Tag Archives: small livestock

Episode-2797- Using Small Livestock to Build Fertility

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Small livestock are great to have around.  They are the best way to produce protein and fat we have.  They do this with meat and eggs along with dairy in the case of things like goats.  We have talked a lot about this in the past and we will do so again in the future but today I want to start zeroing in on fertility. I am going to tell you about one of our biggest problems leading off today and yet one almost no one even bothers to consider, look at or try to solve.  That problem is we … Continue reading →

Episode-2733- The Case for Bantam Chickens

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I put out a little video yesterday about the progress of our Bantam Chickens at Nine Mile Farm.  I just love the personality of these pint sized chickens and they are coming along nicely.  Someone asked this question in the comments section… Why bantams and not full size chickens? They are small and lay small eggs. I would think that they would be best for someone with limited space? It is a totally reasonable question.  There are really two angles in it though.  One is some reality, they do lay smaller eggs and they are good for someone with limited … Continue reading →

Episode-2709- Eggs the Back Yard Protein that Fed Americans for Generations

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Yesterday I had to be in my car for a bit and so I listened to part of one of Nicole Sauce’s recent podcasts on meat chicken raising.  She covered it all from getting new chicks to butchering them.  It made me realize I have not talked about poultry recently and that hey I wanted to. Not wanting to redo the great work Nicole just did I thought, well lets talk about the other side of bird keeping, eggs.  I grew up at what I kind of like to think of as the end of the great era of back … Continue reading →

Episode-2648- Raising Meat Chickens with Shelby DeVore

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Shelby DeVore is an animal expert, avid gardener and the founder of the website Farminence. Shelby has a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Dairy science, a Master’s degree in Agriculture and Natural resources management. Before founding Farminence, Shelby taught high school agriculture courses. She has taught courses covering a wide variety of agricultural topics, including plant and soil science, hydroculture, greenhouse management, large animal science, small animal science, poultry science, natural resources management and wildlife biology. She has over 20 years of experience raising livestock and gardening. She currently lives with her husband and two (soon to be three!) children … Continue reading →

Episode-2645- Roger Rodriguez on Building a Small Animal Processing Facility

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Roger Rodriguez is from a military family having been raised on military bases around the world and the U.S. He is also a former Marine having served as an infantryman from 91 to 95. From there a real estate centered work period began involving the buying, remodeling and selling of residential properties. Currently Roger is working with a fellow TSP community member in a small animal ranch. Bountiful Acres raises poultry and rabbits and processes them onsite to sell to restaurants and the local farmers market.  He joins us today to discuss how Bountiful Acres built a processing facility in … Continue reading →

Episode-2631- A New Look at Back Yard Livestock

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Yesterday we talked about keeping a dairy cow.  Not gonna lie, just for the butter and cheese, I’d love to but it is not in the cards for me.  I am thinking about a neighbor that raises beef and wondering if some consortium of neighbors can be set up with a cow share, but that is for another day. I want to talk to you guys today about various back yard smaller livestock.  Like chickens, ducks, rabbits, quail, pigeons, turkeys and fish.  Odds are almost anyone can keep one or two of these.  I personally see it being way easier … Continue reading →

Episode-2526- Time To Plan Winter Garden and Homestead Projects

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The Summer of 2019 seemed to go on forever, September was no relief for much of the nation, it sure wasn’t here.  That said the last two nights were in the 50s and nights in the 40s are soon on the way by the end of the week.  The days are getting shorter and my morning walks result in blinding low sun angles at times.  Two days ago a pack of black birds numbering several hundred passed though my back yard.  Diamond doves has started showing up.  All of these things are signs that the seasonal wheel has turned and … Continue reading →

Episode-2473- Half Acre Homesteading – Part Two – Livestock

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Okay I am calling this series “Half Acre Homesteading” because marketing. The use of two words in a 2-3 word phrase is good at grabbing attention, think “Taco Tuesdays” or anything in that vein. You don’t need a half acre to make today’s show work for you, you can do most of this on even a postage stamp lot, many do. Likewise even if you have a lot more land, then this is what we call zone one design. Creation of a 1/20th – 1/2 acre system that you spend the majority of your activity on and hence it is … Continue reading →

Episode-2369- A New Look at the Modern Homestead

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Today is an example of why you should be following @ItsAJackLife on Instagram.  There were two possible shows today, Modern Homesteading or seed starting.  I posted a video on Instagram asking for followers to tell me what they wanted and homesteading won about 2-1.  You just never know what perks you might get if you follow and interact with us there. Anyway today we are going to once again discuss the concept of the modern homestead.  We are going to stick to properties from typical 1/4 acre suburban lots up to small acreage like say 1-5 acres and even there … Continue reading →

Episode-1977- Meat Rabbit Management with Tiffany VanderBie

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Tiffany is an owner/operator of VanderBie Farms with her husband Jesse. They have been raising meat rabbits (among goats, chickens, quail, and bees) on their farm for about 3 years now.  They take pride in their work and always strive to produce the best that they can. Today Tiffany joins us to discuss how they manage their rabbitry.  Why they got into rabbits in the fist place.  Selecting animal for breeding, processing meat animals and deciding when to cull or pass on breeders. We also discuss some awesome recipes for cooking rabbit meat.  We also talk about some new plans … Continue reading →