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

One of the greatest joys about owning poultry and bird watching is spotting all the different kinds and colors of birds that are out there. Truly, they come in every color of the rainbow, but if there’s one color that gets overlooked more often than not, I would say it has to be brown. I know that’s certainly the case when it comes to ducks! Compared to the scintillating blue-green of the Cayuga or the knockout, gorgeous riot of colors that is the Mandarin, brown ducks seem to get ignored. And I think that’s a shame because some of these brown beauties are among the most elegant, intriguing, a ..read more

When it comes to keeping poultry, ducks have advantages all their own. And although you won’t see as many domestic breeds as you will with chickens, there’s still a huge variety out there to consider. Some of the coolest ducks around are those with long necks. Chocolate and White Muscovy Drake These long-necked birds have a graceful, swan-like appearance, but it isn’t just there for our enjoyment; the long necks serve a very utilitarian purpose by allowing these ducks to reach food on the bottom of a body of water, or scoop mud out of the way looking for the same. Keep reading, and I’ll tell y ..read more

Generators are indispensable around the homestead. If you don’t have one, you need one, and it’s only a matter of time until you have to have it. You can take that to the bank. But if you don’t know the ins and outs of generators, it can be really confusing to figure out what size you need. generator inside concrete enclosure Buying too small of a unit means you’ll be left in the dark or without sufficient power when you need it most. Buying too large of a generator means you’re just wasting money and are going to go through fuel a lot quicker than you have to. How about something like a 3,500 ..read more

If you’ve been doing any research on ducks lately with the hopes of getting your own flock, you might feel a little left out if you’re anything like me. That’s because most of the info out there concerning them is oriented towards production: meat and eggs! an Indian runner and four Pekin ducks But for me and probably also for you, the appeal of owning my own flock of ducks is strictly as pets. They are just so charming and beautiful, I enjoy just having them around and taking care of them. If that’s how you feel, you’ve come to the right place. But picking a breed that is suitable for keeping ..read more

If you’re going to care for animals of your own, especially livestock in any capacity, it pays to learn about their physiology, and part of that is learning the lingo. Ducks eating sliced carrots. You can clearly see their webbed feet! For instance, looking at ducks, they don’t have jaws or beaks, they have bills. They don’t have arms, of course, they have wings. And moving down to the feet, what are they called? Do duck feet have a name? Duck feet are just called feet, but their feet are webbed, and specifically palmate in configuration with webbing between the front toes. Not much of a surpr ..read more

In many ways, goats can be ideal livestock. They aren’t too big, are surprisingly productive, affordable, and they don’t require too much land. You can easily handle a large herd of goats yourself once you know what you’re doing. But just like every other livestock species, picking the right breed counts for a lot. If you want lots of milk, look no further than the Alpine goat. These legendary dairy goats produce literally gallons of milk daily and are famously easy to handle. Keep reading, and I’ll tell you everything you need to know to get started raising them yourself. What Are Alpine Goa ..read more

Ducks have been kept as poultry for ages, and that’s a practice that continues today. In fact, many homesteaders are coming around on the advantages of ducks compared to chickens. two blue and white Muscovy hens Ducks are a little bigger, yes, but they also tend to be far healthier, more self-sufficient, and easier to care for overall, while still providing you with plenty of eggs and, of course, delicious meat when required. And like chickens, there are many different breeds out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Today we will be taking a look at the Muscovy duck, one of ..read more