America’s history has long been linked with domestic animals. It is hard to imagine what our nation would have looked like in its early years without the hard-working horse and ox, let alone the backyard flocks of chickens. While many, many breeds have been important to our nation throughout the years, a few stand out […]
Goats
Two Books on Making Harness
These books may pique your interest and give you some insight into the old-fashioned art of making harness.
Draft Animals
Welcome to the world of draft animals! We are pleased to announce the release of a new book: Draft Animals: 100 Answers for Harnessing Animal Power by Michelle Lindsey. Acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to choose and purchase a draft team, and then learn to work them in the field, woodlot, or market garden. […]
5 Unconventional Draft Animals
In the United States, oxen, horses, and mules are the traditional draft animals of choice. Donkeys are also common. But all of these animals tend to be rather large. What if you have a smaller farm to work? One option is to consider a miniature horse or donkey. Another is to try something completely outside […]
A Guide to Herding by Livestock Species
The three most common types of livestock that herding dogs work with in the United States are ducks, sheep, and cattle. Other animals that are regularly herded with dogs are chickens, geese, turkeys, and goats. Some talented dogs can herd all of these species. However, many others are a little more specialized, particularly in the […]
Top 10 Reader-Favorite Books
We love curating helpful reading material for country living enthusiasts! If you are looking for a variety of useful books on everything from starting a farming enterprise to planting crops to drawing horses, we highly recommend the Homestead Bookshelf as the place to find what you’re looking for. We have collected public domain classics, modern […]
Getting Started with Livestock Part 4: Breed
Pointers and resources for choosing animal breeds that will thrive on your farm.
Getting Started With Livestock Part 3: Diet
Keeping your animals on pasture obviously has financial benefits, and you’ve probably heard of the numerous health benefits, as well. Even nonruminants like pigs and poultry can derive a great portion of their diet from the pasture, although they will need some type of supplemental feed. So how do you make it all work? Pasture […]
Getting Started with Livestock Part 2: Fencing & Facilities
There really is no one right way to fence and shelter your animals. It’s a subject that will largely depend on your individual circumstances. But it’s also a subject that must be addressed, so here goes. Fencing What type of fencing and where to put it is going to depend a great deal on what […]
Getting Started With Livestock Part 1: Water
When it comes to keeping livestock, the water supply of your land base can be a major limiting factor. Therefore, before you invest any money in farm animals, it is crucial that you take stock of your water situation first. Supply Let’s start by examining the water resources you have available: What water sources do […]