Have you ever wished you had more ideas for frugal living? Have you looked at your budget and wished there was something else you could trim, but don’t know where to start? Not excited about saving a few pennies by reusing plastic baggies? Me neither. I’ve found that some of the best ideas for frugal living are lucrative and don’t have to be painful.

Dial for dollars. You can often save money – even hundreds of dollars – in one simple phone call to your Internet provider, cable company or credit card account. Ask your cable to give you the low introductory rate your new neighbor has, or you saw advertised. I recently got another introductory rate with my Internet provider, only two months after my first introductory period ended. That call saved me $150 over six months. When my cable was down for three days after a storm, I had another $15 taken off my month’s bill.

Ask for a refund of late charges or fees, especially if you normally pay on time. Be polite and ask for a “one-time courtesy”; more often than not, you’ll get the fees waived.

When hoping for a lower rate on your credit card, use this strategy: ask the company representative where to send the payment to pay off your credit card bill so you can close the account. Mention closing the account several times; when I did this, the rep transferred me to “Account Retainment” and my interest rate was slashed in half to keep me a loyal customer.

Stop borrowing money. This might seem obvious, but many still use credit cards and finance their cars even as they struggle to live on a budget. Live without debt, and you will save more money than you can imagine over your lifetime. Not only will you save thousands of dollars in interest payments, you’ll buy less when you pay with cash, check or your debit card.

Bargain. Most Americans are used to simply paying the sticker price wherever they go, but the secret is that many larger-ticket items are negotiable when it comes to price. Financial guru Dave Ramsey suggests researching the best prices before you go out to buy your appliance, sports equipment, or other big-ticket item. Then, bring cash and ask for a lower price than what’s being asked. Talk to a manager if necessary, and look for refurbished or returned items with warranties to get an even better deal.

Sell stuff. Offer your used items on Craig’s List, in the local classifieds or at consignment sales instead of just donating or disposing the things you don’t need. Think outside the box – even spare car parts from a dead vehicle have resale value. Children’s clothes and toys have great resale value at seasonal consignment sales as well as stores that share the sale price with consignors.

Grow some food. Whether you have a few acres in the country, or a south-facing townhouse with a deck, you can cultivate some vegetables and herbs to help lessen your food budget. Recycle containers for potted plants and tomatoes if you can’t plant directly into soil. Save your non-hybrid seeds form one year to the next to save on planting costs. If you have space and time, plant a large garden and include fall crops like pumpkins, cabbage and winter squash to extend your harvest season.

I know I barely scratched the surface, so please share your ideas and resources for frugal living below

Food Storage Easy Dehydrating - Nairaland

Our new pullets have been braving the cold weather and snowy days quite well. In taking care of our not-yet-laying hens, I’ve learned a few things about winter care for a small backyard poultry flock. These tips are for adult birds; any very young birds will likely need to be moved indoors to a heat-lamp-warmed cage in a barn stall or basement, during the coldest months

Increased vigilance is important in the winter as natural predators are hungrier and severe weather can cost frostbite on chickens’ combs and wattles (the red flaps hanging down from their faces).

In fact, in harsh climates, the combs and wattles are removed when chickens are young specifically to avoid frostbite in winter.

When keeping chickens through the winter, don’t forget that:

• They need extra feed for increased energy needs. Also, there are few or no insects to supplement the grain.
• A good chicken coop is important — one with insulation, roosting bars and covered openings, such as fabric or plastic sheets over chicken entrances, is ideal. In northern climates, a source of heat is important during the coldest weeks.
• Make sure the birds have water … not ice. When it’s especially bitter out, I crack and remove the ice in their water tray and replace it with lukewarm water a couple times a day. A heated chicken waterer would be ideal, and I’m planning to invest in one for next winter.

Do you have a backyard chicken flock? How are you keeping them healthy and happy through the winter??

I began a container garden last month, and was dismayed to realize once the foliage came in for real, I have almost no sun in my yard. This is our first spring in our home, and I was hoping for the best.

Then, as fortune would have it, I noticed my neighbor has a huge sunny yard and garden area. I complimented him on the huge yard, and he mentioned that he didn’t have time to put in a garden this year, and that I was welcome to use his garden plot.

So now I am enjoying my backyard gardening adventure … in someone else’s backyard. I’ve planted ten heirloom tomato plants, four cucumber vines, a half dozen pepper plants and nine cantaloupes. I have a whole row of sweet corn in and my sister planted four rows of pole beans. I also have 175 onions planted and squash and zucchini and pumpkins, many still seedlings that need to be transplanted.

My sister and I are working together on the garden, and look forward to a summer of fresh, organically grown produce … for pennies a pound, compared to the expensive produce in the stores and even at the farmers’ markets.

Gardening is one way that I live more frugally. Frugal living is back in vogue as of late, and for many families, finding ways to stretch a dollar has taken on new importance.

Growing your own garden means budget meals can be more nutritious and enjoyable. A summer meal of garden salad, fresh tomatoes and sweet corn costs very little when you grow it yourself. Add in hamburgers and homemade rolls and you’re still eating very cheaply.

Do you have a garden this year? How do you incorporate home grown or locally grown produce into your budget meal plan?

Learn more at: morninghomestead

The family garden, once present at virtually every home in America, is an essential element to self-reliant living. With effort and experience, one can grow good quantities of food even in small spaces. There are several popular gardening methods, dubbed “intensive gardening” by some, that maximize a garden's output. The garden structure, soil composition and care are all important to ensure a full harvest.

Raised Gardening?

Gardening is raised beds is a great way to maximize your food output while saving time and money on your garden. Raised beds may be made out of 2x12 lumber cut into four-foot sections and nailed together. The frames are then placed on the ground in a sunny area that will become the garden. Arranged with enough room between to access all parts of the beds, the frames are then filled with a mixture of topsoil, hummus, compost, composted manure and some sand. Seeds and seedlings are planted in the raised bed, spaced very closely for this gardening method. Tending and harvesting the garden is made easier by the height of the beds and the close proximity of the plants.

Square Foot Gardening

Mel Bartholomew perfected and popularized the method known as Square Foot Gardening, in which garden beds are divided into one-foot square sections and a specific number of each garden vegetable is grown in each square. This method allows the home gardener to maximize his garden yield and keep an orderly garden.

Container Gardening

For those with small yards or who just have a deck or patio, container gardening may be the best way to go. While container plants need more frequent watering in the heat because of the tendency to dry out quickly, with care container gardening is a viable way to produce food from home. Several pots each of tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, carrots and onions will provide fresh salad items all summer.

Sustainable Gardening

Gardening is important for those who wish to consume less, produce less waste and lessen their overall footprint. Growing ones own food makes use of renewable resources, improves soil conditions and decreases demand on the overall food supply. To be sustainable, gardening should utilize little or no chemical fertilizers or pesticides, and soil should be renewed naturally each year. Water for the garden may be collected from rain and stored for several days for use in the garden. Kitchen water, such as water used to rinse vegetables or boil pasta, may also be cooled and used to water plants. Pots and crates can be recycled into gardening containers, and kitchen scraps turned into compost for the soil. With forethought, sustainable gardening can become a way of life.

Learn more at:
morninghomestead.com
https://elliotthomestead.com/

Lavender is such a great herb to grow in your garden yearly.

There are so many great health benefits of lavender and lavender essential oil that it will not go to waste and it smells wonderful, so even if you don’t use it for other purposes it’s a must grow.

Lavender is used topically or inhaled through means of aromatherapy, it is not for internal use.

Some health benefits and aromatherapy uses of Lavender include: anxiety and stress relief, insomnia treatment, perfume, dry skin moisturizer, deodorant, migraine relief, muscle pain, menstrual cramps, respiratory treatment, bug repellent, circulation, acne treatment, minor burns, insect bites, anti-dandruff, anti-bacterial, eczema, fatigue, clear sinuses and more.

LEARN MORE AT: MORNINGHOMESTEAD.COM

If you believe that growing spinach in your garden or even in indoor containers requires a great deal of space and care, you may be surprised by the real facts.

Growing spinach indoors in containers or in your own personal backyard garden can be done quite easily, if you know what you’re doing.
Consider the following information to guarantee that you have the best results with growing and planting your spinach.

How To Grow Spinach In Your Garden

Here are some great tips on how to grow spinach in your garden.

Most individuals agree that spinach is best grown from seeds.

When seeds are grown directly from the soil, you can get the best results.

Although you may purchase transplants if you need to because it’s late in the season or for other reasons.

Most spinach is a cool season vegetable, but it can be grown year round.

Because of the size of spinach seeds, you don’t need too big of a hole to plant them.

Don’t make a hole that is larger than 3 times the seed’s diameters.

Plant seeds about 4 inches apart on top of the soil.

Take roughly a handful of soil and place it over the seeds, packing gently.

Once planted, water the seeds just enough to completely saturate the ground.

Don’t let the water come out too quickly, as that could displace the seeds.

During the first seven days of plantation, keep the soil damp and refrain from allowing it to dry out.

Once the seeds have sprouted, they will need about 6-8 hours a day of sunlight.

How To Grow Spinach In Containers

Next let’s talk about how to grow spinach in containers or pots because not everyone has a backyard garden.

