I get a lot of questions every day about raising ducks. One of the most frequent duck topics I hear about has to do with dealing with drakes and their behavior. Many of those questions concern mating issues – so I’ll try to keep this post as PG as possible, but fair warning – ducks …
It is an unfortunate fact of life that if you keep animals in your backyard you are going to attract rodents. It doesn’t mean your farm is dirty or that you are messy, rodents are just everywhere and if you provide things like shelter, food, & water they are going to gratefully accept your hospitality. …
You got your first fluffy chicks or ducklings – congratulations! While those fuzzy little ones are busy growing and you are daydreaming about all the fresh eggs that will be coming your way soon, it’s the perfect time to build some cozy nests for all those eggs. Your birds will instinctively seek out a comfortable, …
The best time to start a backyard orchard is a couple years ago. But since we don’t have time travel, let’s say the best time to start is today! Most fruit trees will take a couple years to get established and start producing fruit. It can be a few years beyond that before they are …
This simple question has dozens of answers. When a mother chicken hatches out her brood, she will usually take her chicks out for their first adventure in the new world by day 2. Clearly, chicks can handle being outside right from the beginning. But that mother hen is a portable source of heat & security …
During WWI and WWII Americans (and residents of many other countries) banded together to help supplement the food supply chain amid food rationing and shortages among agricultural workers. During WWII, 1/3 of the vegetables produced in America came from the over 18 million Victory Gardens. Growing a Victory Garden not only helped to feed your …
Everyone’s world seems to be getting a lot smaller, with schools, restaurants, stores, and many of the activities & events we love to frequent closing down. Many people are out of work, working part time, or telecommuting. We are told to stay in our homes as much as possible. This slow down in daily life …
Long before I decided to keep chickens, one of my favorite hobbies was making random DIY projects – all the better if I could make them with salvaged parts & they were useful in my everyday life. Backyard farmers are a resourceful bunch so I feel like many of you are the same way. When …
The miracle of life is truly fascinating – no matter if you are talking about a full human growing from a clump of cells or tiny chick! So what exactly goes on inside that egg during the short 21 days that it takes for a chick to hatch? Chicken embryos were among the first & …
Calendula is an often overlooked, but excellent addition to any homestead garden! Calendula officinalis—also called pot marigold is an annual flower that grows easily in USDA zones 3-9. Calendula should not be confused with common marigold (Tagetes – also sold as French or African Marigolds) although they are in the same family. French or African …
