Search results

I've used leaves as mulch in my garden. I mix it with manure (goat and sheep) for compost, too.

Yup, here in upstate New York, it's been in the 70's after we had our first frost in September when summer wasn't even over. We had a dusting of snow in October and this week it's been in the 70's. Who knows what this winter will be like.

Good luck!!!! Keep us posted on how it's going!!!

Dairy farming in Suffolk County!!! Hmmmmm.... I'm originally from Suffolk County, I don't think there's been a dairy farm there since the 60's. What would your market be? 1 -2 acres is pretty small for 50 cows, and hay is probably REALLY expensive on Long Island, but check it out with the...

Henderson, I think it depends on how big the enclosure is. My first farm was 10 acres, which I had fenced. I don't think there was any problem enclosing a hundred chickens within 10 acres. But some people might have a tiny enclosure and try to call that free ranging. I knew someone who kept...

There are lots of variables. First prices vary depending on your location. Also, do you have the land for 50 cows to graze? Do you have livestock barns? Do you have a milk house? How many cows do you want to milk at a time, that will determine how big your milking parlor will be. Where do...

How high is the fence that you have? Chickens can fly to a limited extent, and they're good at flying to a low branch and then working their way up. My chickens would need a pretty high fence to keep them in.

True. Most livestock are herd animals and they require at least one other similar animals for companionship. Sometimes the animal can be a related species, such as a goat and a sheep, but they can't be alone.

I guess it boils down to how your property is situated. If you have enough property for fowl to free range without getting into the road or your neighbors' property, then you can free range. Predators can always be a problem. In my case, it's never been the predators that you would expect...

I never use pesticides. They are toxic, negatively effect the environment and they loose their effectivess over time. Pesticdes work similarly to antibiotics. They may kill up to 90% of an insect population, but the 10% that survie, due to having immunity, will now reproduce and their...

I've had chickens and ducks together with no problems, but I've never had pheasants.

Yup, we're forecasted for a possible 6 inches tomorrow, but it won't last long as it's going to be in the 40's. Snow in October is way too early.

Used machinery offers a lot of value, especially tractors. My first two tractors were vintage tractors that I got for really good prices and they serve me well. I also have bought most of my tractor implements used and saved a lot of money.

Here where I live, in rural upstate New York, the houses are too far apart for kids to walk from house to house, as most of the houses are farms. Most communities here have Halloween parties at the local firehouse. I think they are not having them this year to protect the kids from covid.

Well, we start off TRYING to be optimists, but eventually you sort of lose that sunny outlook. You can only be beat down so many times before it has an affect on you.

Yup, I often buy equipment in anticipation of using it in the future.

Very cool!!!! My dogs are the same way....but dogs aren't livestock, they're our furry children!!!!!

Pygmy goats make nice pets if you don't except a close relationship with them, but Nigerian Dwarf goats will be constant be constant close companions.

Oh man. don't go there. In my real life I am extrememly political, but this is a really nice forum. This question will open up a lot of animosity between everyone. Just for farmchat, let's leave politics out of this forum.

Most treatments for parasites are toxic chemicals. I don't treat my dogs and cats prophylactically, they all get check ups twice each year. However, it's harder to do that with livestock. When I had large numbers of sheep and goats, I treated them twice a year with ivermectin.