How to make a chicken waterer with poultry water nipples

How to make a chicken waterer with poultry water nipples

Tired of dirty poop filled icky water for your chickens? I know I was. A good solution is to make a waterer using poultry water nipples. And here's how...

Fermented Chicken Feed

Fermented Chicken Feed

Lacto-Fermentation is a way of preserving and enhancing foods through lactic acid. It's been around way before we've had ways to chill our food, can with high heat or use of artificial preservatives. Examples of  lacto-fermented foods we eat: yogurt, sauerkraut, fermented pickles...etc.

Benefits of fermenting chicken feed:

• Increases digestibility
• Preserves vitamins AND creates new vitamins. Specifically B vitamins (B1, B3, B12, B9)
• Contains numerous helpful enzymes, antibiotic & anti carcinogenic substances
• Promotes growth of healthy flora through intestines
• Removes phytic acid (anti nutrient in grains that binds up minerals and prevents those minerals from being absorbed in the digestive system), thus allowing more minerals to be absorbed.
• Increases egg weight and shell thickness
• Reduces feed consumption = less feed = saves $$
• Less chicken waste & what does come out is more solid and not as smelly
• Increases growth rate (If you're raising meat chickens this is exactly what you want)

Growing Black Oil Sunflower Seed Sprouts for Chickens

Growing Black Oil Sunflower Seed Sprouts for Chickens

A happy chicken makes a happy me!

What makes a chicken happy? Treats for one thing! 

Homemade Dog Food

Homemade Dog Food

As I get more into the homesteading lifestyle I find more and more things to make instead of buy. We have 2 little chihuahuas, Gus and Felicity, whom I adore so much!

I want my little pups to live a happy and healthy life. So I'm opting to start making their dog food.

Canning Soup

I love to cook. However, I have a tendency to cook large portions and usually it's only the two of us eating. This time I made turkey vegetable soup. So, what to do with left over soup? Can it!

Supplies:
-Pressure cooker (with a 10 pound pressure regulator)
-Ladle 
-Funnel
-Jar lifter
-Magnetic Canning lid wand
-Canning bubble popper & measurer
-Jars (rinsed and warmed)
-Lids
-Rings

How to clip a chicken's wings

Clipping a chicken's wings prevents it from flying out of its pen. It is a simple and pain-free process. It can be done by one person, but it's easier with two (one to hold the chicken and the other to clip the wing. In this instance, I both held the chicken and clipped the wings because I needed a camera person.)

Supplies: Scissors

First (and most fun), catch the chicken.

Once you have the chicken in your arms, spread it's wing.

Garden Planning

It's cold and snowy out. This is the time of year that I long for it to be spring so that I can start my garden. Now don't get me wrong, I love Christmas. It's the rest of winter I dislike. Since I can't make time go faster, I spend this time planning out my garden instead. This year we're going to make raised beds (and lots of them because I can and preserve a lot) and being the huge nerd I am (I've been told it's "cute" but I know it's totally dorky but efficient), I made actual plans: