Although it is still cold, spring has been in the air on the homestead. We have been starting seeds, making maple syrup, and our rooster has been active making baby chickens. We keep a small flock of chickens for egg production. Usually we have enough eggs to avoid buying any from the store. Last year one of our hens went
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Our homestead is located in upstate New York, where the winter can drag on. By the time mid-March rolls around, we are getting the urge to start gardening. Like most people, we start seeds under grow lights. Seeing the seedlings emerge is wonderful, but it still does not allow us to get our hands in the ground. A great way
Read moreOne of the most important buildings on any homestead is the chicken coop. On our homestead we eat eggs every morning. Pound for pound the chicken coop is the undisputed champion of providing meals. Our coop is located where we can see it from our back door. So when it came time to build it we knew it had to
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Raising meat birds, specifically Cornish Crosses, can significantly enhance homesteading. After transitioning from laying hens, the authors found raising these birds rewarding due to their rapid growth and excellent feed conversion. Despite initial apprehensions about butchering, they discovered the superior taste and quality of home-raised chicken, making the effort worthwhile.
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For as long as I can remember we grew a garden. Over the years the garden grew and grew. We now garden over 4000 square feet of land. But we never really had a homestead until the day we decided to add chickens to our property.  They say that chickens are a gateway animal and that once you have chickens
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two branches homestead 