As a new chicken keeper, one crucial element of flock management is creating the right balance of roosters and hens. Too many roosters create havoc, while too few may leave your hens vulnerable. While you can keep chickens without a rooster, let’s talk about why we prefer having a rooster in the flock and how…
Raising backyard chickens is feasible for many families, even those in suburban neighborhoods. A small flock of 5 to 6 hens will produce enough eggs for most families. Chickens are easy keepers and a great way to extend age-appropriate responsibility to children. Additionally, a backyard flock is a great way to introduce kids to where…
Butchering chickens at home allows you to control the quality and freshness of your meat. It’s a simple process that can be done discreetly in a suburban neighborhood. The right tools make a big difference to ensure an efficient and humane process. While the right knife comes down to personal preference, consider these features when…
If you are like many homesteaders, a dairy animal is often a long-awaited addition to the farm. After all, your own milk made from fresh grass and sunshine can help meet the protein needs of the entire homestead. This is why I consider my cows the queens of the homestead! Growing up, I never considered…
Raising your own chicks on the homestead is a great way to build a sustainable flock on the farm. While a broody hen can certainly get the job done with ease, the hens don’t follow any timetable. Hens are also limited in the number of baby chicks they can hatch at one time. Depending on…
Spring is such an exciting time on the homestead! As the farm begins to green up, it’s also a time when babies begin to emerge on the farm! When it comes to chickens, you may be lucky enough to have a broody hen willing to hatch some baby chicks. While it’s adorable to see young…
As a new chicken owner, one of the most exciting moments is when you find the very first farm-fresh eggs in your backyard chicken coop! If you live in the United States, instinctually you will likely want to wash the eggs and put them in the refrigerator. In the US, we typically encounter washed, store-bought…
Chickens are often called the gateway animal to homesteading. In many suburban neighborhoods, you will find neighbors who keep a small backyard flock to provide their own fresh eggs. We even raise our meat chickens in our suburban neighborhood, having raised all of our chicken for several years. Especially when you are limited on space…
As families are becoming more aware of the challenges and shortcomings of the commercial food industry, many are looking for a better way to feed their families. With the ability to ship frozen foods, there are options for families to purchase ethically sourced, organic meats, however, it can be cost-prohibitive for many families. Raising your…
As Philip and I get closer to making the move to the homestead permanent, it’s time to secure the resources we need to get the farm off the ground successfully. Since attending the lectures of Shawn and Beth Dougherty at Homesteaders of America in 2022, we are workings towards the goal of producing not only…