Take each pot that you’ll use and add a screening bottom.

The screen prevents the soil from leaking the drainage.

Next, you’ll want to fill the pot with fertilized soil.

It should also have time to release the fertilization into the soil.

Smaller pots should not have more than two seeds planted in about ½ an inch of depth.

Bigger pots can hold more seeds.

Keep the soil moist for at least 10 days.

Water your spinach daily for faster germination.

The temperature of your home or the room in which the seeds are being grown should be around 75 to 85 degrees during the day and 60 to 75 degrees at night.

The pots should be kept in direct sunlight during the day.

Natural sunlight is best.

Once the leaves reach the size that is big enough to eat, you can begin to harvest them.

Never take more than half of the leaves to maintain the health of your plant.

Harvesting Your Spinach From Your Garden Or Indoor Containers

You can harvest your spinach in roughly 10-14 days after they’re planted, never remove more than half of the leaves for the best results.

As the growing season continues, harvest every 14 days to guarantee new leaves.

As you can see, growing spinach isn’t as hard as you might have imagine.

Use all these steps for the best results with Growing Spinach In Your Garden And Indoor Containers or pots adventure.

You can learn more from MORNINGHOMESTEAD.COM

Lavender is one of the most delightful scents that Mother Nature has created in my opinion. There are so many uses and health benefits of lavender. Lavender will even keep mosquitoes at bay in your outdoor area. If you are interested in growing your own lavender from seeds, then see our outline below on how to do so properly.



Soil & Planting

To start with, set your seeds out in an open area roughly 10 to 18 inches apart. Make sure the area enjoys full sunshine and excellent air circulation. Slightly alkaline soil that is well-drained with a pH level of around 6.7 and 7.3 is ideal. It is also a good idea to add sand into the soil to encourage proper drainage, which is imperative to grow lavender.

Growing Lavender in Pots

Many varieties of lavender grow well in pots or containers indoors, or even in raised flowerbeds. If you choose to go this route, you will need coarse soil that drains easily. You will water sparingly, particularly in the cooler months. Once the cooler months of fall and winter arrive, the next step is to sink your lavender into a flowerbed so the roots don’t freeze and so it can stay good and healthy throughout the winter.

Tips & Tricks

Should you decide to harvest lavender for perfume or for décor, only clip every third stem to keep your flowers looking full. Since lavender flowers keep their perfume for months on end if they are clipped right before blooming fully, make it a point to harvest them at that time. You can also dry your flowers by hanging them upside down in a well-ventilated yet dark space. A closet typically works best and it adds a wonderful scent to your home.

While not as common as blue lavender, you can also plant pink, white, or pale purple lavender seeds to create a diverse looking flowerbed all summer long. When not in bloom lavender continues to look and smell amazing.

Happy Lavender planting!

You can learn more from MORNINGHOMESTEAD.COM

Lemon trees are one of the easiest trees to grow at home or in your garden, and today we’re outlining the process of growing a lemon tree from a seed, specifically organic but you can grow conventional too if desired. Learn how to do so by following along below.

Purchase an organic lemon, Meyer lemons work best if you have limited space, and slice it in half. Remove the seeds from the lemon and rinse them with warm water. Remove any flesh or organic material from the seeds prior to planting to prevent any rotting from taking place. Plant the seeds immediately after rinsing to prevent them from drying out.

Choose the right soil. Lemons do best in organic soil that is rich in peat, per-lite, vermiculite and organic fertilizer. Plant your seed within one-half inch of soil. Dampen your soil lightly, and then cover your pot with plastic wrap to keep it nice and damp so your seed will sprout.

The container you place your seeds in should have ample drainage and the goal is to make sure that your seed has room to sprout and grow as it turns into a tree. As time goes on and your seedling grows, you’ll need to move it into a larger container where it can grow into a mature tree.

Place and keep your lemon seedling in direct sunlight. It is imperative that as your tree matures, it has access to the nutrient dense sun-rays it desperately needs. If you don’t have ample natural lighting in your home, keep it as close as possible to any windows that face the sun or consider a grow light.

Feed your lemon tree twice a year with organic fertilizer or compost to keep it healthy and happy.

Follow these steps and you will successfully have yourself a beautiful lemon tree to enjoy.

More: 4 Ways To Protect The Sharks

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With upwards of 3 million viewers, saying Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" is popular is an understatement. But the only way we'll get to enjoy "Shark Week" year after year is if we protect these majestic creatures. According to Ted Danson, author of Oceana, 9 out of every 10 sharks that inhabited the world in 1950 have vanished.

Check out these four ways to live a shark-friendly life:

#1. Don't support this fishy soup. The biggest reasons sharks are disappearing? "The answer is the relatively recent explosion in yet another seafood market, this one feeding one of the most controversial, wasteful, and certainly brutal fisheries in existence—shark fins," Danson says.

If you think $8.99 per pound is a steep price for salmon, consider that shark fins go for $300 per pound. Flavorless and mostly cartilage, shark fins are boiled down to make a soup that really just tastes like whatever else gets thrown in, says Dawson. "Yet this soup sells for $60 a bowl in China, and in the most expensive restaurants in the Chinatowns of London and San Francisco, it goes for as much as $400 a bowl."

Insanity, right? And it all boils down to one reason: Rarity is an expensive luxury. And economic booms have meant that more people can afford the prestige of this pointless soup.

The scariest part of this endeavor isn't the shark itself, it's how the fins are harvested. "As many as 70 million sharks netted or hooked worldwide each year have their fins hacked off and their still-living carcasses tossed back overboard as soon as they're caught," Danson explains.

#2. Eat sustainably caught fish. You might not go up to the fish counter at the grocery store and buy a filet-o'-shark, but that doesn't mean your dollar can't protect (or hurt) them. "Sharks make up huge number of bycatch victims—some 50 million a year are accidentally snagged by trawlers, longlines, and gill nets," says Danson. "That's half of the world's total shark catch.

In shrimping, for instance, for every one pound of shrimp that's caught, up to 10 pounds of marine life is thrown away, explains Dawson. To find out if your fish was sustainably caught, visit Fish2fork.com. (For more reasons to avoid shrimp, consider these disgusting shrimp facts.)

#3. Stop overfishing. Even if all of the sharks managed to escape bycatch, they'd still have a hard time surviving because of overfishing. Overfishing the oceans starves sharks of their prey, which knocks the entire underwater ecosystem out of whack, explains, Christina Dawn Morgan of Greenpeace. (Check out Greenpeace's Sustainable Seafood Consumer Hub to make sure you're making good choices at the supermarket.) Luckily, more and more retailers are selling more sustainably sourced fish and seafood.

#4. Support marine conservation efforts. Sometimes the underdog sharks don't get nearly enough attention. There are more than just hammerheads and great whites, and organizations like Oceana are dedicated to protecting all types of sharks, including lesser-known species.
"It's possible to save sharks," says Dominique Cano-Stocco of Oceana. "Scientists recently announced that we scored a huge win: Atlantic great white shark populations are finally rebounding, which is remarkable news for one of the ocean's most iconic species."

Unfortunately, other species, such as the dusky shark, are not having the same success. "Dusky shark populations have declined by 99 percent over the past 40 years off the U.S. Atlantic coast," says Cano-Stocco. Celebrate "Shark Week" by taking action: Help protect all types of shark here.

Adorable! Chicken Adopts Orphaned Ducklings

Fireplace cooking is a derivative of cooking on the old woodstove or an open fire. Many of us live in modern homes without the benefits of a woodstove but we do have that knock off of a fireplace that is much smaller than the ones that appear in older homes.

A handy thing to know however, is how to make the most of your existing fireplace. You never know when you will be without electricity or gas to power your existing stove. When cooking in the fireplace it would do you well to think of it as an outdoor grill.

Regulation of your heat source is similar to that of working with a conventional grill or woodstove. Heat can be gauged by how long you can hold your hand above the coals. The more intense the heat the shorter a period of time you can hold your hand above the coals. Allow 1 second per 100 degrees. If you can hold your hand there for 1 second, the temperature of your fireplace exceeds 400 degrees. 2 seconds and you're down to around 350. 3 seconds and you're down to 300 roughly. If you can hold your hand above the coals for more than 3 seconds you can assume the heat is low.

There are several ways to handle cooking in the fireplace and it does require a bit of thought. You will need to start with a good hot bed of coals.
On top of that you can either stack your wood so that you can balance your pots and pans or you can find a couple of bricks or rocks and balance some kind of old grill rack or oven rack on top and place your pots and pans on top of it using it as a cooking surface. If you stack your wood and cook on top of that, make sure you leave space enough between your logs for the heat from your coals to rise.

Choose your wood carefully. Softwoods will burn faster with quick and intense heat and flames. Green woods or wet wood will burn smokier, and the wood you use will affect the flavor of your foods. We opt for traditional hardwoods when cooking like oak or maple.

Always keep pot holders nearby - handles heat up too! If you are following other articles in Creative Homesteading, you probably cook in cast iron and the fact that handles heat up will come as no surprise to you.

