Fall means it’s time to breed goats and sheep. Although it’s a totally natural process, there are usually some surprises for new owners experiencing their first breeding season. So, here are five tips for breeding goats and sheep with success. … Read More
Fall is the time when goat, sheep and camelid owners start to see problems with meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis). Unlike intestinal worms, which go to work in an animal’s stomach or intestines as soon as it is ingested by the … Read More
Before we moved to our farm, I always knew that we’d collect rainwater for our livestock. When visiting my grandparent’s farm and my uncle’s ranch as a child, I recalled they had downspouts that flowed into water troughs. So, when … Read More
By Leslie Johnson The ancestors of the American Karakul surpassed all other sheep in terms of their contribution to mankind. One of the oldest sheep breeds in the world, Karakul Persian lambskins were enormously valued by royalty for their distinct and … Read More
By Lucienne Brown Dorset Horn sheep were bred and developed in England. This is the only breed of English origin that can breed out of season. Easily identified by the all-white bodies, legs, and faces, the ewes carry a set … Read More
If you know me at all, you know I’m a huge fan of home remedies. I remember my mother using baking soda for indigestion, and at the end of a long day, I love taking a bath with epsom salt … Read More
By Ellen Baize Homesteaders who choose Shetland sheep will find this friendly, hearty, versatile breed the perfect fit for the farm of their dreams. Their easy to handle smaller size, lovely variety of natural colors, and spectrum of usefulness help … Read More
Episode 10For the Love of Goats If you own goats, you only get one chance to get fencing right. One of the first things I learned about goats was that they were too smart for me to use a … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … 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....
