Ever wonder why you see sheep all over the place in some areas, then in other places, no sheep! What is so useful about sheep that has people choosing to raise a flock of sheep instead of other livestock like cattle or goats? Along with meat, wool and milk sheep also provide vegetation control, income…
Thinking of getting into livestock? Maybe you are looking to purchase a small starter herd and are searching for some guidance? This is great news! Let’s get started on the basics! When purchasing livestock, look for animals with clear eyes and nose, shiny hair or feathers, appropriate body condition, good manure consistency and that the…
I know you are excited to get started with your first animals and want to choose a successful first project or two! Let’s take a look at some beginner level animals and how consider how much time and money is involved for each. Chickens (both layers and/or broilers), ducks, feeder pigs, sheep or bottle calves…
Sometimes cattle can be seen doing a few unusual things, like eating dirt or staring at people. What are they up to and why? All cattle, regardless of breed, have certain behaviors we see them doing, like eating dirt or bellowing, that make us wonder what exactly are they up to. Life Of A Dairy…
Crested chickens (or chickens with afros) are real lookers! Just about anyone would enjoy having a few of these around, but how do you decide which one to get? There are a lot of choices here, let’s look into these cool chickens! There are 12 common chicken breeds with crests. Standard crested chickens are: Polish,…
Interested in raising some sheep, but not sure how much land is required for your flock? Let’s look into some things that will help you decide how to figure this out and get started raising sheep! The amount of land needed to raise sheep can be an average backyard to as much as multiple acres…
The start of lambing season is always a big day! Exciting but a bit scary, too! All of your preparation up until now will get you great results, or maybe not so great. Since your sheep income for the whole year starts here, let’s make sure we are ready! To be ready for lambing season,…
Wow, is this exciting! Considering getting a family cow is a huge step towards self sufficiency, not to mention a big leap into nutrient dense food for you and your family! Now, how to choose? What things matter and what things are not a big deal? Your family cow needs to be easy going, healthy…
Wondering about the basics regarding dairy cattle? Terminology and unfamiliar practices used around dairies and dairy cattle can be confusing at first. No need to worry. This article covers all the terms and ideas you need to know, starting with the absolute basics! How Much Milk From Your Family Cow? goes over the daily amount…
Want to know more about sheep, but are not sure where to start? I’ve got you covered. We’ll go over all the terminology and production ideas related to sheep, starting with the very basics! Sheep are ruminants. Sheep have a special design to their stomach that allows them to eat and grow well on grass…