You can use any pot or pan in the fireplace but we choose to use the same cast iron we use in our kitchen for daily cooking. Another great reason to use cast iron is the fact that it can be used in almost any situation unlike the Teflon or non-stick pots and pans on the market with plastic handles.

If your pot has no handles or the heat is to hot to get your pot out with pot holders, then use your fireplace poker, or your ash shovel to pull the pot towards you.

On the hearth we keep several rounds of wood sliced from a couple of trees we fell a few years ago to act as trivets for hot, soot covered pots and protect our hearth.

Cooking times are shortened in the fireplace due to irregular heat. If you are cooking greasy foods with no lid, flames will erupt just like on your grill. When preparing meats for roasting it is a good idea to cover them with aluminum foil or a pot lid.

The closer your pot is to the coals, the more intense the heat.

Make the most of your fireplace's limited space. Choose pots and pans that can be stacked, or layered, cook one pot meals, or prepare simple 2 dish meals accompanied by bread. (Your bread can be risen on the hearth while the main course is prepared.

Some of our favorite fireplace meals are:

Baked chicken with garlic, and mashed potatoes
Fried hot dogs, beans & hotdog casserole,
Beans and cornbread
Beef stew
Beef or Venison Roast and veggies
Pork Chops and Au'gratin potatoes.

=> Find the Best Firewood Suppliers Near You

- 16 cups cooked mashed apples (leftover from jelly making)
- 1/2 tsp cloves
- 1/2 tsp allspice
- 2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup of water

Mix all ingredients and spread in a baking pan or roaster that you can put in the oven or in a crock pot.
Bake at 275 till thick.

Pack in hot sterile canning jars. For long term storage process in a boiling water bath for 30 minutes. makes 2 quart jars and a little more. Can be doubled or tripled easily after making jelly.

This particular batch I put in the crockpot overnight and let cook down on low. The next evening we ladled it out into jars and put it in the fridge.

This stuff doesn't last long around here. Please keep in mind that the measurements are not exact - it's not rocket science. I add a little this and a little that by taste and then just 'cook' till it's 'right'. Right looks like dark thick applesauce. A spoon will almost stand upright in it. There is very little puddling when put on a plate and left to rest.

Dog Treats To AVOID For Your Pet's Best Health

Dog owners know that the bond between pet and person is comforting, loving, and even healing. This is the underlying principle behind paws4people, a nonprofit that provides assistance dogs to veterans, inmates, and those with limited mobility to help these people lead richer lives with the help of their trained canine companion.

Kyria Henry, CEO of paws4people, explains that the true power of a service dog, at the heart, comes from this meaningful bond. "It's the relationship," she says. "We're training these dogs to be highly skilled, and that is really important, but at the crux of it is just like any person with any dog, it's the relationship."

Henry, who has her masters in Human Services, Marriage, and Family Counseling, points out that, unlike human relationships, the connection creates a safe space for healing because it's uncomplicated. She says, "Even a good human relationship, there's a complicated give and take, but with the dogs, they need so much less take and have so much more give that it's such a safe place to re-establish these relationships and emotions that have been broken."

However, what allows these dogs to heal their owners goes beyond this emotional connection—it's the training. "Any dog can do this emotional aspect, but then add on the level of training we give them to be an assistive medical technology, and that is what takes them to the next level to being a true assistance dog," says Henry.

These dogs are trained to be alert to the physical and chemical changes that precede a panic attack or flashback so that they're able to interrupt the cycle. "They nose nudge, they lick, they physically interrupt it and then we teach our clients how to recognize those signals from their dog and what to do to change the scenario."

Plus, these dogs can also be trained to help those with mobility limitations, such as turning on lights, retrieving items, paying for goods, and carrying bags.

"The emotional support is not what makes them an assistance dog, but I think it's the foundation of the relationship that makes this whole idea so successful," says Henry.

And this program is definitely successful. "Without exception, 100 percent of our military clients have self-reported suicidal ideations at the time of application—they were desperate and trying to find a solution," she says. "And then 100 percent self report that after placement it's not an avenue for them. People say, 'If I hadn't done this and gotten this dog, I don't think I'd be here right now.' That's why we keep going."
Read about the amazing transformation stories of paws4people in A Dog's Gift. Half of all proceeds from this book are going to this inspiring organization.

Selling Rabbits As Pets
Feeding Your Rabbits

When selling rabbits as pets, you have to take into account that most of your customers probably have little or no experience with caring or raising a rabbit.

Often they end up with a rabbit that everyone is interested in only to find out as the months drag on that the child grows out of the rabbit or that the interest fades away.

One of the things you can do to make the sale successful is to provide basic information and instruction to your customers about the care and feeding of their new pets. Educate them about the personality traits and natural tendencies of rabbits like chewing on furniture and cords.
Your customers will appreciate an information sheet or packet telling them what their new pet will need and enjoy in the way of diet and nutrition and care.

You should let customers know they can come to you with questions and concerns about the well being of their new pet. Let them know that acting quickly when a rabbit acts ill can save it's life. Expect to answer a lot of questions. Have on hand the phone number of a 'rabbit' vet that you can provide to your customers. Include in your info sheet common health concerns and pointers on when to seek medical advice and the local rabbit vets phone number.

Never sell them an animal that you would not buy yourself. Do not sell them before they're weaned, or when you doubt they are in good health.
Keep records. Know what your customers bought. This includes breed, gender and key dates, like date of purchase, day of birth of the rabbit.
Offer the customer options. Let them know you will accept drop offs. That you will take back an unwanted rabbit that they can't take care of or rehome at no cost to them. At least then you will have acted responsibly to both the rabbit, and the customer and can perhaps benefit from breeding the rabbit later.

Read more:

Feeding Your Rabbits
Dog Treats To AVOID For Your Pet's Best Health
Adorable! Chicken Adopts Orphaned Ducklings

There are many things a rabbit can eat. Most of them low to no cost. My favorite words. You can gather most grass, apple and other veggies from your garden for your rabbit, but any sudden changes in diet should be avoided and you should take care to feed your rabbits a balanced diet of what ever it is you are feeding.

Here on the farm we follow a few guidelines when feeding any animal. First off is to ensure that the animal and in turn by eating the animal that we are getting healthy, wholesome meat without chemical, or hormonal additives. Secondly is to feed a cost efficient and healthy diet. And in that train of thought, not feeding the animal past it's optimal butchering stage.

Obviously rabbit pellets are available from most feed stores and it's always good to feed them those if you can get them without any hormones or chemical additives. We are fortunate here and our feed store specializes in 'whole' feeds.

Even commercial pellets that claim they are a complete diet for the rabbits can be supplemented and balanced in the rabbits favor and in your financial favor with treats and offerings from the garden..

Good food doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Grass, straw, and horse or feed quality hay, apple slices, cucumbers, the greens from most any root crop such as radishes, beets or carrots, clover from the yard, broccoli, cabbage, celery, lettuce, basil, chicory, dandelions, dill, and parsley just to name a few.

You can give an unlimited amount of hay. In the wild rabbits eat mainly grass. So as long as your feeding pesticide free grass, its a good diet for your rabbit.

Make SURE that the grass you are feeding hasn't been treated with pesticides or herbicides prior to feeding. They are toxic even in small quantities for your rabbits

No garden?. Even if you don't have a backyard, some greens can be grown in pots and raised right along with your rabbits. Loose leaf lettuce grows quickly and well in pots. Carrot tops grow well in pots as do parsley and even small quantities of hay.

Treats, like strawberries, blackberries, and raisins can fed sparingly. We occasionally supply our rabbits with oats or sweet feed.

Rolled oats can fed occasionally as well in limited amounts.

The goal is NOT to have a fat rabbits. FAT rabbits do not breed. They get lazy about mating.

In theory you should let your rabbit consume as much food as it wants in about a 20 minute period. We keep pellets and water available to the rabbits at all time, and we feed twice a day here. Real food in the late evenings, treats/fresh hay in the early morning when we do first rounds.

Most of the protein a rabbit gets comes from it's predominate food source which should be hay or pellets. The other things are like candy to a baby and are irresistible.

We have no feed bill to speak of when it comes to the rabbits. I keep a supply of pellets on hand, and use them as a last resort. Keep in mind that if you feed pellets that they lose nutritional value upon storing as do most feeds.

During the garden and fruiting seasons we dry veggies from the garden and grow our timothy hay which we cut by hand and store for the rabbits for wintering. Hay should be cut into 3 inch or about 4 centimeter sections so the rabbits can handle it better.

Water is a must. Rabbits won't eat without water. A fresh water supply should always be in the cage with your rabbit regardless. We use bowls only because they are cheap. We picked them up at yard sales, took some straight from old sets of dishes and they are not the best answer. But they are cheap. And the kids go out and refill them frequently.

A better answer for someone NOT planning on attending to the rabbits as frequently as we do would be better off buying pop bottle founts or investing in a large 32 ounce rabbit bottle that hangs on the cage.

You can monitor your rabbits growth by use of a set of digital or kitchen scales. Optimal butchering size is supposedly 4 lbs, give or take. There is no science to 'the right time'. Depending on the breed of rabbit, you don't want to wait past the point to where it no longer serves a purpose to feed the rabbit.

