You may think that only you need to learn to milk a goat, but it's not a natural thing for a goat to let a human take her milk. So, the goat also needs to learn to be milked. This is why it's a great idea for you to get an experienced milker as your first milk goat. At least one of your knows how it works. However, that's not usually possible. So, before we talk about … [Read more...]
A Beginner’s Guide to Chickens
Are you thinking about getting chickens or do you already have a flock? This post includes some of Thrifty Homesteader's most useful posts and videos about keeping chickens... Getting Your ChickensThe first step to successfully raising chickens is to buy them from a trusted source. You could be purchasing diseased or old animals if you purchase them from a swap meet or … [Read more...]
Goats vs. Cows: The Ultimate Comparison
When we first moved to the country, I didn't give much thought to goat vs cow. I thought we needed a goat to make "goat cheese" and a cow for all of our other dairy products, such as milk, cream, cheddar cheese, yogurt, and so on. Before I learned the error in my thinking, we had already purchased two cows, in addition to three goats we bought. If you grew up drinking … [Read more...]
What’s the difference between alfalfa and grass hay?
When I got started with goats I barely knew the difference between hay and straw. Although I quickly learned that hay is food and straw is bedding, I just assumed that all hay was the same. That is definitely not the case. Alfalfa, clover, and peanut are legume hays, while timothy, oat, bermuda, and orchard are examples of grass hays. If you're sitting there thinking … [Read more...]
Thinking about backyard chickens?
Whenever people hear reports of contaminated food and worry about the ethics of factory farming, they want to take control of their food in whatever way they can. For many this means starting a garden, and for more and more, this means having backyard chickens. However, myths abound! Sadly, this misinformation slows people down or stops them entirely from having their own fresh … [Read more...]
Goat Bloat
Many people think a goat is bloated when it simply has a large belly. I have seen many people post online, “My goat has been bloated for several days,” which is impossible. A goat with bloat will die within hours if not treated. If a goat’s belly has looked unusually large for several days, it is probably a hay belly, which is most likely caused by parasites. A goat with a … [Read more...]
12 fun facts about goats
It probably comes as no surprise to hear that goats are my favorite animals. In addition to their incredible personalities, they are also just really fun creatures. But they are also misunderstood, so here are a few fun facts. Goats are browsers, not grazersNo, that does not mean that they prefer walking through the farm supply store checking out the latest … [Read more...]
Can I keep sheep and goats together?
Like many things related to livestock, the answer to the question, "Can I keep sheep and goats together?" does not have a simple yes or no answer. Sheep and goats have the same diseases This is probably the #1 reason I hear people say that you should not keep sheep and goats together. However, if your goats and sheep do not have any diseases, then they can't give them to each … [Read more...]
A Beginner’s Guide to Goats
Whether you already have a few goats or you are just thinking of getting a couple, you've come to the right place. This Beginner's Guide to Goats includes links to some of Thrifty Homesteader's most useful goat posts. Caring for goats is not difficult or time consuming, but you do need up-to-date information.There are three basic challenges to becoming a goat owner. First, … [Read more...]
A Beginner’s Guide to Sheep
Are you considering getting sheep or do you already have a few? In addition to providing an introduction to raising sheep, this post also includes some of Thrifty Homesteader's most useful posts about sheep...Getting Your Sheep When it comes to choosing a breed of sheep, I'm partial to the breeds on the Conservation Priority List of The Livestock Conservancy, and it's … [Read more...]
