You’re probably well aware that chickens will safely stay locked up inside the coop all night now without the need to drink water. But what about ducks? We often associate ducks with water, so one might wonder whether they need drinking water during that time. Yes, ducklings do need access to food and water at … Read more
Needle felting is a completely no-tech and super low cost crafting “habit.” I opted against using the word hobby to describe needle felting, because once you pick up a piece of wool and the proper needle, it is almost impossible not to get hooked. I discovered needle felting accidentally when browsing Pinterest and ETSY for … Read more
Pumpkin spice and cinnamon soap not only smells as delicious as homemade pumpkin pie, but adds a bit of seasonal flourish to soap dishes in the kitchen and bath. The natural ingredients used to make the soap help nourish the skin, leaving it both looking and feeling fresh. Goat’s milk melt and pour soap bases … Read more
Pineapple weed plants are often a beautiful little overlooked “weed.” While they look a lot like their cousins, chamomile, a little whiff of a pineapple weed head crushed between your fingers rapidly allows you to properly identify this wild edible. The pineapple weed plant (Matricaria discoidea) somewhat also resembles mayweed (A. Cotula), but unlike the … Read more
Could there be a plant that may not only help keep your skin, teeth, bones, fingernails, and hair healthy, but also aid in repairing those parts of the body? For centuries, herbalists have been using the horsetail plant in remedies designed to address those issues and many more. The horsetail plant (Equisetum hyemale in particular) … Read more
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove soap creates a lustrous lather, and leaves an amazing scent on the skin. Soap made from a Melt and Pour (MP) base cannot be entirely customized since lye and the other base ingredients have already been combined and the saponification process has completed. But, you can still stir in desired additives … Read more
Chickens are at the mercy of a number of common pests and parasites. The impact these unwanted tiny critters have on chickens ranges broadly from mildly irritating to a severe and painful death. The good news is, preventing or treating chicken parasites can be accomplished naturally and incredibly inexpensively – as soon as you learn … Read more
Ducks have a language all their own. Learning how to interpret both the sounds they make and their behavior can provide keepers with a keen insight into how the ducks feel, what they need, and if predators are lurking about. The verbal language ducks use can vary widely by breed among both domesticated and wild … Read more
Learning the sex of ducklings can be a puzzling yet interesting endeavor. All of the cute little baby ducks in your brooder or incubator might look and sound identical at first glance, but there are slight yet distinct differences between the future drakes and hens. Duck Sexing Quick Comparison Table Feature Female Ducks Male Ducks … Read more
Coloring homemade soap with mica powder is a quick and simple way to create a vibrant colored soap naturally. Using mica powder to make bold or pastel hues in homemade soap also allows the maker to match the color of the bar to the scented ingredients, season, or holiday celebration. You can use mica powders … Read more
Cooking oil is a pantry staple that has far more uses than just frying up some delicious fried chicken. Both the versatility and long-shelf life of cooking oil make it a fantastic multi-use item for preppers and frugal homesteading folks alike. Pouring cooking oil down the drain can cause clogging either quickly or over time. … Read more
Feeding ducks should involve not only the use of commercially manufactured feed, but fresh greens, vegetables, and foraged protein from insects and tadpoles. Ducks are incredibly economical to feed while maintaining proper nutrition levels, especially if the flock is permitted to free range. Ducks, like chickens, are omnivores. They will avidly consume protein foraged while … Read more
Ancona ducks are both rare and beautiful poultry birds. These black and white domesticated ducks have unique and broken-colored feathering patterns that make them both easy to identify and engaging to watch. Ducks of this breed are classified as multi-purpose or dual-purpose because they are raised for eggs as well as meat. The beauty and … Read more
Raising ducks is practical as well as entertaining. Not only will ducks produce more eggs than chickens annually, but duck eggs are significantly larger. Duck hens lay well into their sixth to even ninth year of life – making them perhaps the most sustainable small livestock one could keep on a homestead for egg production. … Read more
Quiet books, whether the no-sew versions or sewn/embroidered books, are educational and interactive toys that are geared toward toddlers through kindergarten-age children. They first popped up in the hands of young children sitting in church pews. Homemade quiet books kept the children engaged and quiet when required to sit still for long periods of time … Read more
Farm-fresh duck eggs are creamy, and delicious, and are typically more durable than the thinner eggs laid by chicken hens. Raising ducks for eggs is not any more time-consuming or difficult than raising chickens for the same purpose. In fact, I truly believe it is actually easier to raise ducks for eggs – or even … Read more