If you’ve ever reached into a nest box and found an oddly shaped egg or cracked one open to discover a surprise, you’re not alone. Whether you’re new to backyard chickens or have had hens for years, weird eggs are … Read More
If you’re into wholesome, homemade food, making your own yogurt is one of the most satisfying culinary projects you can take on. It’s surprisingly simple, cost-effective, and the taste? Absolutely divine! Goat milk has a naturally creamy texture, tangy-sweet flavor, … Read More
Episode 160For the Love of Goats In this episode, Deborah Niemann welcomes Anne Petersen of Rosasharn Farm—one of the longest-standing Nigerian Dwarf breeders in the U.S.—to talk about her farm’s long-running and highly successful volunteer program. What began as hosting … Read More
Someone recently asked me how they could improve the teats on their does. I told them to find a buck whose dam had the teats they wanted. Whether you’re aiming to improve teat placement, milk production, or weaning weights, your … Read More
When a baby goat suddenly dies within hours of showing signs of discomfort or swelling, one of the likely culprits is abomasal bloat—a serious and usually fatal condition that affects mostly bottle-fed kids under a month of age. Understanding what … Read More
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which help keep the lights on here at Thrifty Homesteader so we can continue to provide hundreds of free articles. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common and concerning bacterial … Read More
If you’ve ever disbudded a goat kid and later noticed what looks like a tiny horn or a hard, twisted lump growing where the horn bud was, you’ve encountered one of the most frustrating side effects of the disbudding process: … Read More
Disbudding is one of the most important — and often misunderstood — parts of raising goats, especially if you want a safer herd and fewer management headaches. Whether you’re a first-time goat owner or a seasoned breeder frustrated by persistent … Read More
Episode 159For the Love of Goats As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What do you get when two city guys buy a goat farm during the Great Recession? A global skincare brand built on goat milk—and timeless … Read More
If you’ve ever spotted a soft, squishy lump under the throat of a baby goat, you may have been alarmed — especially if you’ve heard the word “goiter” thrown around in goat circles. But in most cases, this lump is … 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....
