Looking for something a little different than the typical barnyard chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese? You may be surprised at the usefulness and marketing potential of some of these unusual birds. Guineas Guineas are the watchdogs of the poultry world. Their loud shrieks and repetitive calls can serve to warn less alert chickens or even goats of predators. Not all guineas get along with … Continue reading 6 Unique Types of Exotic Poultry
The varied livestock breeds of the world have fascinating histories and characteristics. Many country living enthusiasts have spent enjoyable hours researching their favorite breeds. One good source of information is the Breeds of Livestock site put together by Oklahoma State University. This is a handy online encyclopedia-type reference packed with facts about both popular and rare livestock breeds: Cattle. Goats. Horses. Sheep. Swine. Poultry. Exotic … Continue reading Breeds of Livestock
Thinking about raising livestock this year? Do you have a watering system planned? If not, or if you want to improve an existing system, this is one book you must read: Waterers and Watering Systems: A Handbook for Livestock Producers and Landowners from K-State. This free PDF download is packed with pros, cons, and design considerations for a number of water sources, power sources, and … Continue reading Waterers and Watering Systems
We all know that sheep are raised for wool. But sheep are not the limit when it comes to producing fiber. Some of the alternative fibers you have probably heard of, such as cashmere and angora wool. Others may come as a bit of a surprise…. Bison Bison hair can be difficult to work with, but those who have taken the time and trouble … Continue reading 7 Unique Fiber Animals
More than one utopian dreamer has chosen Kansas as the place to found his grand experiment. A list of state ghost towns would be full of communities founded on some form of idealism—Victoria, the Vegetarian Colony, Silkville…. Silkville? Yes. One of those little towns started out with silk farming as its principal industry. This experiment began around 1869 along Old Highway 50, about 3 miles … Continue reading Silkville: A Utopian Experiment
Llamas and alpacas look strikingly similar. Perhaps that’s why they are classified in the same family: camelids, a group of camel-like mammals. Furthermore, they can both be raised for fiber and they both come from South America. They can even breed with each other and produce fertile offspring. So how do you tell the difference between the two if you aren’t familiar with camelids? The … Continue reading What is the Difference Between a Llama and an Alpaca?
Guineas are bizarre birds, no question. They have blue faces and bony knobs on the tops of their heads, and they make an incredible amount of noise. It is nearly impossible to talk over as few as three guineas all squeaking and chattering at once. That said, they can be great helpers in the garden or field as they patrol for insects. Guineas have a … Continue reading Getting Started with Guineas
Both internal and external parasites can be the bane of a livestock owner’s existence. They make your animals’ lives miserable, increase the risk of disease, reduce performance, and just look nasty. Unfortunately, drugs are proving to be increasingly ineffective as parasites adapt to modern chemicals. Isn’t there some natural remedy out there that will consistently work to eliminate parasites? There is! This natural marvel is … Continue reading Diatomaceous Earth and Parasite Control