My breeders are a different story. I will feed them till they are no longer productive, and if their production drops, they too join the food chain and are replaced with a younger or different line.

There is a list of foods that are poisonous to rabbits, our next article will cover those.
=====
How to Bathe a Guinea Pig (Steps by Steps)
Top 12 Best Carolina Custom Cages Terrariums
Best Rabbit Hay Feeder And Is It Necessary To Have One
Which Rabbit Water Bottle Does Not Leak? Bowl or Bottle, Which Is Best?

Instead of buying dog treats with questionable ingredients, you can make your own natural biscuits for your pooch. This one offers parsley, which is rich in protein, and flaxseed, which provides essential fatty acids. This supports the brain, liver, heart, and immune system. Experiment by adding or substituting other nutritive herbs for pets, such as, dandelion, nettle, borage, or burdock. Use a cookie cutter to make fun shapes.

Cheese and Herb Dog Biscuits

Ingredients:

1¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup finely grated cheese
3 Tablespoons ground flaxseed
1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
1¼ cups water

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, cheese, flaxseed, and parsley. Pour in the water and mix thoroughly to form dough. Flour a clean surface and roll out the dough on it. Cut the dough into shapes using a floured cookie cutter. Use a spatula to transfer the biscuits to the baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until the biscuits are lightly browned. Cool the biscuits on the tray, and store them in an airtight container.

It's no secret that Americans love their pets. In fact, we spent $58 billion dollars on our faithful companions in 2014. But what happens when we express our love in the form of too many tasty treats? Our pets gain weight, and much like American humans, American pets are getting fatter.

A recent survey found that 53 percent of dogs and 58 percent of cats were overweight in 2014. Even more concerning was the "fat pet gap," the perception that owners surveyed had that their overweight pets were actually at a normal weight. It's never fun for us to look at ourselves in the mirror and accept that we could stand to lose a few pounds, and it seems we extend this view to our pets as well. Unfortunately, convincing ourselves that Fido is "just fluffy" can have serious detrimental effects on a pet's health and wellness.

According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, the primary risks of excess weight in pets include osteoarthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and respiratory disease, cranial cruciate ligament injury, kidney disease, many forms of cancer, and decreased life expectancy (up to 2.5 years). If that sounds familiar, it should. Maintaining a healthy weight is as critical for our pets as it is for we humans, helping all of us live longer and healthier lives.

The good news is that getting active with your pet serves double duty. Not only do you both get the health benefits of exercise, but you also strengthen the bond you share. Even the most food-motivated pup would swap a treat for a romp in the grass with his best friend—you!

Here are 10 ways you can get fit with your dog, and just like with any new exercise program, be sure you check with your vet (and your doctor) before you get started.

Obedience Training

Teaching your dog how to be a well-mannered member of canine-human society is not only critical for strengthening your bond, but it will also make all the activities you want to do with your dog that much easier to accomplish. Learning how best to communicate what you want from your dog will set you up for a fun jog through the park instead of one that's frustrating for both of you. Plus, the process of learning new behaviors is active time in itself, working both your dog's body and brain. You'll be moving and thinking, too—you might even need a nap after your training sessions! Treats are a key part of positive reinforcement training methods, so be sure you choose ones that are enticing enough to encourage your dog, but small enough that they don't completely derail his or her diet. We like Zuke's Mini Naturals in Wild Rabbit flavor. A favorite toy can be a great treat, too. Seek out a professional dog trainer in your area to get started, or consult one of many excellent books and websites. We recommend The Power of Positive Dog Training, by Pat Miller!

Regular, Brisk Walks

It seems simple, but 30 minutes a day, five days a week can do a world of good for a chubby (but otherwise healthy) dog. Aim to start out at a brisk pace for a full 10 minutes without stopping for sniffs, saving the sniffing for the 20-minute casual walk back home. Increase the brisk-walking minutes week after week until you've worked you and your pooch up to two 20- to 30-minute walks per day, with 15 to 25 of those minutes at a brisk pace. (Bonus points for both of you for walking seven days per week.) Get tips on how to maintain a brisk pace and the best walking harnesses to use in this helpful guide. Our pick: Freedom No Pull Harness by 2 Hounds.

Running

If running is more your style, you can share that love with your dog. For many dogs, running is basically their default speed, so if your dog is already at a healthy weight, running might be just the thing to help your buddy stay that way (with the added benefit of burning off that enviable endless energy). Be sure to stay in tune with your dog because he or she can't tell you that it's time for a break or a drink of water, and some determined dogs won't stop until they collapse. Vet Laruen Talarico shared this beginner plan for running with your dog with our friends at Runner's World to get you and your dog ramping up the pace and mileage safely, and the late Dr. Sophia Yin created an excellent primer on training your dog to run by your side. You may also want to invest in a specialized running leash for your dog. We like The Buddy System!

Tug of War

You may have been told that playing "tug-of-war" with your dog will turn your dog into some kind of savage beast. If you structure your game with clear boundaries for your dog, tug-of-war is actually an excellent way to engage in very active play while reinforcing good behavior at the same time. Use these tug-of-war tips from renowned trainer Ian Dunbar to get started and play safely. You'll be amazed at how a great game of tug can wear you out (dogs are strong!) while helping your dog burn off plenty of happy calories. Rope-style toys that keep mouths and hands a sensible distance away are good choices for this game.

Good, Old-Fashioned Fetch

Some dogs just never tire of fetch, and you can use that enthusiasm to get a great workout. Find a spot that's secure for your dog to be off-leash and large enough for you to really throw the ball. (An empty dog park could be a good option.) Ask your dog to sit quietly until you're ready to throw, then throw the ball as far as you can. Let your dog bring it back to you, then run in the opposite direction, your dog chasing after you. Rinse and repeat! It's almost guaranteed that you will tire out long before your dog does. You can also recruit a friend and play recall games when you've found a good, secure spot for fetch! (A rock-solid recall can save your dog's life.)

Explore Agility


Your dog doesn't have to be a fleet-footed border collie to get active with agility. Any dog—big or small, purebred or All-American mutt—can learn how to take on agility-course obstacles with some training and reinforcement. And you'll get a workout, too, because running around the agility course to give your dog cues will get your heart pumping! The best way to learn the various agility obstacles—which include weave poles, tunnels, chutes, boxes, rings, and seesaws, among others—is to find a local instructor. You can often find "for fun" classes with other dogs and people at your beginning skill level. Books and online videos can help you dive in to the sport. If you really get the bug, you can build your own agility equipment, or even compete! Here's a great overview of getting started with agility.

Bicycling

The key to successful bicycling with your dog is to start slow. Just hitching your dog up to your bike out of the blue and expecting to ride off into the sunset is a great way to ruin your pal's riding prospects for good. Some dogs find bicycles to be scary, so introducing him or her to the bike itself is key to seeing if this will be a sport that you can enjoy together. Next, you'll want to introduce your dog to other people riding bicycles (at a park, for example), and see how your dog reacts (or doesn't). Only then can you start thinking about taking a ride with your pet along. Our friends at Bicycling have an excellent guide to introducing your dog to bicycling and enjoying successful, safe rides.

Swimming

This is another activity where you'll need to gauge your dog's interest before you take the plunge, so to speak. If you have a water-loving Lab, you'll probably have a hard time keeping your pup OUT of the pond, but for some dogs, swimming is just not in the cards. For dogs who love it, it's an excellent way for them to exercise right along with you, and for older dogs, it's an activity they can enjoy that won't stress arthritic joints. Spending time in the water with your buddy is a blast, but remember that the dog can't tell you when he or she is tired, so stay in tune with your pet to know when it's time to head in for a break. (Just watch for the post-swim shake—you know it's coming!) For the utmost in safety, outfit your pup with a specialized canine life jacket. Our pick is the Kyjen Outward Hound Life Jacket.

Backpacking or Hiking

A trek on a mountain trail is a perfect way to get a workout while you take in the beauty of nature, and your dog will love exploring all of the smells and sounds that the wilderness has to offer. It's critical to check ahead before you venture on a trail with your dog to know any rules that apply to bringing dogs along. If your dog explores off-leash, be mindful that you are sharing the trail with others, so re-leash your dog whenever you encounter fellow hikers or other dogs. Poop bags are a nonnegotiable accessory for a hike, as are a supply of water and dog-appropriate snacks. (See Dog Backpack Carriers)

You could probably share some bites of your energy bar, but we prefer one made for dogs: Zuke's Power Bones. Your dog can also share the load with a dog backpack, like this one from Ruffwear, which ramps up the exercise level and gives your dog a job to do. Just remember, dogs can't tell you when they are exhausted or thirsty, so it's up to you to take occasional breaks to just relax and enjoy the scenery together.

Tracking and Scent Games

Your dog already knows how to track scents. It's you who has to learn the ins and outs of this incredibly fun canine activity! You can start with basic scent games, such as tasking your pup with finding a bit of food hidden in one of several boxes placed on the floor. As your dog gets better and better at basic games, you can ramp up the difficulty. Eventually, you can work with your dog outdoors, tracking paths with articles of your clothing or finding you hiding behind a tree. You'll get a workout laying tracks and gathering up your materials, and your dog will be working body and brain to locate what he's seeking. Here's an excellent primer on how to engage in scent games with your dog, and once you want to dive into tracking, we recommend finding a local trainer or club to help you, or you can get the basics with Try Tracking! by Carolyn A. Krause.

