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animals – Homesteader Depot

Homesteader Depot

Tag: animals

What is a Homestead Dog?

Dogs are great companions. Homestead dogs are more than that. They serve many functions around the farm, from taking care of predators to herding your cows. A homestead dog really does do it all and then some. Once you have one, you’ll wonder why you didn’t get a homestead dog sooner. In fact, the only better than one homestead dog is two of them. The more help that you have around the farm, the better, right?

Choose the Right Breed

It all starts with picking the right breed. A homestead dog can be a rescue mutt. After all, it all lies in the amount of training that you provide so that you can teach your pup to do the right things and be a big help around the homestead. With that said, you’ll want to look for the following breeds, or some combination thereof (if you’re going with a general mutt or rescue):

German Shepherd – There’s a reason why German Shepherds are police and rescue dogs – they are tenacious, very smart, and have serious protection instincts.

Labrador Retriever – Labs are easy to train, large enough to scare off people and keep cattle in line, and are great hunting partners.

Collie – Lassie was a Collie, so it’s hard to overlook the brains that are the main characteristic of this breed.

Any outdoor-loving, medium to large size dog will work. If you’re a big fan of watching dog shows on television, then focus on the hunting and herding groups. Those dogs possess all of the qualities that will make a good homestead dog.

They Herd Your Livestock

The classic “dogs herding your cows and cattle” image really is true. These animals will keep all of your others in line, especially if you choose a breed with natural herding instincts. (Those without can be trained, don’t worry.) You want your homestead dog to keep an eye on your livestock and understand exactly where the boundaries are so that your cattle don’t end up on someone else’s land or getting lost someplace.

They Provide Protection

Dogs are great at providing protection. If you allow yours in the house, they’ll bark at everyone who knocks on the door. This is a good thing, particularly if you live in the middle of nowhere and are wary of strangers lurking around who are up to something. Even when you’re not in the house – as long as you’re anywhere on the property – your dog will watch out for you and your family. It’s their job to take care of you in every way that they possibly can. You won’t have to worry much when your homestead dog is around.

They Hunt for Small Prey

Not only will your dog help with your livestock and protect your family, but they’ll also hunt for small prey. Those squirrels, rabbits, and foxes never stood a chance with your homestead dog around. The second something worth chasing pops up on their radar, the dog will take off after it. In the end, they’ll have chased it off or killed it, depending on whether or not they could reach the critter.

They Provide Companionship

Above all else, a homestead dog is a loyal companion. They will remain by your side, no matter what, keeping an eye on you and everyone else in your home. Your homestead dog will miss you so much when you’re away that they’ll great you the second you get home. They are lovable friends whose company you’ll enjoy. It’s hard to describe the bond between a homestead dog and their human, but believe us, it exists!

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October 26, 2019
7 Incredible Benefits to Having Cats Around Your Homestead

Do you have cats in your barn? You should. Cats are cute and fuzzy. They get along with many other types of animals (except for the ones that they prey on, of course) and are extremely independent. If you haven’t considered adding a few rescue cats to your barn, then you definitely should. Here are seven benefits to having them around.

1) They Make Great Companions

According to some historians, early cats domesticated themselves. Why? Because they figured out that humans would take care of them. They’ve been great companions ever since. Yes, cats don’t come when they’re called and they tend to do their own thing all of the time, but they crave human attention and affection. They’ll follow you around in order to get head pats and spend time making you love them. The same is true of all of the other creatures in your barn – with the exception of mice, those animals will love your cats as well. It’s just what they do.

2) They’ll Take Care of Your Rat and Mice Problem (Pest Control)

Mice cluster in barns. There are endless things for them to nibble on and plenty of corners and cubbyholes to hide out in. The only issue is that they’ll destroy things that you need, and possibly spook your horses as well. You’ll need to deal with those mice. This is where your cats come in. They’ll scare off any mice in the vicinity, and outright kill the ones that are still lurking around. Your cats will work hard in order to earn their keep and your love. Rats and mice can contaminate your food storage and spread disease. Poisoning pests can be counter-productive by inadvertently poisoning their predators like owls, trapping them can be costly and difficult. But for a cat, hunting and killing rodents is combining business with pleasure. And aside from the rodents that are killed, the smell of a cat will make any rodent think twice about setting up shop.

