If these large birds intrigue you, hear from a long-time emu breeder Alexandra Douglas about how to navigate raising them. All photos by author. There has been a growing popularity with emus over the last few years. Although the main uses for emus are for meat, eggs, and egg art, many are considering emus as […]

Inexpensive, easy-to-build chicken coops Once you get caught up in the idea of having chickens, it’s easy to find yourself spending more on them and the coop then you ever thought you would. For many people chickens are a hobby as well as pets with benefits: I’m thinking of my wife and me. We spent […]

Small flocks have always been at the forefront of grassroots local production. During the COVID-19 pandemic, small producers proved that they’re an important part of continuity and resilience. The coronavirus shelter-in-place exposed issues of how American food production works – or doesn’t. Local sources became more important for putting food on the table. Community-supported agriculture […]

These frozen yogurt treats are easy to make and they are a fun, healthy treat for your chickens on a hot summer day! During the warm summer, we all enjoy a nice cold treat! Frozen yogurt (aka “froyo”) is one of my favorite healthy treats to have on a hot day! But it wasn’t until […]

On the rural southwest Virginia road where my wife, Elaine, and I live, a number of folks raise chickens. Understandably, then, it’s common for us to exchange information on how our respective flocks are doing. So, several months ago, I wasn’t surprised to receive a frantic call from a neighbor that “some hawk is eating […]

Every day of my apprenticeship begins with tending the chickens at the farm. I grab a couple bags of feed and head out to the pasture, my cheeks tingling with the cool, crisp air; my boots drenched with dew. As the golden morning light slowly cascades over the wet grass, I greet our flocks of […]

Want an easy (and free) way to feed your hens? Have you heard of black soldier fly larvae? Not sure what the big deal is? In this article, I’ll show you how we raise these insects on our farm – and why they’re such a valuable food source for your flock. You’ll also get our […]

Why keep guineas? After all, they’re so strange-looking that one of the men who delivered our dishwasher refused to get out of the truck. His partner had to lug the appliance in on his own, clasped in brawny arms, while glancing nervously over his shoulder. He admitted that they both were city guys, so any […]

Rotational grazing is a common practice in sustainable, large-acreage farming. The basic idea behind it is that, if farmers keep their animals moving to different grazing areas rather than permanently confined to a single paddock, they can maintain well-vegetated areas and healthier animals. Generally, this is done with succession of animals, each performing useful tasks […]

 Incubating and hatching your own quail is rewarding for you and your family. (All photos by author.) Hatching Japanese Coturnix quail can be a delightful experience.  Despite their diminutive size and tiny cheeps on hatching day, quail chicks are resilient and grow very quickly.  Incubation requirements for quail are a little different than those for […]