We are adding meat rabbits to our backyard farming operation. What do these animals eat? Rabbits are easy and inexpensive to feed. As herbivores and grazers, they eat continuously. Rabbits, however, have sensitive stomachs and require a varied, high-fiber diet. …
I know that cattle are ruminants. What does this mean and what types of feed and nutrients do cattle need to keep them healthy? As ruminant animals, cattle have four compartments in their stomach, with the rumen the largest. The…
A friend told me that pigs are very smart. Is that true? Your question receives a resounding YES! Pigs are the fifth most intelligent animal on earth and are smarter and more trainable than a dog. A baby pig can…
We want to raise meat chickens on our small farm. What breeds are best and what advantages do the various breeds offer? Any healthy chicken may be raised for meat. But some breeds, known as broilers, are specifically developed for…
Our livestock guardian dog (LGD), a Great Pyrenees, keeps our goats safe from coyotes and other predators. The challenge is feeding the dog because the goats and raccoons like to eat his feed. How can we ensure our dog is…
Our neighbor, who breeds sheep, recommends “flushing” our ewes before we breed them. What is “flushing” and what are the benefits? Flushing is the process of increasing a ewe’s nutrition before and during the first few weeks of the breeding…
We have an 18-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that we do not ride as often as in the past. Yet, our horse has dropped weight and his coat lacks its usual luster. Is it time to switch him to a senior…
Many opinions exist as to how often horses should be dewormed. What do you recommend? Horse owners for many years dewormed horses every two months. This frequency, however, resulted in tremendous parasite resistance. In addition, researchers discovered that only 20…
We hung a bird feeder with sunflower seeds in our backyard. Unfortunately, we have attracted only a few common species, such as cardinals, goldfinches and sparrows. How can we attract more birds? You are off to a great start with…