Related Article: Cats as Pest Control on the Homestead

3) Cats Are Endlessly Entertaining

How often do you sit and watch a cat play? They’re pretty independent, so you just need to give them something to swat at, like a piece of string, and possibly some catnip toys. They’ll entertain you and everyone else around with those two things. On top of that, if you have more than one cat, you’ll find them wrestling and playing with each other. There’s nothing with that either unless they’re actively hurting each other. (Then you’ll have to put a stop to it.)

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4) Everyone Loves Cats

Really, who doesn’t love cats? With the exception of those who are allergic to them, cats work their magic on anyone. You can’t stay mad at a cat since they’ll just look at you with their big eyes and cute whiskers. They’ll rub against your legs and start to purr, and then flop over on their sides for some head scratchings. Cats are infinitely loveable. They’ll bring together people on your homestead who have spent years disliking each other.

5) They Have Economic Benefits

There are some economic benefits to having cats around. For one, they’ll keep your pests at bay. You won’t have to hire an exterminator for creatures like mice or insects, because the cats will take care of them. This alone will make it worth having a fleet of cats around.

6) Cats Will Eat Bugs

Cats are great at catching bugs. They enjoy stalking any type of prey. As long as it’s moving, they’ll chase it. This includes flies, ants, spiders, and more. They’ll take care of just about any type of creepy crawly thing.

Suggested Video: How to Make Raw Cat Food

7) They’re Very Low Maintenance

How low maintenance are cats? The answer is simple: they’ll take care of themselves. You just have to supply a little cat food, some clean water, a litter box (or something like one, if they’re kept outdoors), and they’re happy. You won’t have to do much, other than supply a few tummy rubs now and then if your cat’s into that sort of thing.

July 31, 2019
Urban Homesteading Alternatives

You don’t need to live on a farm or even in the country in order to be a homesteader. In fact, even people who reside in the suburbs or even the city can homestead in their own ways. Homesteading generally means using the land to provide for yourself and your family in one way or another. You can get a little creative with this and find ways to make it work no matter where you live, even if all that you have is a small apartment. Here are some great suggestions that you can utilize. Build off of them and find ways to make your own urban homestead.

Set Up a Clothesline

Yes, drying clothing outdoors is a practice that many homesteaders partake in. A clothesline is easy to set up when you have a yard of any particular size, as well as a fence, post, or even tree to anchor it on. City living makes this a bit trickier, especially if you lack a yard. Thankfully, they sell retractable clotheslines that you place on a balcony. When you’re done, just roll them up. There are also devices called “airers” that are meant to do the same thing, only they stay indoors.

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Start a Garden

Gardening is an essential part of homesteading. You need to grow your own food in one way or another. Again, this all comes down to the size of your yard. Even some city dwellers may have enough land for a small garden plot. They just need to use that space wisely. Alternatively, plants can be grown on a porch, a back deck, or even an apartment balcony. If you’re truly landlocked, find a community gardening program in your area and then join it. This way, you can fulfill this general homesteading practice.

Join a Composting Program

Composting is tricky when you’re in the city. Compost bins tend to get a bit smelly, which can annoy your neighbors. With that said, there are still programs that you can join, including city-wide ones where they’ll collect your food scraps and use them to create a large batch of compost. Of course, not all cities do this, and if yours doesn’t, why not convince them to start one? Sometimes you have to take homesteading into your own hands.

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Raise Some Animals

Obviously, your animal choices are limited based on your location. Some cities allow people to keep chickens in their backyards, while others have strict laws against this practice. If you’re lucky enough to live in an urban location that allows chickens, then, by all means, build or purchase a coop and buy a few chickens to raise. You’ll get plenty of fresh eggs and will learn quite a bit from the chickens themselves, as these animals all have very interesting personalities. However, if you’re in an apartment, you obviously can’t have a chicken coop. You’re limited to cats and dogs, depending on the rules in your lease. While you can’t obtain food from them like your chickens, you still receive many of the mental benefits of raising a pet. This is a good thing.

As you can see, there are a number of things that you can do in order to be an urban homesteader. You just need to get a little creative and find ways around the problem. For example, if you live in an apartment, you can start a container garden and have a cat or two. If your city lot is large enough for a garden, then feel free to start one. There are so many options available to you if you know where to look for them.

