Keeping chickens during the cold winter months can be challenging. Do you start to wonder how cold it is too cold for chickens? What to feed chickens in winter? All valid questions that cause more stress than needs to be. We live in Upstate New York, smack in the middle of two great lakes if …
Build a barn and I’ll fill it! We have had a handful of new animals to our homestead and I thought it would be fun to give you a little bit of an update. Recently I stepped back and took in the little farm life we are creating. It’s always been a dream. What started …
Are you wondering if it is possible to hold a baby mini pig without squealing? The answer is yes. It won’t happen the first couple times you pick your baby mini pig up, but with the right technique and training it can be done. Your baby mini pig won’t stay small for long so it …
It happens. You buy new chicks, and you buy MORE new chicks every spring. With all the new animals coming to your homestead, it takes a little time. Everyone has their routine and space they call their own, and when a newcomer shows up, things can get a little crazy. When we were new chicken …
The beauty of a 100 year old barn comes with a sadness, one day it will fall down. Our Chickens couldn’t stay in this coop for long. It was only a matter of time before the flock needed a new home. The thing about old barns is they shift and sway and can tip a …
Learning how to put a harness on your mini pig will allow you to be in control of your pig when you take it for walks, bring to the vet etc. I’ve had mini pigs for three years and absolutely love using a harness on each pig. You can scroll down and watch the video …
Free-ranging your chickens may be a concern when you think about any type of garden area you have. Or better yet keeping chickens off the porch is a whole new idea. They love to scratch up dirt! Especially if you are just planting seeds they will destroy them. For us, I always loved the idea …
There’s nothing more enjoyable than heading out to the chicken coop and bringing back some fresh eggs. Sizzling them up on the frying pan with bacon and toast. What about when you grab those chicken eggs bring them in and realize you can’t just crack it open without, well what exactly is all over the …
You walk into the coop, and your sweet hen is sitting in the nesting box. So you walk away and let her do her thing in private- since the ladies love their privacy. You come back, and she’s still sitting there. You come back to tuck them into bed for the night, and she’s still …
Are cute hens at Tractor Supply begging you to bring them home? Are you wondering if you should keep a Rooster with your hens? If you don’t realize the power of a rooster’s job you won’t understand the scenario of when you need one. Let’s go over when you need a Rooster and if your …
Are you starting to build your own chicken coop? Wondering how to prepare the ground for the chickens? We have built a couple of chicken coops with different layering. You can keep chickens on gravel with minimal prep. Raising chickens is an easy choice for first-time homesteaders. If you plan on keeping your chickens in …
Spring and or fall is a great time to add chicks to your homestead. If you are thinking about chicks and not wanting to spend a fortune, you are in the right place. My husband and I are frugal to the bone. We are even borderline cheapskates. We started raising chickens when we lived across …
Today I wanted to share a quick video with you and show you what we are up to on this frugal homestead! We decided to build a chicken coop in our new barn for our next batch of chicks. Every spring the itch for new birds takes over doesn’t it? I will update this post …
Can backyard chickens stay in a coop all day? What if you need to leave for a day or two? How long can chickens go without water? The tips below will help you plan your vacation while caring for your chickens. I started with six Rhode Island Red chickens when we lived across from Walmart. …
Is your sick pig showing Dippity symptoms? Pig can’t stand up? Does miniature pig keep walking backward? Dippity pig syndrome shows up between 4 months and up to 4 years even. Is there something oozing out of their back? Your mini pig probably has Dippity. The first time my mini pig Bentley got Dippity I …
Are you wondering what NOT to feed your pig? I love my mini pigs and didn’t know any pig feeding tips. I tried feeding Mazuri Mini Pig food to our pig Olive, but the result was dehydrated skin. Here is what I feed my mini pigs now, and it’s working even better. Food choices can …
Ever wonder what do pigs love to do? Would you be entertained seeing your mini pig doing some of these things? I bet your mini pig probably loves all of these things just like mine does! Swim I wasn’t quite sure if pigs would really swim. Then, I saw the cute little memes all over …
“Did you get the eggs today?” My husband asked. I was a little nervous to tell him yes, even though our egg basket looked bare. It was up to me to figure out what was going on with the ladies. Winter time seems to be the most common season our hens slow down egg production. …
Are you considering keeping your pig outside all the time? Ready to give up the stress of having your mini pig tear up your cabinets and what not? Here is how you can transition your pig to outdoor living. It was time. I didn’t want it to be but I was torn with an overnight …
Are you ready to raise and butcher your own chickens? Wondering how do you go about gutting a chicken? Today my husband and I are sharing a step-by-step guide to help you butcher your bird. When you process your own chickens, you will save money. Growing your own chickens isn’t any cheaper than buying store-bought, …
Oh my goodness, if you have a small mini pig, or even a full grown up, so many pig parents LOVE dressing them up for Halloween. Although I didn’t get in on the Halloween costume when we brought home our first piglet, I did put a Christmas one on him! Here is a group of …
If you have a pet pig, specifically a pet potbelly mini pig you know they love their blankets. Whether they live in your house or out in a barn, they love blankets. I made the mistake of giving Bently any extra blanket I had. After a long winter or hours stuck in his room, he …
Whether you free range your birds or pasture raise as we do, predators are out there and with these tried and true tips, you’ll have better protection for chickens. When we lived in the city across from Walmart, we had six hens in a small chicken coop. It is two stories, and the bottom was …
We live in Western New York, and our winters can be brutal. I hope we have a mild winter this year, but last year, I transitioned my first little piggie outside at the end of February, and we ended up having snow THROUGH APRIL! It was a long winter. I learned about that tricky time …
