Can You Use Essential Oils on Livestock??
I like to post a variety of content here on The Prairie Homestead, and for the most part, we keep it pretty light and fun. But every once and a while, I like to dive in a little deeper and explore the...
View ArticleHow to Cook an Old Rooster (or Hen!)
I realize this post will probably elicit a variety of reactions… Some of you will be thrilled that I’m writing on this topic, since you have old hens or roosters that need a new “job,” Some of you...
View Article9 Tips for Training a Goat on the Milking Stand
Today I’m welcoming Heather from Green Eggs and Goats! She’s sharing her expertise on training a goat to cooperate on the milking stand–something which, I can attest, can be a bit of a challenge...
View ArticleHow to Train a Heifer to Become a Family Milk Cow
Today I’m welcoming Ashley from The Browning Homestead to the blog! Not all of us are fortunate to start off with a quiet, trained milk cow (I wasn’t!), so Ashley is sharing her expertise on how to...
View Article5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Get Goats
By Heather Jackson, contributing writer Don’t get me wrong, I love my dairy goats, but today I’m going to tell you why you shouldn’t get goats. I usually consider goats to be gateway livestock. They...
View ArticleRaising Pigs: Pros and Cons
By Heather Jackson, contributing writer I blame Craigslist. A year ago we added a new adventure to our lives when we responded to an ad on Craigslist and went to pick up three cute, squealing, pink...
View ArticleDo My Chickens Need a Heat Lamp?
Do your chickens wear sweaters? Mine don’t, although I have to admit the pictures I’ve seen of sweatered hens are pretty cute. Alas, knitting is one area where my craftiness fails me, so I don’t see...
View Article15 Ways to Save Money on Chicken Feed
It’s a heartbreaking moment… When you first realize your homegrown eggs are costing you more than what you’d pay for eggs at the store… The current state of mass food production has duped us into...
View ArticleSupplemental Lighting in the Chicken Coop
Your frying pan is crying out for scrambled eggs and omelets… The egg cartons are empty, and the only place you see those brown-shelled eggs is in your dreams… Winter is a rough time of year for a...
View Article8 Ways to Use Chickens in the Garden
I’m honored to have Justin Rhodes from Abundant Permaculture guest posting today. Justin is a wealth of information when it comes to sustainable chicken-keeping, and you’re going to love his tips for...
View ArticleHow to Keep Wild Birds Out of a Chicken Coop
As homesteaders, we get pretty used to being the weird ones… Because let’s face it, I’m betting that *most* of your friends probably aren’t rendering tallow, or figuring out how to skim the cream from...
View ArticleSigns of Calving: 5 Things to Watch
“Honey, can you hand me my phone so I can take a picture of the cow’s mucous?” That’s pretty much how the conversations have been sounding around our house lately… Calving is always an exciting time,...
View Article6 Strategies for Fly Control in the Chicken Coop
“Keep your mouth shut…” That used to be my routine bit of advice for anyone entering my chicken coop during the summer months. Fly control in the chicken coop used to feel like a losing battle for me,...
View ArticleBreeding Your Cow with Artificial Insemination
It always sneaks up on me… Breeding season, that is. Compared to all the big ranches around us who have hundreds of cows to breed each year, I feel like pretty small potatoes with our two measly mama...
View ArticleHerbs for Chicken Nesting Boxes
I think my chickens might be spoiled… I don’t make sweaters for them or anything, but they do have a completely-remodeled chicken coop… And GMO-free, organic feed… And all the kitchen scraps they...
View ArticleCheap Milking Equipment for Home Dairy
Cheap isn’t always better.I’ve learned over the course of my homesteading journey that sometimes being willing to pay a little more for a higher quality item is completely and totally worth it in the...
View ArticleRaising Meat on a Small Homestead
Welcome Heather from The Homesteading Hippy today as she shares her best advice for raising meat on a small homestead. She lives on only 1/5 of an acre, yet does an amazing job of growing her own food....
View ArticleManaging Homestead Livestock in Winter
Why do I feel qualified to write about this topic?Well, because of this:And this: (Our house and coop are no longer yellow, by the way. Hallelujah.)Oh yeah, and this:Living in Wyoming for the last 12...
View ArticleHomemade Suet Cakes for Chickens
If you ever visit my chicken coop, don’t expect to see any chandeliers…I’ll admit, they do look kinda cool, but I tend to be somewhat of a minimalist when it comes to chicken keeping.I prefer to stick...
View ArticleDIY Fodder System for Animals
I’ve recently become enamored with the concept of growing fodder for animals. Not only is it simple enough for even the smallest-scale homesteader to accomplish, it’s incredibly cost-effective. I’m...
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