Skijoring

You love to ski. Your dog loves to run. Put the two together and you've got skijoring. This sport has long been known in places like Alaska, but it's experienced a surge in popularity in recent years (and it's not just for huskies and malamutes). You'll need cross-country skiing gear, a skijoring harness for your dog, a belt for you, plus a towline to connect you. The rest is just learning how to work together as a team to let your dog pull you down the trails successfully. You'll want to get your dog ready for your skijoring adventures before winter comes by working on distance runs, and be sure you stay in tune with your dog to know when it's time for a rest. Here's an excellent overview of skijoring, or you can pick up a copy of Skijor With Your Dog by Mari Høe-Raitto to dig into the details. Snow's not your thing? You can adapt the concept to running (canicross), bicycling (bikejor), or skating (rollerjor). (See Bike Baskets for Dogs)

More at: The Elliott Homestead

When you watch your dog snoring away on the couch or patiently sitting by his bowl awaiting the next meal, it's hard to believe that Fido is descended from the grey wolf.

Modern-day wolf packs can travel 30 miles a day in search of food, as Jean Hofve, DVM, and Celeste Yarnall, PhD, note in their book, Paleo Dog. Despite all that roaming, play is important to wolves, the authors add. "If you watch a wolf pack on one of those great nature shows, you'll see that wolves play often. Play fulfills both psychological and social roles by strengthening the bonds among pack members and providing a release of energy."

Over time, we humans have altered many of the traits that dogs once shared with their ancestors, says Louise Murray, DVM, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital. But while dogs may not require as much exercise as wolves, they still need time outdoors to expend mental and physical energy. Some pet parents wrongly assume, Murray says, that if a dog has access to a backyard, she's getting exercise. But your dog doesn't run laps in the yard by herself—or do much of anything, besides waiting for you to come outside to play or let her back inside, says Murray.

A Good Dog Is a Tired Dog

There are lots of excellent reasons to exercise your dog:

• Exercise helps reduce or eliminate common behavior problems, such as digging, excessive barking, chewing, and hyperactivity.
• Exercise helps keep dogs healthy, agile, and limber.
• Exercise reduces digestive problems and constipation.
• Exercise helps timid or fearful dogs build confidence and trust.
• Exercise helps dogs feel sleepy, rather than restless, at bedtime.

Of course, you are probably already reaping some health benefits just from owning a dog. Researchers from Michigan State University found that one out of two dog owners exercise an average of 30 minutes a day, at least five days a week, while only about one in three people who don't own dogs get that much regular exercise.

Personalized Exercise Regimen for Pooch

The amount and type of exercise your dog needs will depend on his age, size, breed, and individual traits. Dr. Hofve recommends visiting the veterinarian to have her recommend an exercise regimen for your pet.

"Exercise plans are typically developed by evaluating various factors, such as age, energy level, body shape, and condition, and preexisting health concerns," agrees Murray. "For example, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever will have very different exercise needs than a 10-year-old pug, a stout brachycephalic (having a flat, wide skull shape) breed who tends to exhibit more difficulty with panting."

Once you ID the right exercise plan for your dog, avoid trying too much too soon. "Just like humans, a dog cannot go from couch to marathons overnight," Murray says. "It is important to start slow and build up endurance. Pay attention to your dog. If they are exhibiting signs of stress or pain, do not force them to continue."

To stay motivated, choose a type of exercise that will be fun for you and your dog. "If you are a runner, then run with your dog; if you walk or hike, do the same," suggest Dr. Hofve and Yarnell.

Exercise Improves Mental Health

Many studies have found that exercise is good for our minds as well as our bodies. Cardiovascular exercise helps reduce anxiety and depression, says Ernie Ward, DVM, a certified personal trainer and author of Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs are Getting Fatter: A Vet's Plan to Save Their Lives. "Neither humans or dogs are getting sufficient exercise," says Dr. Ward, but he stresses that diet—how much your dog eats and what he eats—will largely determine whether you and your dog maintain a healthy weight. "Numerous studies show that the major cause of obesity is excess food intake," he says. "It's really important to focus on the food bowl."

The stakes are high: Obesity can cause a wide variety of preventable diseases, including diabetes and many forms of cancer, costing dogs quality of life and shortening their lives, Dr. Ward says. "And it costs pet owners in terms of unnecessary and avoidable vet care," he adds.
How much exercise is enough? "You know when you are getting enough exercise," Dr. Ward says. "Walk your dog every day. Listen to your body and what your pet's body is telling you. When we listen, the answers are all there."

Exercise Advice From Paleo Dog:

1. Always take a bottle of purified water for you and your dog.
2. If your dog is older or has joint disease, don't overexercise him or her.
3. Some experts recommend limiting exercise for giant-breed puppies to 15- to 20-minute walks until their joints are fully mature (12 to 18 months of age). This helps prevent osteochondrosis, a group of painful joint diseases that also affect humans.
4. Never exercise your dog immediately after she eats. Many breeds are susceptible to bloat. The risk goes way up for dogs exercised on a full stomach.
5. Take your buddy to a dog park for off-leash exercise. Be sure he is trained to reliably come when called before you give off-leash privileges.
6. Let her swim! Some breeds are natural water dogs and require no training or acclimation to water, but even dogs that aren't bred for water activities can learn to swim.
7. Dog sports like agility, flyball, obedience, rally obedience, musical freestyle, and tracking can give you and your dog a whole new world of fun exercise and competition to explore.

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Anyone who has ever loved a dog would find life without our four-legged friends unimaginable. But there is much about the dog's origin that remains a mystery.

Scientists agree that the modern dog evolved from the grey wolf. But there is still controversy as to how and when dogs first became domesticated. Jean Hofve, DVM, and Celeste Yarnell, PhD, write in their book, Paleo Dog, "Canine domestication may have occurred more than once, with many and far-flung groups of wolves. Wandering groups of people and semi-domesticated wolves may have subsequently crossed paths, increasing the genetic diversity as their wolf-dogs interbred."

The results of DNA studies on when dogs split from wolves vary wildly, with estimates ranging from 7,000 to 140,000 years ago. Then there are the archeological findings. During a 2012 dig, researchers digging in a Siberian mountain cave discovered an ancient canine skull they estimated to be 33,000 years old. (Equally ancient remains were found in a cave in Belgium.) The researchers said the Siberian artifact was domesticated because of its short, wide muzzle and crowded teeth. Wolves, in comparison, have long, thin snouts. But Kathryn Lord, PhD, who teaches courses in animal behavior and evolution at Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusettes, said the findings are not conclusive, as young wolves also have shorter, wider muzzles.

Scholars also disagree about how dogs became domesticated. Some believe early humans took in wolf pups, raised them, and kept them around for hunting. "It's likely that Paleo (Stone Age) humans knew where the wolves' dens were; they could have taken unattended or orphaned cubs to raise by hand," Dr. Hofve explains. "It wouldn't take long to figure out that the friendliest cubs were the best bet. These naturally tamer pups must have been the ancestors of the modern dog. As human beings shifted from being nomadic hunter-gatherers to farmers living in communities, the wolf stayed with them, and in doing so, changed its ways. Selective breeding began, and so developed the domestic dog."

Another theory is that certain wolves were brave enough to visit these agricultural communities to forage for food. "Suddenly, we had garbage dumps, which to this day is very attractive to animals," Lord says. "The wolves that didn't run away got all the best food."
Eventually, most likely, they began following humans around, just like dogs do today, Lord says.

A 40-year experiment carried out by a Russian scientist, Dmitry Belyaev, supports this theory, according to Lord. Belyaev bred 35 generations of wild silver foxes specifically for the trait of tameness. Over time, the foxes not only bonded with their handlers, but also began to look and sound more like dogs. They barked and even developed spotted fur and floppy ears!

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Recent pet treat recalls prove that when you purchase over-the-counter snacks for your dog, you could be getting more than you paid for—and not in a good way. In early 2013, Chinese-made Hartz brand Chicken Chews and Oinkies Pig Skin Twists were recalled for containing trace amounts of antibiotics banned in the U.S. Milo's Kitchen brand Chicken Jerky and Grillers also harbored dangerous antibiotics. The good news is you can take matters into your own hands when it comes to healthy natural snacks for dogs. And your dog will love them!

"Dog owners can be pretty surprised that dogs like to eat fresh fruit and vegetables at all," says Henrietta Morrison, author of Dinner for Dogs.
Of course, not everything in the produce section suits your pooch. Grapes are a no-no, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) suggests that only 5 to 10 percent of your pet's diet should come from treats.

With that in mind, you may be surprised to find your pup's tail wagging for one of the natural snacks for dogs below:

Carrots

"Carrots are a traditional favorite," says Rick Woodford, author of Feed Your Best Friend Better. "Try a frozen carrot in place of bones to keep a dog's teeth healthy and cool them down in the summer."

If your dog doesn't like to munch on a whole carrot, Woodford suggests grating one and adding it to a meal, or steaming it.

