Guinea Fowl are one of the best additions to a homestead. They are great guard animals (my flock actually chased away a German shepherd once), they eat a ton of ticks each summer, and they are delicious. There are plenty of books and articles on how to raise Guineas, and I read many of them. There are a few things they missed. So I’ll just give you some of specific pointers … [Read more...] about 6 Tips For Raising Guinea Fowl
Poultry
Poultry Diseases
Almost everyone loves chickens. From the eggs, to the meat, to the crowing of the cock, there's just something about the non-airborne avian that brings to mind the peaceful tranquility of a self-sustaining existence. What happens though, when your fowl are feeling a little ... well, foul? Read on for some common chicken illnesses, and how best to handle them. (Avian) … [Read more...] about Poultry Diseases
Broiler Chickens Are Bred to Be Lazy!
The images from factory farms can be very disturbing. Thousands of layer hens crammed into tiny cages, de-beaked as chicks so they don’t peck each other to death, their feet cramped as they walk on feces-covered wire mesh, and a constant stream of “feed” in front of them, sometimes made from the by-products of their fallen brethren. Even the “cage-free” broiler chickens are … [Read more...] about Broiler Chickens Are Bred to Be Lazy!
Chicken Breed Profile (Part 2 of ∞)
As springtime approaches, that tends to mean one thing around my homestead. The chickens, long self-confined to a smaller grazing ground have begun to range again, scratching their way through underbrush and tree, grass and, yes, even garden. As I’m watching them, I’ve begun to realize it’s been a little while since I last profiled any chicken breeds on here, so without further … [Read more...] about Chicken Breed Profile (Part 2 of ∞)
Chicken Breed Profile (Part 1 of ?)
A topic we’ve covered regularly on this site, though perhaps not regularly enough, is that of poultry. Probably the most common “gateway stock” for budding homesteaders, chickens are relatively simple to care for, easy to acquire, and can be used for either meat or eggs. Read on for the first in what will be an irregularly running series with multiple installments, cataloguing … [Read more...] about Chicken Breed Profile (Part 1 of ?)