Discover what you can feed tadpoles at different stages of development with these easy recipes for tadpole food perfect for raising tadpoles this spring.
If you’re new to raising sheep, knowing what to feed them can be downright formidable. Here we share tips on everything from feeding sheep to cutting costs.
Wondering what to feed geese? Here are beneficial tips to what geese eat. Select the best feed and treat options for this breed of waterfowl.
Learning how to raise pigs for meat is great for any homestead or farm wanting to become more self-sustainable. Here are 12 tips for success!
Feeding & raising backyard chickens is easy, but you need to know which foods NOT to feed chickens. After you learn what they can’t eat, we’ll learn the best way you can resourcefully dispose of them.
Raising ducklings is much easier than raising chicks! Ducklings require a few simple items, a waterer and feed to thrive, and duck brooder with heat.
Although chickens are omnivores, there are some surprising things chickens cannot eat which you should be aware of, as it can kill them.
Vorwerk chickens are a rare, dual-purpose breed that originated in Germany. It was named after its breeder, Oskar Vorwerk. Vorwerk ... Read more
You can make your own animal feeds for your goats, rabbits, or chickens! You can also supplement your purchased feeds for more nutrition!
Learn to feed young turkeys a healthy diet that supports their rapid growth, according to these authentic 1800's instructions!
Many farmers are cutting feed costs by sprouting barley fodder. Growing barley fodder is also a great way to increase nutrition intake.
If you are raising livestock, it is possible to grow your own animal feed. How to grow feed for pigs, chickens, goats, sheep and cows.
How to raise Guinea keets. Raising guinea fowl from keets is a little different then raising chicks but it's not difficult if you know what to do!
Wondering what to feed geese? Here are beneficial tips to what geese eat. Select the best feed and treat options for this breed of waterfowl.
With food shortages looming and the modern supply chain becoming more unreliable, people are looking for ways to provide their families with fresh, healthy
I decided to give the chickens a rest in today's post and talk about the rabbits instead. After building them their own diy rabbit hutch, they seem to be happier these days. We have been feeding them mostly organic green stuff but the other day I discovered this homemade organic rabbit feed recipe. The advantage
Are you wondering what to feed squirrels in backyard? We have several squirrels around our house so we wondered what would be good to feed them. In this article, I’ll share what to feed squirrels
Chickens at different stages of development require different feed formulations. Poultry nutritionists formulate feed to ensure that chickens get all the nu ...
Table of Contents Introduction – What Do You Feed Goats?How a Goat Digestive System WorksGoats Favorite FoodWhat to Feed GoatsSupplementsQuick Start Goat Feeding GuideGoat Feeding ScheduleNutritional RequirementsBottle Feeding Baby GoatsFeeding EquipmentGoat Feeding Guidelines and Goat Parasite ControlWhat NOT to Feed GoatsRecognizing and Treating Goat Digestive ProblemsQuick-Start Goat Feeding Guide Introduction – What Do You Feed Goats? What to feed goats? You probably know the old story that goats will eat anything. Cartoons depict them eating tin cans, and there are even songs about goats eating peoples’ shirts. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Goats are very picky eaters, only going for whatever is the most nutritious option. If you put some generic, low nutrition feed in their feeders, they’ll simply play with it. Why do they grab at your shirt when you go into the goat pen? They’re not trying to eat it. It’s because they’re curious, playful creatures. If you see a goat with a tin can, he’s probably trying to get something tasty out of it, or possibly eating off the paper label, not eating the can itself. So, how do you avoid buying something that your goats won’t eat? How do you know what to feed goats? Answer: By understanding how their digestive system works, how they eat, and what works best. After studying this article, you will be able to do the following: Tell someone the key foods and minerals goats need to stay healthy Know what to feed goats Know when and how much to feed your goats Recognize common goat digestive problems and know how to treat them. So, let’s get started. How a Goat Digestive System Works Goats are ruminants – animals with a 4-compartment stomach. Other ruminants include cattle, deer and sheep. The 4 parts in a goat’s stomach are the reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum, or the “true stomach”. Understanding how these work can help you better understand what to feed goats. When they eat, food first goes through microbial digestion in the reticulum and rumen. Then, it goes through an acidic breakdown in the abomasum. Finally, it undergoes enzomatic digestion and absorption in the intestines. Interestingly, when a goat is first born, it has 3 stomach compartments. This is so they can absorb the antibodies in colostrum and develop the microbes and bacteria needed for digestion. They then develop the 4th part when they start eating high-fiber foods. There are a lot of benefits to a ruminant’s complex digestive system. The microbial digestion makes it possible for them to eat a high-fiber diet and digest grass, hay, leaves, etc. They can also eat bark, weeds and woody plants that cattle and sheep can’t. This is because the bacteria in their rumen detoxifies anything that isn’t nutritious and even helps to detoxify some poisons. In that way, they’re able to eat small amounts of what are ordinarily poisonous plants. When you were wondering