Red Apples

An apple a day keeps the doctor away for humans, but apples also serve as healthy treats for dogs. "One of the most common comments after reading my book is owners say, 'Wow, I didn't know dogs could eat apples,'" explains Morrison. Just try to choose organic to avoid harmful pesticides or waxy coatings that could irritate your dog's mouth.

Kale

This leafy green is a surprising favorite of many dogs both raw and cooked. In America, kale is often downgraded to the status of garnish on an all-you-can-eat buffet. Luckily, families, including dog owners, are starting to tap into the vegetable's super powers. Raw and cooked, kale harbors anticancer compounds that can keep people and pups healthy, and Woodford says dogs often really like the superfood.

Eggs

Eggs sometimes get a bad rap for cholesterol, but many nutritionists are coming around, hailing eggs for their natural balance of healthy fats, proteins, and nutrients. To choose eggs with the highest cache of naturally occurring omega-3s, choose eggs from pastured hens, and look for a farmer who raises a small flock—it lowers the risk of Salmonella contamination. Also, be sure to cook eggs through to avoid sickening your dog.

Squash

There's something about squashes that lures dogs into the garden. "For me, I was initially surprised by how much dogs like squashes," says Morrison. "They adore the sweetness and texture, and it's a very healthy food for them."

Woodford says cooked pumpkin can do wonders for the digestive tract, too, calling it the "great equalizer" because it helps bring dogs that are constipated or with loose stools return "to center."

Many dogs love cucumbers, as well. One farmer told Rodale he found his husky mix pulling them right from the vine for a midafternoon snack. Try slicing cucumber or zucchini for coin-shaped summer treats.

Green Beans

ASPCA lists green beans as a healthy treat for pets, and Woodford suggests giving a few as a treat. For larger quantities, he suggests grating or pulsing them in a food processor to make them more digestible.

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If you find yourself mumbling "Ick!" every time you walk out onto your doorstep and scan your landscape, or grumbling every time you fire up the lawnmower to clear-cut your weed-stricken, uninspiring front lawn, it might be time to employ some of the sustainable landscaping techniques highlighted by Stephen Orr in Tomorrow's Garden: Design and Inspiration for a New Age of Sustainable Gardening. Orr, the gardening editorial director for Martha Stewart Living magazine, traveled all over the country to find examples of beautiful, sustainable landscapes that require little water, designs that work well for nature and people.

In fact, the prestigious New York Times Book Review summer reading issue recommends Tomorrow's Garden, commending Orr's journey highlighting ways to make better plant and landscaping choices. The book is one part inspiration, one part how-to. Often, each story he tells is a blend of the two. For instance, one stop in Orr's book profiles a Brooklyn woman who plants sunflowers along plots of dirt near a new EPA Superfund site.

In telling the tale of Kirstin Tobiasson, the Gowanus Garden Lady, Orr weaves in info on her choices of plant species that help take your eyes away from the industrial Superfund sight: nasturtiums, bee balm, and sunflowers. He also shares examples of sustainable, functional designs in small spaces: the Chicago beekeeper who raises bees in an abandoned parking lot; a Napa, CA, a wall garden made out of recycled roof vents; and a Los Angeles flower gardener who created a business selling cut blooms at farmer's markets. "While doing my book, I was very interested in getting people intrigued by the practices of sustainability by showing them beautiful gardens that choose to move things forward without giving up on aesthetics," says Orr. "Gardens are a thing of beauty—and non-wasteful ones should be the most beautiful of all."

If you're thinking you don't have the money, know-how, or time to make positive change in your outdoor space, wipe that thought out of your mind. Commit to simple weekend projects here and there, and your space will be more earth- and people-friendly before you know it. (Just don't obsess over completing the perfect project…have fun with it!) "Most people who would describe themselves as avid gardeners want to do the right thing by the earth…. We can't be perfect, but we are always striving to do it better," says Orr.

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Here are some weekend projects to help you build a sustainable landscape:

• Turn a small yard into a stress-busting tool. Turn a boring yard into a mind-body-soul-connecting labyrinth. That's what one couple did with their small San Francisco yard, described in Orr's book. They made sure to use drought-tolerant grasses like Berkeley sedge (Carex divulsa in gravel to reduce mowing. Here's how to create a labyrinth.

• Ask yourself the following questions before picking up a shovel. Orr suggests figuring out the answers to the following questions to get a better understanding of what you want in your yard:

1. How do you want to use your outdoor space?
2. How much time do you want to spend gardening and maintaining a garden each week?
3. How can you divide up the space, and with what materials?
4. What is your budget?
5. How much water do you want to put into your garden?

Knowing if you want your area to feed you homegrown produce and herbs, serve as an entertaining area, or all of the above helps you lay out your initial design.

• Redirect rainwater. You could set up a catchment area system, more commonly known as a rain barrel, in an afternoon. Or, you can redirect the rain gutters around your house to make sure the water is going into the earth instead of out into the street, suggests Orr. You can also install a rain garden to prevent excess water sitting around in your yard.

• Build a more absorbent sustainable landscape. Continuous blacktop and concrete make for lots of runoff that winds up carrying pollution into rivers that often serve as drinking water sources. "In the middle of the last century, it was popular to use poured concrete to make impermeable areas in front and backyards," Orr explains. "Now, many gardeners are breaking up those spaces with concrete pavers interspersed with grass or gravel. This setup allows water to percolate down into the soil instead of being deflected into nearby storm drains and ultimately, rivers."

A few Tomorrow's Garden tips for laying down gravel:

1. Although each site is different, as an example, a simple site might require removing 2 to 2½ inches of soil before laying down gravel. (You can use the soil somewhere else around your home, maybe in a raised bed…keep reading.)
2. The soil that will be under the gravel should be compact, not loose. You can use or hire someone to use a plate compactor machine to prep the ground.
3. Don't overdo it. You might only need about ½ inch to 1 inch of gravel over road base (crushed limestone used for highways).
4. Considering mixing two or three different sizes of gravel.

Plain turf lawns, believe it or not, also create a lot of backyard runoff. Orr suggests replacing a section of your lawn with gravel or pavers so more rainwater recharges the groundwater. "Everything we do in our yards is connected to the world around us. I think we sometimes forget about what happens on the other side of the garden fence," Orr says.

• Construct a raised bed. If you'd rather not start shoveling up pieces of your lawn, there are still options—delicious ones that can feed you and your family, at that. Orr says building a raised bed or two allows you to grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs at home using minimal manpower. If you want to add blossoms to the mix, try edible nasturtium or calendula.

• Choose sustainable plants. For a truly sustainable garden, learn the native plants of your state and plant some of them. Also use climate-suitable plants. For instance, planting begonias, impatiens, and petunias in the South and West uses more resources than water-sipping succulent species. And Orr suggests Mediterranean spurge Euphorbia characias for areas like Los Angeles, where water conservation is a necessity.

Learn more at: morninghomestead.com

I was kicking back and putting my feet up on the front deck after a long day, letting the sounds of the country settle around me...and gradually became aware of a tiny but insistent peeping. So I headed back out to the barnyard, where I discovered a tiny brown duckling screaming its lungs out for its mommy. Now, I'd suspected one of my dozen or so brown ducks had stolen under the barn to nest, so it wasn't a complete surprise. I tucked the little fellow next to my skin to warm up, and it settled right down, happy to warm its tiny cold feet.

I hoped that Mom would emerge with a few more little quackers in tow, but that wouldn’t happen until the next day, if at all, which meant setting up a box and a heating pad "nest" in the house to keep this little one safe overnight. Sigh…one more thing to deal with…or…wait: One of the Blue Wyandotte hens was broodie and sitting nearly comatose in a nest box in the chicken room, wasn't she?

Ha! I slipped the duckling under her fluffed feathers, she resettled herself with a sleepy chortle, and we were set until the morning...and I put my feet up again.

Come morning, all was peaceful, hen still firmly sitting, baby warm and happy. I got the little one out and dipped its tiny bill into water a few times then tucked it back under the warm feather comforter. Newly hatched ducks (and other barnyard birds) don't need to eat for about 48 hours; they mostly sleep, subsisting on what remains of the nutrition in the egg they hatched from, but a bit of water is a good idea, especially in really hot conditions—which we were having.

That evening, there was still no sign of Mama Duck, so once it was dark and the hen was deeply asleep, I moved her and baby to a large crate with a nice nest in the back and food and water bowls in the front. Come morning, Ducky was out and dabbling in the water and the new mom was chortling sleepily the way mama hens do: I had a new family.

Over the next few days, I kept an eye out for Mama Duck, but none of the brown ducks acted particularly mom-like or appeared with a family in tow, so I figured that was that. Then, five days after the first duckling appeared, I heard insistent peeping when I came out in the morning...and found, yes, another tiny brown duckling wandering around. I nabbed it, opened the nursery crate, set Ducky No. 2 down behind Chicken Mom, and watched for a few minutes to make sure she didn’t attack it. It waddled over to the first duckling, Mom didn’t bat an eyelash, and now there were two.

Around lunchtime that day I heard—yup—PEEP, PEEP, PEEEEP! Duckling No. 3! This time I snagged it, dropped it right in front of Mom, and went back to whatever I was in the middle of. By evening the two little ones were snuggled under Mom (one popped a head out), No. 1 was still out running around investigating the world, and so, now there were three (and I crossed my fingers that that would be that).

