Having a reliable generator is important if you want to keep your homestead running through thick and thin. A good genny will help you keep the lights on in the aftermath of a bad storm, or take care of work far out on your property when extension cords just won’t reach. generator inside concrete enclosure But there are so many different sizes and types of generators out there that it can be downright intimidating trying to figure out how much capability you need. So, how can you know what size generator is right for you? Determining what size generator you need is a matter of analyzing your p ..read more

If you want to increase your flock size without having genetic challenges that have a negative impact on egg production, meat production, and physical appearance, you will need to know a bit about how to breed your chickens safely. group of Cornish Cross chickens inside the coop You have three choices, inbreeding, line breeding, or outbreeding. Each has its own pros and cons, and each has its own limits. As homesteaders, we really only breed our birds for two reasons: Egg production Meat production There are three ways to naturally breed chickens. I say naturally because of the large-scale c ..read more

Chickens might be taken for granted most of the time, but if you have a flock of your own you probably already know and appreciate how special and beautiful these birds really are. With plumage that can be every color of the rainbow, striking postures, and even different combs that lend each breed a unique look. A hen eating diced pumpkin flesh. Notice the classic single comb at the top of her head… And speaking of combs, you might be surprised to learn that there are many different types distributed across the more than 400 different chicken breeds on Earth. If you consider yourself a true ch ..read more

When you just get into gardening, the thrill of seeing plants grow, develop, and thrive is hard to describe. From just a tiny seed or a fragment of a cutting all the way to a mature plant, it really is something to see! But sometimes a plant will make it, other times it won’t. When they don’t, it’s usually because they didn’t get the right nutrition! All plants need the same basic nutrients in the form of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but for seasoned gardeners, the trick is learning which plants need how much of a given nutrient and at what time. They’re all different, and that’s half ..read more

All livestock species have advantages and disadvantages for homesteaders. Looking at goats, they tend to be highly productive, require less room, and are a lot cheaper to buy and keep compared to larger livestock… but they also have a reputation for being frustrating to care for… at least by some folks. Part of that reputation is earned, but in my experience, it is mostly due to a lack of knowledge when it comes to raising them. I’m here to help you in that regard with a guide to raising Nigerian Dwarf goats, a petite but playful, friendly, and productive variety. Keep reading and we will get ..read more

Whether you are a homesteader who wants to live completely off the grid, or you just want to be ready for a loss of public services, a personal solar power system is a smart thing to invest in. The sun isn’t always shining, but when it is, you can always depend on it as a source of free, clean electricity. A small solar panel next to a larger one Setting up a solar array of your own is easier than you might think, but figuring out just how much power you need, and what size panels, can be a little intimidating if you’ve never done it before. Let’s look at a 200-watt panel, for instance. What c ..read more

There is hardly any image cuter and more innocent than a fluffy, fuzzy and perfectly yellow duckling. Whether it’s sitting serenely in the palm of your hand or a troop of them is diligently following their mother to water, they are so adorable it’s hard to stand it. ducklings and baby chicks sharing a brooder What you might not know is that not all ducks start out as these sweet, yellow babies. Some ducklings start out brown or various other dark shades. But if you are in love with yellow ducklings and look forward to the day that you hatch your own, keep reading because I’ll tell you about 12 ..read more

One of the biggest limiting factors when it comes to keeping livestock of any kind is space, and for some homesteaders, even when you look to a truly small species like ducks you still might not have the room they require in order to thrive and stay healthy. It can be frustrating, even heartbreaking! But if you are pressed for space you don’t have to despair; you just need a smaller duck that needs less room! And luckily there are plenty of domestic breeds out there that will fit the bill. Whether you want entertaining pets, plenty of eggs, or even meat you can still have it even if space is a ..read more

Ducks are like most other animals out here, in that the many different breeds and species have wildly different physical characteristics: color, build, weight, and of course, height. a few ducks leaving the pond But just looking at different species of birds and narrowing it down further to poultry like chickens and geese, ducks are surprisingly variable in their overall size and height. Enough so that it can make quite a difference in your experience keeping them depending on the breed that you choose! For this reason, it’s in your best interest to know exactly what you’re getting into with a ..read more

One of the best things about chickens is their versatility. They can provide us with both eggs and meat, and to that end there are many breeds that have been selectively developed to those ends. Today we have chickens that lay crazy amounts of eggs, and also huge birds that can provide us with loads of meat. But we also have chickens that can do both, even if they aren’t as good as more specialized breeds. These birds are often referred to as dual-purpose breeds, because they can give us both eggs and meat and typically in sufficient quantities to make them worth our while. These chickens are ..read more