Recent content by Andrew T

We like streaming services like Netflix and Hulu. They are certainly cheaper than cable or dish. There are some great shows to watch on both streaming services. I enjoy Tiny House Nation and Stay Here.

It would be great if you can adopt from a local shelter or rescue! I have done that before. I've also had a couple of stray kitties find their way to my farm, and they were great barn cats, too.

The coronavirus has left so many feeling isolated and disconnected. I'm glad there are forums like this one on the Internet where we can connect with like-minded people in tough times.

I came into contact with stinging nettle once on a hike, and that wasn't a pleasant experience. I was itchy for hours following the initial sting. I even got a few hives from it. It all cleared up the next day, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for that plant the next time I go hiking.

Our local farmer's market has shut down for the time being. We are under a stay at home order in our state. We are promoting our business online right now and arranging to deliver our goods to customers. We think it's best to encourage social distancing right now.

Water cress, spinach, and sweet potato are other perennial vegetables. I love that I only had to plant our spinach once. It is a fantastic vegetable to have around for salads!

I know that there is one confirmed case of coronavirus in a cat and a couple of cases in dogs. People did pass the virus to their pets in these cases. So, yes, it is a zoonotic disease. At this point, experts are telling us we don't need to be overly concerned about the virus passing between...

I just saw today that Sanderson Farms is reducing the number of chickens they produce from 1.3 million per week to 1 million per week. They've sent over 400 employees home from their Georgia plant. It appears that they will keep paying these employees, at least. This is quite a reduction in...

I would get two or three roosters for 30 hens. I've read that a rooster can effectively cover 1-16 hens in his prime. When he reaches the age of three, he is already past his prime. So, I guess it depends on how old your roosters are going to be. If you get young ones, you might be able to get...

Does your sandbox currently have a cover? If not, I'd start there. Make a cover that fits snugly. You can also try sprinkling cinnamon in the sand and mixing it well. Use a lot of cinnamon, and sprinkle more in the sand regularly. A lot of bugs don't like cinnamon, so this may help deter them...

A vet should be able to determine what the cause of death was. I would start there. If a cow dies, seemingly randomly, I'd want a vet to check him/her out to make sure he/she didn't have an illness or parasite or something that could affect my other livestock.

How do you all manage your workers and their tasks throughout the day? Currently, we have a morning meeting where I go over important things that need to be done that day (in addition to the daily chores, of course). I also have a giant whiteboard I write tasks on, and my workers cross them off...

It's in the 40s over here. So, it's not terribly cold, but it's definitely not warm, either. I don't like the extreme cold, but I can deal with the weather we've been having lately.

The beak is kind of like fingernails in humans - they are constantly growing. You can use fingernail clippers to clip the beak and then file it down. Your chicken won't be thrilled about that, but it doesn't hurt them.

We have our large animal vet coming out in a couple of days to give all our livestock checkups. We typically only do this once a year. I choose the winter months because these months aren't as busy as the spring and summer months on the farm. When do you all have your vet come out to check out...