Almost a week later, no more have appeared and the little family is thriving. Mama Hen chortles contentedly most of the time and clucks enthusiastically to call her chicks when I fill the feed bowl, and the babies are warm and happy; completely bonded to their mommy. Want to give raising chickens a try? See if you have what it takes to raise pet chickens!

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Humans aren't the only creatures that are losing the battle of the bulge in the U.S.—so are our pets. 57.6 percent of cats and 52.6 percent of dogs are obese or overweight, according to an annual survey of veterinarians conducted by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP).

What's more shocking than the fact that pet owners allow their fluffy friends to overeat is that a staggering 93 percent of dog owners and 88 percent of cat owners thought that their pets were in a normal weight range. The APOP refers to this as the "fat gap"—the discrepancy between how much a pet should weigh and what the owner thinks is an acceptable weight. In fact, 42 percent of pet owners admitted that they didn't know what a healthy weight for their pet would look like.

While it might seem nice to snuggle up to a squishy pug, the health and quality of life concerns for your pet are staggering and shouldn't be overlooked. "Sorry, but we have to be brutally honest with you," says Jean Hofve, DMV, author of Paleo Dog, "Fat dogs are not cute or cuddly or even comfortable—they are sick. Excess weight reduces life expectancy and increases a dog's risk for many serious health problems." (Check out the other human habit that might be killing your dog.)

Dr. Hofve explains that pet obesity, much like human obesity, leads to joint disease, heart disease, hypertension, respiratory problems, diabetes, liver disease, and cancer.

How can you tell if your dog is at the right weight? Dr. Hofve says, "Ideally, you should be able to easily feel your dog's ribs; from the side, the belly should tuck up, and from the top, there should be a discernable waist."

To combat pet obesity, Dr. Hofve recommends returning your pet to a natural diet. "Commercial pet food has a lot more in common with McDonald's food than its manufacturers want you to know (including the fact that spoiled and discarded food and waste grease from McDonald's may actually be an ingredient in your dog's dry food)," she says.

Try replacing your dog's cardboard-box treats with Hofve's recipe for Carrot Cookies from Paleo Dog.

Carrot Cookies



Ingredients:

1 cup organic coconut oil
2 organic, pasture-raised eggs
½ cup organic unsulfured molasses
2 cups organic coconut flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
Pinch of Himalayan or Celtic sea salt
2 cups steamed, mashed carrots (or baked or steamed and mashed sweet potatoes)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Grease a baking sheet or line a baking sheet with oiled parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, mix the coconut oil, eggs, and molasses.
3. In a large bowl, combine the coconut flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and salt.
4. Gradually add the mashed carrots (or sweet potatoes) and the oil-egg mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix well to form a dough.
5. Drop by bite-size spoonfuls onto the baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until browned.

More: Best Canned Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach and Skin

Antibiotics on your produce? Really? It's a reality that few people know about, but organic apple and pear farmers have been allowed for years to use two antibiotics, tetracycline and streptomycin, on their trees. And the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is about to decide whether to ban the practice for good.

The antibiotics are helpful in controlling a devastating infection called fireblight, which can destroy entire orchards. Antibiotics have never been an ideal way to cope with the disease, say organic supporters, who managed to get the USDA to ban the use of tetracycline on organic apple trees in 2013. Now the National Organic Standards Board, which sets the USDA rules for organics, will be voting at the end of April as to whether to ban streptomycin as well.

The whole practice is certainly controversial. Consumer groups like Consumers Union would like to see a ban on the practice, saying that consumer expectations are that "organic" means "no antibiotics." "We believe that organic apple and pear growers should not release this antibiotic into the environment, which increases the likelihood that antibiotic-resistant pathogens will develop. Organics should be part of the solution—helping to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotic that are critical for use in human medicine," the group wrote in a recent blog post.
But farming groups are divided over the issue. Orchardists at The Rodale Institute, the world's oldest organic farming research organization (and run by the same family that founded Rodale Inc., the publisher of this website), say that antibiotics are a necessary evil:

"Fire blight is extremely destructive, often requiring the removal of entire trees to prevent spreading the disease through an orchard, which can prove economically disastrous for farmers. A newly planted fruit tree takes years to begin to produce a harvest," Amanda Kimble-Evans, editor at The Rodale Institute, wrote for us last year when this issue first came up for debate. "Growers and researchers working in the organic community have been working furiously to find, test and make available alternative solutions. Work has focused on developing fire-blight-resistant varieties of trees, testing preventative biocontrols and dormant oils, establishing bloom-thinning techniques, and various combinations of all these non-antibiotic approaches. None of the individual non-antibiotic options or combinations of options has resulted in a solution that comes close to answering the issue."

She adds that organic farmers in Europe have come to rely heavily on copper to control fire blight, but copper leads to toxic soils in which seeds can't germinate, a condition that can linger for years.

Farmers on the other side of the debate argue that organic apple growers should switch to blight-resistant apple varieties, of which there are many, although they're not the varieties you see at your grocery store, and possibly not even your farmer's market. They go by names like William's Pride, Priscilla, Nova Spy and Liberty.

All the varieties we've known to grow and love, however, are very susceptible to it: Macintosh, Braeburn, Cortland, Gala and Golden Delicious are just a few rated as susceptible or very susceptible by cooperative extension services.

Because consumers are less inclined to buy apple varieties they've never heard of, organic apple farmers are less inclined to grow them.

See Also:
Top 7 Best Homesteading Books for Beginners
Everything You Need To Know About Growing Heirlooms
Best Vegetable Seeds for Planting to Feed Your Family


But here's what's important:

• Organic apple orchards use 0.5 percent of all the antibiotics sold in the U.S. On the other hand, 80 percent are used on cattle, pig, and poultry farms and in fish farming.
• Antibiotics are used only when trees are flowering, not when they're actually producing fruit.
• The Environmental Working Group has found that 98 percent of non-organic apples harbor pesticide residues and 92 percent contain residues of more than two pesticides.
• As the Food and Drug Administration considers approving the first genetically modified apple variety, Arctic apple bred to not brown after being cut, it's more important than ever to support organic apple farmers, who would be a steady, reliable source of GMO-free apples on the market.

Learn More at: https://morninghomestead.com

A relationship with a dog is filled with non-judgmental companionship, enthusiastic greetings, and, of course, pure love. And there are things you can do to make your pet feel the love right back.

"Dogs give us so much that we need to make them a priority if we chose to take on the responsibility of having them," says Kyria Henry, CEO of paws4people, a nonprofit that pairs dogs with people suffering from traumas or mobility issues. As the central subject of the book A Dog's Gift, by Bob Drury, paws4people is a reminder that dogs can even give the gift of healing—so we should be willing to return the favor.

Henry recommends these 7 gifts that you can give back to your dog:

#1: The Truth

Before you get a dog, make sure you're a match. "I think a lot of people rush into buying a dog without considering if they have the right lifestyle or living situation to have a dog," says Henry. "One of the biggest gifts you can give a dog is, before you get one, make sure the dog, the size of the dog, the breeds in it, its temperament [fits with your lifestyle], so that you're setting them up to have a happy and healthy life."

#2: Respect Their Hobbies

Did your parents ever force you to take piano classes when all you wanted to do was play baseball? It was a bummer. And your dog has preferences, too. "Some people think it's great to go out for a two-mile run with their dog, but I have plenty of dogs who hate running, so it's not a reward for them," says Henry.

Henry says they pay careful attention to this kind of thing at paws4people. "For the most part, we're using retrievers for this job because they are the dogs who love this kind of career," she says. "We're setting our dogs up for success by picking dogs who love this kind of work, and people need to do this with their pet dogs, too."

#3: Keep Them at a Healthy Weight

"We can 100 percent control our dogs' diet—they don't fall victim to splurging and eating fast food like we do," Henry points out. "The worst thing you can do is let them be overweight." She assures that, even though they keep on chowing down, they're not still hungry. "You're doing them a favor by keeping them lean because they'll live longer with fewer problems when they're geriatric," she says.


#4: Quality Food

Just as you need good fuel to keep you going, so does your dog. "Different dogs' bodies thrive on different proteins," says Henry. "Some dogs do fine on chicken, but some dogs have really bad allergies to chicken, so they need something more like fish. We always feed good quality, grain-free food."

#5: Supplements

Yep, they make supplements for dogs. "We're a big believer in supplements for your dog," says Henry. "One of our supporters is Dinovite, and it's kind of like a green smoothie for your dog. It's a nutrition boost."

For dogs with specific conditions, Henry recommends Vibrant Pets. "If we have dogs that have additional needs, like for joint support, as they get older, a company that has been good to us is called Vibrant Pets. They have supplements that are specific to solving certain problems or ailments," she says.

#6: Healthy Chew Toys

"We're really pro good-quality, natural bones like marrow bones," says Henry. "They're going to hold up better, they're not going to chip and break apart, and they're not going to make dogs sick—but it's a healthy outlet for dogs to chew." The one thing you should never give your dog, she adds: rawhide.

