Markets

ALERTS

Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Lynn Canal|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Spencer to Cape Fairweather out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cross Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision from 15 to 90 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Chatham Strait|Frost Advisory— Marquette|Dense Fog Advisory— Washington|Dense Fog Advisory— Walworth|Frost Advisory— Washington|Small Craft Advisory— Cook Inlet North Kalgin Island|Small Craft Advisory— Chiniak Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Shelikof Strait|Small Craft Advisory— Barren Islands East|Gale Warning— Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare from 15 to 75 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede|Small Craft Advisory— Marmot Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Kachemak Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Marmot Island To Sitkinak from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Cleare to Gore Point out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Passage Canal|Gale Warning— Central and Eastern Prince William Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Marmot Island to Sitkinak out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Southwest Prince William Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Gore Point to Marmot Island from 15 to 80 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northwest Prince William Sound|Gale Warning— West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay|Gale Warning— Cape Suckling to Gravel Point out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Valdez Arm|Gale Warning— Gravel Point to Cape Cleare out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Cleare to Gore Point from 15 to 75 NM|Special Weather Statement— Florence|Test Message— Montgomery|Brisk Wind Advisory— Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 NM|Special Weather Statement— Inland Berkeley|Winter Storm Warning— Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Ft|Winter Weather Advisory— Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Ft|Winter Storm Warning— Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's Peak Between 7500 And 11000 Ft|Winter Weather Advisory— Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft|Frost Advisory— Harrison|Freeze Warning— Northwest Pocahontas|Marine Weather Statement— Waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Chesapeake Bay from New Point Comfort to Little Creek VA|Small Craft Advisory— Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling from 15 to 80 NM|Coastal Flood Advisory— Southern Baltimore|Coastal Flood Advisory— Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Lynn Canal|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Spencer to Cape Fairweather out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cross Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision from 15 to 90 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Chatham Strait|Frost Advisory— Marquette|Dense Fog Advisory— Washington|Dense Fog Advisory— Walworth|Frost Advisory— Washington|Small Craft Advisory— Cook Inlet North Kalgin Island|Small Craft Advisory— Chiniak Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Shelikof Strait|Small Craft Advisory— Barren Islands East|Gale Warning— Cape Suckling to Cape Cleare from 15 to 75 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cook Inlet Kalgin Island to Point Bede|Small Craft Advisory— Marmot Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Kachemak Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Marmot Island To Sitkinak from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Cleare to Gore Point out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Passage Canal|Gale Warning— Central and Eastern Prince William Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Marmot Island to Sitkinak out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Southwest Prince William Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Gore Point to Marmot Island from 15 to 80 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northwest Prince William Sound|Gale Warning— West of Barren Islands Including Kamishak Bay|Gale Warning— Cape Suckling to Gravel Point out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Valdez Arm|Gale Warning— Gravel Point to Cape Cleare out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Cleare to Gore Point from 15 to 75 NM|Special Weather Statement— Florence|Test Message— Montgomery|Brisk Wind Advisory— Motherwood Point to Cape Krusenstern out to 10 NM|Special Weather Statement— Inland Berkeley|Winter Storm Warning— Northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains Between 8500 And 11000 Ft|Winter Weather Advisory— Western Mosquito Range/East Lake County Above 11000 Ft|Winter Storm Warning— Teller County/Rampart Range above 7500fT/Pike's Peak Between 7500 And 11000 Ft|Winter Weather Advisory— Wet Mountain Valley Below 8500 Ft|Frost Advisory— Harrison|Freeze Warning— Northwest Pocahontas|Marine Weather Statement— Waters from Surf City NC to Little River Inlet SC from 20 to 60 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Chesapeake Bay from New Point Comfort to Little Creek VA|Small Craft Advisory— Chesapeake Bay from Smith Point to Windmill Point VA|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling from 15 to 80 NM|Coastal Flood Advisory— Southern Baltimore|Coastal Flood Advisory— Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria|

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Intermediate Ongoing — animals teach you daily

Animal Husbandry

Raise animals well — they will provide for you in return.

Overview

Keeping livestock is one of the most rewarding aspects of homesteading. Animals provide meat, eggs, milk, fiber, and labor — and they enrich the land through their manure. This module covers the most common homestead animals: chickens, goats, pigs, and cattle, with guidance on housing, feeding, health, and breeding.

Step-by-Step Guide

Start with Chickens

Chickens are the gateway livestock. They provide eggs and meat, require minimal space, and are relatively forgiving of beginner mistakes. Start with 4–6 hens for a family of four.

Housing Requirements

Chickens need 4 sq ft per bird inside, 10 sq ft outside. Goats need 15–20 sq ft per animal in a dry, draft-free shelter. Pigs need 50–100 sq ft. All housing must be predator-proof.

Feed and Water

Provide fresh, clean water daily — animals drink more than you expect. Feed quality directly impacts production. Layer hens need calcium (oyster shell). Goats need minerals. Pigs are omnivores and can eat kitchen scraps.

Health Monitoring

Learn what 'normal' looks like for each species. Healthy animals are alert, eating well, and have clear eyes and normal droppings. Establish a relationship with a large animal vet before you have an emergency.

Parasite Management

Internal parasites (worms) are the number one health challenge for goats and sheep. Learn FAMACHA scoring for goats. Rotate pastures to break parasite cycles. Avoid overuse of dewormers to prevent resistance.

Breeding Basics

Understand the reproductive cycles of your animals. Chickens lay without a rooster. Goats cycle in fall for spring kids. Pigs can breed year-round. Plan breeding to align with your needs and resources.

Slaughter and Processing

Raising animals for meat means eventually processing them. See the Butchering module. Chickens at 8–12 weeks (meat breeds), pigs at 6–8 months, beef cattle at 18–24 months.

Pro Tips

Predator Protection

Predators will find your animals. Hardware cloth (not chicken wire) on coops, electric fencing, and livestock guardian dogs are your best defenses.

Pasture Rotation

Never keep animals on the same pasture continuously. Rotate every 2–4 weeks to prevent overgrazing and parasite buildup.

Keep Records

Track births, deaths, health treatments, feed costs, and production. This data helps you make better management decisions and identify problems early.

Build Community

Connect with other livestock owners in your area. They are your best resource for local vet recommendations, breed advice, and emergency help.

Resources & Links

American Livestock Breeds Conservancy

organization

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens

guide

eXtension — Livestock Resources

guide

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