Homestead Living and Livestock

Raising and Butchering Broiler Chickens at Home

By Sheryl Campbell

A step-by-step process to raising your own broiler chickens in your backyard. Learn how to butcher your own fresh chickens to ensure that you are eating healthy meat.

Sticking Points

By Bruce McElmurray

Sometimes tasks on a homestead pile up and the stress to accomplish them becomes overwhelming.

Raising Sheep for Excellent-Quality Wool, Part 2: Proper Skirting and Shearing

By Kat Ludlam, Willow Creek Farm

Creating excellent roving, yarn, and other wool products starts in the field with the sheep. Handling your fleece properly after you have removed it from the sheep will result in a much better quality of wool, set your fleece apart from the rest, and increase your profits.

Essential Oils: Helping Your Birds Live Their Best Lives

While there is still skepticism around the use of essential oils and more research to be conducted, some poultry farmers have integrated essential oils and other natural ingredients into their birds’ diets to promote flock health.

Dear Mother: Remembering Loyd Bruce Holman

Letters from Our Readers

Read letters submitted from readers about a cartoonist, waterfowl, chair care, hops yeast, Japanese beetles, and more!

Root Cellar In a Box

By Rory Groves, The Grovestead Farm

No root cellar? No problem. This small-scale and simple approach will preserve your harvest through the winter.

Raising Sheep for Excellent Quality Wool, Part 1: Selective Breeding and Feeding

By Kat Ludlam, Willow Creek Farm

Breeding, feeding, and caring for your sheep properly will result in a much better quality of wool, set your fleece apart from the rest, and increase your profits.

Putting Pigs and Chickens to Work Clearing Land

By Jo deVries

The clay-based lowland is heavy with nutrients and water, and plants and trees grow incredibly fast. Having the pigs is a huge benefit for me and offers them a great quality of life.