Everyone that has a homestead should consider raising animals. Raising animals on the homestead greatly raises one’s self reliance. Chickens give you meat and eggs, goats can give you milk and meat. Sheep can give you wool, meat, and even milk.
If utilized properly, these creatures can actually improve the land that you keep them on. Manure is excellent for improving the soil. Chickens will help till the ground and eat bugs.
Just about any animal can be used on the homestead for more than one purpose. Permaculture principles can be used so we are good stewards to the land.
Proper grazing techniques are important as well for your livestock. If you allow your animals to move across the land without overgrazing, this will benefit the land greatly.
Raising animals on the homestead can even improve your garden. I use all types of manure around the farm to make our sandy soil better. And it’s all organic. No artificial fertilizers here!
We believe that everyone should grow their own food. Raising your own meat so you know what goes into the food you eat is especially important. There are so many antibiotics used in commercial farming, you never know what you’re getting in your meat.
We are big into raising animals here at Homegrown Self Reliance. I have always been a huge animal lover, and raising animals just fits with who I am. In this category I will share all the information that I have on successfully raising animals for greater self reliance.
If you’ve been around any chicken communities, you’ve probably heard it asked time and time again. And maybe you’ve asked it yourself. Why did my chickens stop laying eggs? There are a few reasons why chickens stop laying eggs. But it’s so frustrating! You take good care of your chickens. You probably spent hundreds on …
I have been thinking a lot lately about what animals every homestead beginner should learn to raise. The one that sits firmly at the top of my mind is chickens! Chickens have been a huge blessing for us. Dual-purpose chickens are my #1 choice for chickens. They are bigger than some breeds who are most …
Keeping chickens in the winter definitely has its challenges. One of the biggest challenges always seems to be how to keep chicken water from freezing. Sure, you can haul hot water out to them, but if you’ve ever done that in the snow and sleet, you know how hard that is. There’s GOT TO be …
It’s that time of year again. Winter. The time of year that everyone starts questioning: Should I start heating the chicken coop? Well, this is one thing about raising chickens that I am emphatic about – the answer is NO. I know a lot of chicken owners are constantly worried about their chickens. But here’s …
It’s Winter – Should You Start Heating the Chicken Coop? Read More »
Dual purpose chickens are the best chickens to raise for anyone who wants to be more self sufficient. We mostly raise dual purpose chickens, but have a few of the fancier breeds as well. If you’re raising chickens, and especially if you have at least one rooster, you might as well raise some that will …
Dual Purpose Chickens (and Why You Should Raise Them) Read More »
Chickens can be stinky, smelly creatures. There, I said it. I love my chickens, but they can smell bad if not properly cared for. If you have chickens, you might be wondering how to keep their coop clean and odor-free. Well, I have some good, cheap solutions for you to help in controlling odors in …
We are a big hunting family. My family never hunted, but The Hubs’ family always did. Ever since we were married at a very young age, we have gone hunting as a family. Hunting is a wonderful way of increasing your self reliance. And I have embraced it! Over the years, we have put thousands …
If you’ve had chickens before, you know how it goes. You feed them, give them treats, hold them, and love them, but sometimes they are just freeloaders. Especially in the wintertime! And I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to keep anything that doesn’t pull its weight. So I need to keep my …
I remember it like it was yesterday. I picked up my favorite hen for a few minutes, put her down, and felt a creepy crawly on my arm. Looked down, and sure enough, it was chicken lice! Of course, like any reasonable adult, I ran into the house and jumped in the shower! And then …
I love the deep litter method! What is the deep litter method, you ask? It is a way of turning old chicken litter into deep, rich compost. It controls odors, keeps bad bacteria at bay (while using the good bacteria), and even heats the chicken coop slightly. All while lessening your work load with your …
