Death on the homestead is commonplace. Sometimes it's planned but many times it is not. And that’s one reason why most kids who grow up on a farm accept death so easily. It’s a hard lesson, but sometimes a tasty one as well… Shortly after getting our first homestead in Omaha, we decided to get three piglets. We’ve always been vehemently against mega hog farms and wanted to … [Read more...] about 5 Mistakes Real Pig Farmers Don’t Make
Livestock
Second-Hand Critters: A Cautionary Tale
It’s not a good idea to find a babysitter on Craigslist. It’s not a good idea to buy full-grown animals on the Internet either. Almost no one sells you their good animals. You’re likely getting a scratch-and-dent model that could be sick, nervous, or destructive. It’s a lesson I learned when I bought a ewe online and ended up barbequing her a few weeks later. I got on the … [Read more...] about Second-Hand Critters: A Cautionary Tale
Defensive Donkey Duties
Love your animals? Have predators that love them for a different reason? Have a special, childhood attachment to Eeyore? Sounds like you may be in the market for a good old-fashioned defense donkey! You heard me right, that ornery barnyard brute may actually have a use beyond pulling a cart, and biting a chunk out of that nosy neighbor kid’s overalls. Read on for some … [Read more...] about Defensive Donkey Duties
Get Your Goats: Part 4
Owning goats is all well and good, but how do you keep the critters fed? Sure they’re browsers, but there’s more to keeping them alive and nourished than simply turning them loose in scrub brush. What happens when the forage runs low? Or if a cold winter dumps feet of snow on top of it? Here’s a general idea of what to feed your cloven-hoofed friends when the natural food … [Read more...] about Get Your Goats: Part 4
Get Your Goats: Part 3
Just as you build a house before you move onto land, before you consider getting goats, you need a solid plan for how to house them. Lucky for you, goats are a lot less picky than your last roommate. In fact, they’re about as low-maintenance a tenant as you can get. Read on for a few tips, tricks and baseline parameters for giving your goats a happy and healthy … [Read more...] about Get Your Goats: Part 3
