getting a cow or heifer? It’s a big question: should you get an established, knows what she’s doing cow or go with a heifer,…
It’s no wonder backyard and small farm ducks are on the rise! If you’ve looked around, even a little, you know that there are plenty of duck breed choices. Which duck breed will suit you and your family the best? Once you find your perfect breed, you’ll get to pick your individual ducks! Choosing the…
Home grown beef is a triple win: nutrient dense, you know how the cattle were raised and per pound it is a bargain! Reasons to raise your own beef are easy to come up with, but what will it take day to day to get that deliciousness in your freezer? The exact cost of raising…
Ducklings are fun and fast growers, they’ll be nearly full size in no time! Until then, they need some special care to make sure they get off to a healthy start and grow well. Special care for ducklings starts with brooding. Ducklings need a brooder area for the first 3-5 weeks of age, depending upon…
Nothing beats the flavor of home grown lamb! And nothing can beat the price either! If you are considering raising a few lambs for your freezer (and you should be!) how do you know when they are ready for the butcher? Your lamb is ready to be butchered when it has filled out the rear…
Welcome to the world of sheep! Now that you have decided to buy your flock it’s time to figure out how much it will cost to feed them. Since keeping feed costs reasonable is the best way to ensure a profitable flock, we need to know how much it will cost to feed sheep! The…
Sometimes sheep can do crazy things, especially from the perspective of a person! Occasionally, sheep will get into sticky situations that they need some help to get out of. Being unable to get up off the ground is one of those times! Normally, sheep lay down and get up multiple times every day of their…
While looking around online for farming and grazing information, ideas and sometimes a little inspiration and found an intriguing term: Zero Grazing. What on earth is zero grazing, who is using it and why? Zero grazing is the practice of using machinery to take freshly cut forage to ruminants housed in a barn. Zero grazing…
Can sheep choose the best place to sleep at night by themselves or do you need to put them in a barn? What about in the inclement weather, like snow or rain? Let’s get this sorted out! Sheep sleep at night in a place where they are comfortable and feel safe. Depending on the weather,…
Thinking of getting started with sheep? Good call! Sheep are rising in popularity with small farm enthusiasts and health focused consumers. Now, on to getting a flock for you: where should you buy them and how much will it cost? Buy a starter flock of sheep from a breeder who is raising sheep the same…