If you’ve been milking goats for any length of time, you’ve likely dealt with mastitis, plugged ducts, or flaky milk at some point—but what if you feel something hard inside the teat that doesn’t seem to be attached to anything? … Read More
When most people think of goats, they think of dairy goats supplying fresh milk, cheese, and soap. But a growing number of homesteaders are raising goats for a different reason: meat. Goat meat (called chevon or cabrito, depending on the … Read More
The Hamburg chicken is a popular breed of domestic chicken that is known for its unique appearance and personality. These birds are small, agile, and active, with a distinctive V-shaped comb and a sleek, glossy coat of feathers. They are … Read More
Sometimes even an experienced mama goat can suddenly reject her kid a few days or even weeks after birth — often due to stress, scent confusion, or disruption in their bonding. If your doe is headbutting, pulling the kid away, … Read More
Has your goat’s due date come and gone with no signs of labor? It’s a common worry for goat owners! After 23 years of raising goats, I’ve learned to trust my goats more than the calendar. I’m going to explain … Read More
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you raise animals, make cheese, sell goat milk soap, or run a farm stand, you know this truth better than most: running a farm business means wearing a lot of … Read More
When dealing with parasites in goats, one of the most frustrating scenarios is when a dewormer seems to fail. Before we dive into the reasons behind this, it’s essential to understand the basics of deworming and the common misconceptions surrounding … Read More
Raising backyard chickens is incredibly rewarding, but it also comes with a steep learning curve—especially when you’re just getting started. Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of beginners make the same well-intentioned mistakes, and many of them can be … Read More
Episode 156For the Love of Goats What happens when a medical career ends—but a passion for something totally different begins? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Kandice Marchant, a retired physician who traded her lab coat for a … Read More
Episode 155For the Love of Goats Goat polio is a serious and often misunderstood condition—frequently mistaken for other neurological diseases like listeriosis, meningeal worm, or even rabies. In this episode, Deborah Niemann is joined by Dr. Melissa Holahan, a small … Read More
Thrifty Homesteader was created in 2012 after the publication of my second book, Ecothrifty. The name was coined by one of my followers because I said that I didn’t want anyone to think that they had to be rich to homestead or live a greener life....
