Livestock Archives - Homesteaders of America

Livestock

E17: What You May Not Know About Pasture Health | Suzanne Nelson of Reverence Farms

May 16, 2023
Podcast
0 comments
by Leanne Burchett

When it comes to raising dairy cows, pasture management requires more intentionality than you may expect. From understanding the nutritional needs of cows to recognizing signs of poor pasture health, Suzanne of Reverence Farms is a wealth of wisdom on this topic. Whether you have future plans of owning a grazing animal or you are looking to take your current pastures to the next level, this conversation with Suzanne is rich with practical information and plenty of education for every homesteader.

10 Best Dual-Purpose Chicken Breeds

March 6, 2023
Chickens, Homesteading
1 Comment
by homesteadersofamerica

Have you decided what chicken breeds to bring onto your homestead this year? Do you want meat, eggs, or both out of your flock? Cornish Cross and Rangers are good meat options and productive breeds like Leghorns are great for eggs, but did you know that you can raise dual-purpose chicken breeds that will give […]

Are Farm-Fresh Eggs Safe for Consumption?

January 31, 2023
Chickens, Homesteading, Livestock
4 Comments
by homesteadersofamerica

Farm-Fresh Eggs are in high demand right now with store prices skyrocketing. People are turning to their chicken-keeping neighbors for food instead of choosing the convenience of the grocery store. This is a great thing! However, many people struggle to eat fresh eggs because they have been led to believe that these eggs are not […]

Maintaining the Family Milk Cow Naturally | Joshua Fuhrmann

January 17, 2023
Podcast
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by Leanne Burchett

Now that we have discussed how to choose a family milk cow, we are diving into how to keep your cow healthy the natural way. If approaching natural livestock care seems overwhelming to you, you will definitely want to join us for this episode because Joshua does an amazing job of explaining his holistic approach in simple terms. We address the most common fears cow owners have: mastitis, parasites, antibiotics, supporting the overall immune system, and more. As a farmer raising grass-fed A2A2 dairy cows in a holistic way, Joshua is a wealth of knowledge on raising the healthiest cows possible.

How to Get Started with Your Family Milk Cow | Shawn & Beth Dougherty

January 3, 2023
Podcast
0 comments
by Leanne Burchett

The family milk cow is quickly becoming the new backyard flock of chickens. More and more people are realizing the amazing benefits of adding a dairy cow to their homestead.

This month on the podcast, we are focusing on all things dairy cow. Shawn and Beth Dougherty are the perfect couple to lend their voice to this conversation as they have over four decades of experience farming and perfecting the art of grass conversion through dairy ruminants.

If you are considering adding a family milk cow to your homestead or are new to the world of home dairy, this discussion is for you. We dive into the most commonly asked questions when it comes to getting started with dairy cows: breed, acreage, feed, health, and more. If a dairy cow is in your future, start here!

The Cost of Raising Meat Chickens

December 31, 2022
Homesteading
6 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

Is raising meat chickens a money-saver? There are so many opinions out there! The truth is, like nearly everything to do with farming, it depends. There are lots of ways and reasons for raising chickens for meat, and the economics of doing so vary just as widely. Let’s take a look at the cost of […]

How to Control the Cost of Raising Chickens

November 28, 2022
Articles, Chickens, Homesteading, Livestock
13 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

Whether the goal is eggs or meat, folks starting out their country journey seem to go straight for chickens. Managed well, chickens can fit right into the farm ecosystem, providing nutrient cleanup, pest control, and light tillage almost anywhere those services are needed – along with some eggs and drumsticks. But when these benefits are […]

The Egg Economy: Can You Save Money Raising Chickens for Eggs?

November 2, 2022
Chickens, Homesteading
10 Comments
by Beth Dougherty

If there is one thing almost universal to all homesteaders, it is the keeping of a flock of laying hens. Most of the time chickens are the first – sometimes the only – livestock on the farm. What says ‘homesteading’ more eloquently than a basket of newly-gathered eggs, still warm from the nest? It’s almost […]

12 Heritage Meat Chicken Breeds

August 12, 2022
Chickens, Homesteading
8 Comments
by homesteadersofamerica

When you think of meat chicken breeds, your mind probably goes straight to the Cornish Cross broilers. This breed is most commonly used for meat. The very fast growth rate of this breed is appealing, but there are plenty of heritage meat chicken breeds that can give you a good amount of meat without the […]

Chicken Breed Egg Colors

November 9, 2021
Articles, Chickens, Homesteading, Livestock
2 Comments
by Janet Garman

Do you know the difference in chicken breed egg colors? Which chickens lay blue eggs? Which ones lay green eggs? In your quest for fresh chicken eggs, you may be wondering which chickens to buy that will give you colored eggs. Maybe you are interested in a heritage breed flock of chickens. Sometimes chicken owners want to […]