Hello Reader,

Thinking about starting a backyard flock? This guide on buying chicks covers everything you need to know, from hatcheries to farm stores, to help you make the best choice for your new feathered friends.

Ready to hatch your own chicks? It’s easier than you think! We’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of incubating chicken eggs, from selecting fertile eggs to ensuring optimal temperature and humidity. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned chicken keeper, this guide will help you achieve a successful hatch and raise healthy chicks.

Castrating livestock is an essential task for many homesteaders, but choosing the right method can be daunting. We explore the Burdizzo method—a bloodless, humane option that minimizes stress and recovery time for goats and sheep. Whether you’re new to castration or looking to refine your technique, this guide covers everything from pain management to avoiding infections.

🎧 Dewormer Resistance: A Goat Owner’s Experience Dewormer resistance is a growing problem for goat owners, and using the wrong approach can make it worse. In this week’s episode, Tammy Gallagher shares her firsthand experience with parasite management—what worked, what didn’t, and how she finally got control of the problem. Tune in to learn how to protect your herd! Listen in

▶ The Facts on Bird Flu There is a lot of misinformation floating around about H5N1, also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or simply bird flu. Here are the facts. Watch video

📄Ricotta Cheese Recipe Discover a simple and unexpected way to make ricotta cheese using just milk and vinegar. This recipe, born from a happy accident while making queso blanco, yields a delicious and versatile cheese perfect for dishes like lasagna. With just two ingredients—milk and vinegar—you can create a batch of homemade ricotta that's easy to incorporate into your favorite recipes. Try this recipe!

🏡On the homestead and in my life...

We got a farm sitter! Mike and I went to Chicago earlier this week. It's the first time we've both left the farm in about five years because no one has been around to take care of things since our children moved out and our goat-milking neighbor moved to Missouri.

The sitter was an intern on our farm 12 years ago, and she had not been back because she had a baby, changed careers, and has been busy with her own life. Even though her son was not a fan of the poultry, hopefully they'll be back again soon -- or at least sooner than 12 years!

Happy homesteading!

​
Deborah
and the ThriftyHomesteader Team
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P.S. If you’ve been thinking about turning your farm into a business, the Homegrown Business course will guide you from launch to avoiding costly mistakes. Enroll now for just $97 before the price increases to $127 after Friday night!

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