what to feed goats, you probably didn’t realize it could include poison ivy, did you? Not only are they semi-poison-resistant, goats are resistant to bloat. They can even safely graze alfalfa after an adaptation period to get them used to it. The bacteria also utilizes and absorbs all of the B vitamins that they need, which is something that’s hard to do, even for humans. You’re probably wondering how they get their protein if they eat an extremely high-fiber diet. The short answer is: not from what they eat. The bacteria in their stomachs convert nitrogen into protein, which is a handy feature to have considering they don’t naturally eat much protein on their own. Now that you understand a little about a goat’s digestive system, let’s look at what to feed goats if you want to give them their favorite and healthiest foods. Goats Favorite Food Browsing vs. Grazing There are two basic types of herbivore eating styles: grazing and browsing. Goats are browsers, which means that they eat leaves, bark, green stems, buds, vines and shrubs. They eat parts of plants, rather than eating the whole plant itself. A browser’s food tends to be easier to digest, and it’s generally higher in nutritional content. The reason for this is that browsers are picky. Instead of eating huge clumps of leaves all at once, they pick the tastiest, best-looking ones. Grazers eat mostly grass. They eat the entire plant, usually down to the ground or very close to it. They have wide muzzles so that they can pick up and eat large clumps at once. Grazing can be hard on the animal’s teeth. Not only is grass tough, but in order to get the grass, they tend to get dirt and grit in their mouths, which wears down their teeth. So, if you’re wondering what to feed goats that will be the healthiest, then browse is the ticket. Avoiding Worms Conventional pasture rotation ensures that your goats will constantly be moved to areas that have food high in nutritional value. Typically, pasture rotation takes place every 30 days or so. However, this is also the same amount of time needed for parasites to become the most infectious. So, while you’re moving your animals to more nutritious food, you may be moving them to parasite infested areas, as well. Here are some tips on how to avoid worms with pasture techniques. Graze a contaminated pasture with another species of livestock. Goat parasites don’t survive in the guts of other herbivores. (Except sheep. Don’t try this method with sheep. They can share and spread parasites with goats.) Use a first-grazer, second-grazer system. If other herbivores graze the pasture first, there won’t be parasites there that goats can contract. If you have a lot of land versus a small number of goats, let them browse the large pasture. They’ll forage from plants that are higher off the ground and therefore they’ll be less likely to pick parasites up from the ground. Use control grazing. Control grazing allows your goats to graze for a limited time. Then,......
Homemade goat feed saves you money and provides a healthy, nutritious meal for your goats. We provide 3 easy DIY goat feed recipes for you and your goats!
How to raise friendly ducks, that actually like to be held! It's easy to raise friendly ducks that enjoy spending time with you if you follow these 6 tips!
Here's everything you need to know about feeding goats: what do goats eat, best snacks or treats, what NOT to feed them, and how to nourish your goat.
Feeding chickens can be expensive, especially when you buy organic or non-GMO feed. Learn what chickens eat naturally to help save on your feed bill. With a little planning and creativity, raising chickens doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Like us, you may have realized that the cost of chicken feed is
Want to know how to raise a pig for meat? Raising and butchering pigs for your freezer can save money. How long to raise a pig to slaughter.
If you have a large flock, non-GMO chicken layer feed can cost a pretty penny. Here's how to make your own 16% protein feed.
Learn how to make fermented chicken feed as an easy and economical way to feed your homestead flock a nutritious diet!
Each year on April 10th, National Farm Animals Day focuses attention of the humane care of farm animals. The day also aims to find homes for abandoned and abused farm animals.
With all the uncertainty these days you should be making your own homemade farm animal feed. Mix the same grains for all the farm animals.
Can chickens eat a scoby? Of course! My flock of chickens love the scoby from my kombucha brew, It's good for them and contains a ton of probiotics along with protein and fiber. Don't waste your scobys, turn them into chicken feed!
A good feeding regimen can boost your chickens ability to lay eggs, and beef up their bodies for meat. Here's how much to feed chickens per day!
Do you have a mother who has rejected her kids? Learn how to bottle feed a goat and still have healthy and thriving babies!
Do you have an orphan lamb on your hands? Not sure what to do next? Here are some tips for how to bottle feed a lamb successfully.
If you've ever tried introducing chicks to a broody hen, you know it can be difficult. If you've never done it, read on to find out how and what NOT to do.
Milkweed Stem Cuttings are the 'Just Right Goldilocks Option' for Feeding Hungry Monarch Caterpillars. The Why and the How to feed them...
Raising meat rabbits is a big decision for many homesteaders. Discover heritage meat rabbit breeds, and whether raising rabbits is the worth the time & money.
Is your feed cost is out of control? Do you want to decrease your chicken feed bill to save money? Here is how to cut your chicken feed cost in half!
How to get started raising rabbits for beginners. Your go-to and comprehensive guide that will get you started out right.
