Hello Reader,

You may have heard that kelp is a source of more than 60 nutrients. Some people say you can use it as your only mineral supplement for livestock, but before you do that, please read my post about what's really in kelp -- and what is not. But on the flip side, you may have also heard some really negative things about kelp. If that's the case, I still hope you'll read it because kelp is really good for livestock (and humans). I would say it's an interesting debate, but it's not really a debate. Poor kelp is a great food that is just terribly misunderstood.

If you're thinking about getting chickens, check out this post -- '8 Fun Facts About Chickens'. Chickens may be small, but did you know they have the mental capacity to complete tasks such as learning from each other and passing down cultural knowledge?

Do you know about DHI 305-day milk testing? We started milk testing because my daughters wanted our does to have those fancy stars and letters after their names like *M in ADGA and *D in AGS. However, we soon discovered several other reasons to be on milk test beyond bragging rights. Milk testing allows you to compare all of your does to each other and to other goats of the same breed. Here are five reasons to milk test your does (and cows).

And if you want to milk test but aren't sure how to get started, here are five steps to get ready to schedule your first milk test.

Have you ever had a goat kid that is too weak to stand or suckle? If you treated the goat with selenium but the symptoms didn't improve, the real issue may have been Vitamin E deficiency. Vitamin E is very important for proper functioning of goats' reproductive and immune systems. Learn about the causes, symptoms, when it is more likely to occur, and how to prevent Vitamin E deficiency in goats. And no, your goats don't have enough just because you gave them a BoSe injection or an oral selenium supplement. The truth about vitamin E will surprise you!

📄11+ Healthy Homemade Breakfasts To start your day off right, here are 11+ homemade breakfast recipes including Eggs Benedict, yogurt smoothies, green smoothies, and a few other ideas for those of you who eat gluten. Try these recipes!

Happy homesteading!

​
Deborah
and the ThriftyHomesteader Team

📚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.

💛 Appreciate what we share?

Support our work through the tip jar—every little bit helps us keep creating helpful content for you and fellow homesteaders.

You are receiving this email because you subscribed to our email list, downloaded a free resource from our website, or purchased one of our products, memberships, or courses.

PO Box 181, Cornell, IL 61319
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​

If you unsubscribe you'll be removed from all future emails. This includes important information and updates about products or courses you have purchased. If you want to opt out of a particular series of emails and don't see a link above to do so, just hit reply and let us know. We'll take care of it!