February 28, 2019
5 Critical Tips for Proper Pet Care

Pets are awesome. There’s no other way to say it. As long as you care for them properly, they’ll show you nothing but love. This doesn’t mean that you need to spoil your pets, showering them with food, treats, and toys. Yes, you can do that, but your pets will appreciate you much more if you care for them in these five ways.

1) Spend Some Time Exercising With Your Pets

Your pets want to spend as much time with you as possible. This involves playing and exercising with them. Depending on the type of pet that you have, for example, a dog, you can take yours to the park and play fetch or even go jogging. Your dogs will appreciate going for walks, playing fetch, and burning off any extra energy. You’ll feel healthier as well since you get to exercise along with them. If your pets are of the indoor variety, then use toys that they enjoy. Your cats will get a kick out chasing a laser light on the floor or batting at some yarn. This is good for your pet’s mental and physical health.

2) Feed Your Pets Properly

You probably already know that your pet needs to be fed daily. The real question is: are you feeding him or her the right foods and in the correct amounts? If you aren’t sure which types of pet food are the best, ask your veterinarian or the employees at your local pet store for recommendations. Depending on the breed of your animal, one type of food may be much better than another. You also need to take your pet’s weight, age, and activity levels into consideration when determining how much and how often to feed him or her. You can look at the back of the pet food bag for guidelines or ask your vet.

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3) Take Your Pets to the Vet

Even the healthiest animals need to go in for regular checkups. Yours are no exception to this. Many conditions can be caught early thanks to standard vet appointments. This will help you save money in the long run since these early treatments will cost less than more extensive ones. On top of this, regular vet appointments can help your pet live a longer, healthier life. The more time you have with your pet, the better, right? We all know that pets don’t live as long as humans, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do everything you can to make your pet enjoy every moment of his lifespan.

4) Grooming Is Important

While not every pet needs to see a professional groomer, many will benefit from home grooming treatments. For example, if you have a cat, then you can brush him regularly. This will prevent dandruff and hairballs. It’s also a great way for you to bond with your cat. Dogs require a bit more maintenance. You’ll have to bathe them and clip their claws. Some types even need professional grooming in the form of haircuts. Your dog will look better and be much happier.

5) Set up A Schedule and Stick with It

Pets need schedules just as much as humans do. They need to know when they’ll be fed, as well as when it’s time to go outside (if you own a dog.) Every pet, no matter the type, will adjust to a schedule well and will begin to anticipate when things will happen. Feeding your pet at the same time every day, going for walks at a certain hour, and so on will only stabilize your pet’s life in a good way.

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July 10, 2018
What Does “Free Range” Really Mean?

With an increase in animal rights and animal cruelty awareness, the words “free range” has become a more common sight on packaging at the grocery store. It labels animal products from animals that are farmed in a way that gives them access to outdoor spaces and free access to grazing for food.

However, since there are no government regulations for the term “free range, ” the images you may have in your mind of wide open chicken yards and pastures dotted with happy cows communing with nature may not be exactly what is happening.

So, what does the term “free range” actually mean for most animals?

Free Range as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has only been applied to meat chickens. It does not actually include egg sources or other livestock like cows, turkeys or pigs.

For chickens, “free range” is defined as having access to the outdoors each day. It does not stipulate a specific amount of time, however. This lack of a more designated regulation means that chickens who spend all their lives in cramped pens with only a small hatch to the outdoors open for a few minutes daily are in the same category as chickens who roam free, only going inside at night to roost.

Essentially, the current USDA regulations mean that the chicken only needs to have a glimpse of the outdoors every day to qualify as free range. And, since the USDA regulations don’t apply to other animals or egg sources, any company can add “free range” to their packaging without risk of breaking regulations.

Look for the HFAC Certification

Fortunately, there is a way to ensure you are buying a truly “free range” product without having to visit each provider yourself. The Humane Farm Animal Care organization (HFAC) certifies farm with their own set of regulations to qualify as free range.

If a farm has received the HFAC cert, it signifies that chickens have at least two square feet per bird inside their pens and must be allowed to spend a minimum of six hours a day outdoors as weather permits.

