Hello Reader,

He did it! My husband kept working after dark on Tuesday to get the new loafing shed finished on the goat barn before the crazy wind storms were due to start Wednesday! A dead tree destroyed a 3-sided shelter in the pasture, and rather than build another one, I thought it would make more sense to put a loafing shed on the south side of the barn where the goat doors are located. We will also be getting a large round bale of hay delivered and dropped right there in the middle of that shed to make winter-time feeding quicker for us.

Now is a great time to start preparing for colder weather and making sure your goats have everything they need for winter. I hear from readers in Florida, Canada, Alaska, and everywhere in between with questions about how goats handle the cold and what they truly need. Check out this post to learn what goats do—and don’t—need during the winter.

If you're worried about how your chickens will handle the cold, the good news is—they’re tougher than you think. This article explains the basics of winter care and clears up common myths about heating, insulation, and special equipment so you know exactly what your flock needs.

Winter also brings out a lot of questionable chicken advice online, and some of it can actually be harmful. In this post, you’ll learn six things your chickens don’t need in cold weather—from sweaters to heated coops—and why keeping things simple is often the safest choice.

If you’re still looking for practical, thoughtful gift ideas for the homesteaders, gardeners, and animal lovers in your life, we just updated our list of favorite homesteading books. These titles cover everything from gardening and herbalism to beekeeping, cheesemaking, and working with livestock—perfect for learning new skills during the quieter winter months. It’s an inspiring collection you can browse for yourself or share with someone who loves a good homestead read.

🎧 What to Feed a Pregnant Goat Do pregnant goats really need grain, or is good mineral nutrition the real key? In this mini episode, I break down a flawed study that caused a lot of unnecessary worry and explain what truly supports healthy pregnancies — from keeping loose minerals available to balancing copper and zinc and feeding alfalfa or other calcium-rich legumes. It’s a short, practical lesson to help you keep your does healthy and avoid oversized kids or mineral-related complications. Listen in

▶ Worried about a "double pregnancy" in your goats? The concern over a “double pregnancy” in goats can be confusing, so I created this video to explain what’s really going on. I talk about what to do if your goat comes into heat again after being bred, why kids in the same litter can be very different sizes, and what it means if a kid is born three weeks early. It’s a clear look at the real biological reasons behind situations that often get mistaken for double pregnancies. Watch video

📄Minestrone Soup Soup is one of my favorite cold weather foods! Minestrone is a great soup to make on a day when you can't spend much time in the kitchen and it also works well in a slow cooker. You can double or triple this recipe if you have a large family or if you want to have left-overs for lunch during the week. Try this recipe!

Happy homesteading!

​
Deborah
and the ThriftyHomesteader Team
​

P.S. If you want to hear more about my journey to becoming an accidental goat expert, I recently shared the whole story on the Be Freaking Awesome podcast — EP179: “Accidental Goat Expert: How Following Your Curiosity Changes Everything.”

📚Want to Learn Even More?

• Did you know we have a Youtube Channel with over 700 videos? From goat care to soapmaking, cheesemaking, and more—you’ll find practical, real-life tips to support your homesteading journey.
• Looking to dive deeper? Visit the Goat Academy—your go-to resource for online courses on everything from goat health and nutrition to soapmaking, gardening, composting, and starting a homestead business. Whether you’re just getting started or want to level up your skills, there’s a course for you.
• Need ongoing guidance and community support? Goats 365 is our membership program that gives you full access to six comprehensive courses, live Q&A sessions, and an engaged group of goat owners who are learning and growing together—365 days a year.

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