The HFAC has even taken these principles a step further by including a “Pasture-raised” certification. To qualify for pasture-raised status, the farms are required to provide over 100 square feet PER bird. Additionally, the birds are allowed to live outdoors year-round in rotating field areas. A shelter is provided specifically to protect them from bad weather and predators, not as a way to “store” them.

Certified Organic Qualifications

Another way to ensure you are buying actual free-range products is to stick to “certified organic” products. These products are regulated by a much stricter set of regulations that includes a reasonable definition of free-range treatment.

Look at it this way. A farm claiming to have free-range eggs won’t suffer any penalties or fines if it isn’t true. However, if a farm claims to have Certified Organic eggs and are caught not adhering to those standards, they will be hit with severe penalties and fines.

Always Check the Packaging

So, now you know that even if a product is labeled “free-range” it doesn’t always mean what it should. Instead, check for the HFAC cert info or for the Certified Organic info if you want to make sure that what you are buying actually fits into the category of free range as it should.

Taking a little time to double check will help ensure you are getting the healthiest possible product for you and your family.

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January 28, 2018
Clipping Chicken’s Wings, The Easy, Painless Way (Video)

It’s a common myth that chickens can’t fly, in reality, they certainly can. In the wild, chickens are able to fly short distances, enough to get them over fences or up into trees.

If you’ve got free range chickens or chickens contained by a fence, you probably don’t want them to be practicing their hereditary skill of flying. So how can you keep them grounded, without hurting them or causing you both stress?

This video from Raising Happy Chickens shares a simple, painless way to clip chickens wings to keep them around. Enjoy!

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March 31, 2017
Making Chicken Feed: Pros and Cons (Video)

As with all things DIY, I’ve always assumed that making your own chicken feed would be healthier, and more affordable. However, I’ve been reading that while that can be true, it’s not always the case.

These homesteaders and YouTubers have been making their own chicken feed, and received a lot of questions about how to do it and how it’s been working out, so they made this video in response. They break down the pros and cons of the method they’re using, how they store it, how they’re chickens like it, and the ingredients of their feed.

It seems to me these ingredients could end up being more affordable in the long run than store-bought chicken feed, if you can buy the ingredients in bulk at a good price, but I think whether or not you could find the ingredients in bulk. Food and grain prices vary from region to region, so you’re most likely going to have to improvise and see what works for you, your region, and your chickens and needs for them.

At any rate, I always really enjoy hearing directly from other homesteaders about projects like this, so this was a very informative and useful video overall. Check it out:

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March 25, 2017
4 Things to Know About Goats Before You Get Them

Goats are fantastic homestead animals, and we write about that all the time on this site. They can produce excellent milk, help you clear brush, grass, and shrubs, and can even been great companions.

But you might have some misconceptions about goats you’re not aware of, so we thought we’d share four things you might not realize about goats. Before you purchase any, you should definitely be aware of these things, so you are not surprised when it’s not exactly like you thought!

1. Cream doesn’t separate

While the cream in cow’s milk naturally separates, providing you with more than enough rich cream to use and to make butter and buttermilk with, goat’s milk does not separate. You can still use it for lots of things, but it’s just not naturally separated. It takes quite a bit of effort to extract the cream, so you’re better off using it for something else.

2. You will be up to your knees in milk

Once goats start producing milk, you’ll have quite a lot. Definitely have a plan for how to use it, or you might find your fridge full of milk and yogurt! You can certainly make milk kefir, yogurt, and even ice cream with your goat’s milk, but that’s a lot of work and either way you might want to consider buying a second fridge or a mini-fridge to store the milk. You can always sell it too, but make sure you consider this first…

3. It’s not always legal to sell

Not every state allows the sale of raw milk for human consumption, so before you count on this, make sure to check local regulations regarding goat’s milk. It’s a great way to make some extra money, but just be sure it’s legal!

4. They are stinky

There are many ways to reduce their smell, of course, like lots of fresh bedding, well-ventilated shelter, and cleaning out their enclosure regularly. But in general, goats do just naturally smell rather strongly. Consider this when you’re planning out where to keep your goats!

Consider these four points before buying goats so you can be well-prepared to care for and utilize them properly.

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March 10, 2017