#7: Brain Games

Dogs can't do crossword puzzles, but you can stimulate their brains. "Kong is another supporter of ours," says Henry. "They have a lot of toys that stimulate mental activity, which I think is really important. They have a lot of feeder toys where dogs have to work through a game to get to their food. And of course, they have the traditional Kong."

She recommends freezing peanut butter in a Kong and leaving it out for your dog when you're away from the house to keep them entertained and stimulated while they're alone. "Kongs provide the physical stimulation and the mental stimulation," she says.

More gift: https://morninghomestead.com/the-ultimate-dog-pool-sale/

Gardening is an art of growing plants which are mostly either for subsistence use or rather for economical purpose. A lot of farmers perfectly know that for effective farming, we all have to use the right tools for gardening. During routine practices, using the right tools ensures that the plants are not destroyed in any way.

Now, selecting the right equipment for gardening practice might seem like an easy task but there are a lot of factors you have to put to consideration. Some of the factors are;

• Your size

For comfortability purposes, we require tools that are relatively corresponding with our body size. For example; if you have a huge body, you require tool of a little larger size for better handling.

• Quality

When choosing a garden tool its important and advisable to go for the best quality tools for long lasting purposes. Despite the fact that quality tools are a little bit expensive, they are strong and have a better handling experience they surely get the job done.

Quality can be difficult when choosing between brands and type of product. Its important to consider the spares and servicing and how long the manufacturers guarantee lasts

• Price

Price is also a factor to consider when choosing the best gardening tool since these tools prices ranges depending on quality. In most occurrences, they high quality tools are often higher priced hence the price and quality go hand in hand. On the other hand, it’s acceptable to choose the equipment of which its price won’t so for stress your pocket.

Having understood some of the qualities to consider when purchasing gardening tools we can proceed and check out some of the ways we can evaluate the quality of garden tools.

We all want the best quality tool to take control of our garden but it could be a little tricky choosing them. Some of these tools’ quality cannot always be assessed by the price since we have shops that overprice their products.

Assess the weight of the tool

It’s important to feel the weight of the tool because we want a tool that is not too light since they might easily break when a undertaking a heavy task. We also don’t need a heavy tool that will make us use a lot of energy when handling them.

This can be hectic and you can be worn out too early before having done a lot in the garden. Pick the tool that has the right weight for you. Besides heavy tool might cause fatigue on your hands and might in some cases be painful.

How does the handle of the tool feel in your hand?

We are humans with different hand sizes and therefore different hand sizes have different preferences. Grip the handle of the tools and decide which one comes in suitable for you. It’s a fact that if the handle is uncomfortable, u won’t use it for quite a long time and what’s the need of spending money on something unbeneficial?

A padded grip will result in fewer blisters and larger handles minimize strain and give a better holding grip to the hand. The length of the handle should maximum exertion with minimal effort while longer handles can allow for two-handed grip and better leverage.

Check out the joint of the tools

It’s important to check and inspect the joint of the tools to be sure there is no damage that might have resulted from shipping, handling or display. While inspecting the joints, check out for cracks, dents, and loose screws if applicable.

Some dealers might not be comfortable to handle issues of broken tools after they have already been purchased. So it’s entirely on your side to be sure that have acquired the perfect tools with no damages.

Check out how the handles attaches to the tool itself. The handle should be firm and not shaky because when its jiggling it might detach itself and in some cases cause injury.

Least expensive tools will have a weak attachment on the joints and they usually separate after a short period of use. Solid socket tools have forged connection from handle to working end and these tools usually last a lifetime.

In cases where you are looking for tools like the hand pruners, you should squeeze them to test the friction in the blades, springs and hinges. Its hectic and uncomfortable to use these tools that are hard to squeeze.

Consider the material

The type of material used in making the tool also varies with the function of the tool. For example; most gardeners prefer wooden handle compared to iron/steel. This might be because of the ease of replacement when broken and for better handling purposes. Plastic is not an advisable material since they easily break during handling a slightly heavy task.

In cases of tools that are used to weeding purposes and digging purposes e.g. the hori-hori knife, you’ll tools made of carbon and stainless steel since they are the best tools for blades. Aluminum tools might be a little cheaper compared to the carbon and stainless but they are generally weak and lightweight.

If you are in need of a lightweight tool, you can go for carbon fiber. They are strong but only suitable for handles and not blades.


The best place to shop for garden tools

There’s always an available garden shop online but having considered the above factors, you’re not sure the tools will satisfy your need. Look for the most reputable garden centers that give you advice about the most durable tools and their functions. They should also have a wide variety of tools to choose from.

More tools:
Best Rubber Boots For Farm Work
7 Best Dump Carts For Lawn and Garden Tractor
The 2 Best Grandpas Chicken Feeders
Best Weeding Hoe, Scuffle Hoe & Hula Hoe for Gardening
Best Gardening Gloves for Thorns & Weeding
Best Potting Benches & Tables With Storage

The great advancement witnessed in the agriculture sector has really changed the world. Today, you don’t need to have a huge garden to plant you favorite crops. You can get food from the smallest piece of space even inside your house.

Aerogardening is one such types of gardening where crops are generally grown inside the house. It is a really easy gardening procedure that comes with manual for easy use.

It is a type of gardening that is becoming popular by the day. It can be used for production of different vegetables so you can always have fresh produce on your table. You can grow flowers, fruits, vegetables and many other things.

The simplicity of this type of gardening is what amazes many people. They sometimes wonder if such things can really be possible. Can a small garden really produce such a bountiful harvest?

Well, after being used for so long by many people, there is no doubt the gardening works. Those who have been there can bear witness to how great such indoor gardening is.

But how can you get the best out it? That is what worries many people. Some even give up, thinking it is too late. It is very important to understand how it works even though it looks easy. And here are the best tips o get to get you started.



Get ready for to move the plants

It is vital to be well prepared before you put up the garden. You may be thinking of growing more than just herbs. Understand therefore that you will need to expand your garden generally.

Get ready to transplant them, because sooner or later, they will outgrow the limits of the garden. There are many types of plants that may be able to stay alive for months in the same house. After growing, they will have to be moved to a larger space. If is your intention to get more produce from such plants, for instance peppers and tomato, you will to have a plan in place.

You can plant them for some time, but that will not work anymore when the room becomes too small. You plants will require breathing room because they also need space.

Unfortunately, most people don’t understand how to care for their plants. They don’t prepare early enough to move when the time comes, exposing their produce to unworthy conditions.

Choose the right plants

Just because you can use the indoor garden, it does not mean that you can use it for any plants. And maybe you saw from a neighbor what they did and thought you might want to try it as well. It will be a mistake not to consider careful what you choose.

Some plants give more produce in the indoor environment than others. For instance, varieties of lettuce, endive, arugula, thyme and similar plants grew better than in an outside environment.

For such a reason, one must be very careful how they choose what to plant indoors. Be careful to avoid plants that grow up in size later. But if you are planning to plant them later, then you can go ahead and plant them.

In this case, consider as well plants that grow naturally in your region. The good news is you don’t have to focus on seasonal one since indoor growing allows you to grow any time of the year. Still, you should pick the right ones.

Consider what you want to get out of your produce. Is it for personal use or for commercial purpose? In any of this case, whatever you plant will be give as per your expectation.

Choose you seedlings

This is one of the areas many people go wrong. If you are going to seriously engage in indoor gardening, you must understand how to get your seeds. It is advisable to choose only one see of one plant at a time.

Choosing same kind o seed in the garden may lead to overgrowing and nutrient deficiency. Because this is a small area, even the seedlings you choose should be based on their maximum height. As they continue to grow, you will need to uproot those that are not growing well and let the healthy ones grow.

Consider joint plantation

You need to have your plants growing together. To ensure this, plant the seedlings at the same time. This will lead to better result.
It is so beautiful and amazing to watch your plants growing together. It is not only beneficial to you but to the plants as well. You need to have the best produce and that comes from the best consideration during the initial planting.

Do not use plastic dome

You are advice to get the best protection for your plants. But many first time gardeners make the mistake of using the wrong dome. A plastic dome is a reason to get mold growing in your grow room. This will have a huge negative impact to the growth of your plants.

You will be given such domes along with the product for controlling the humidity. One advantage of aerogarden is the production of maximum produce. You therefore don’t really need to use the domes. They will only encourage growth and development of molds.

It will not make sense that you invest some much in the garden only to witness your plants become moldy and die.

Keep your plants trimmed

How to care for the plants after they have grown to the right size is vital. Do not just assume the plants will develop naturally. They need help and support through proper care. Trimming the plants occasionally lets you use them for a long time. They grow faster and healthier as well.
But you have to be careful during this process as well. It is very easy to get your plants sickly and possibly dies if don’t trim to the right size. You can trim it to the lowest level, but don’t go too low. Therefore, learn the right care needs for your plants.

Give your grow room some space

Many types and models of gardens have come up today. Many of them come with seven pods. But do you have to use all the pods at once?
Some roots end to grow and crowd in other pods. Tomato and peppers for instance can get really large. In such a case, you can transfer some to the extra pods.

Keep your garden clean

Dirt is the number one cause of death to many plants in the garden. There are some plants that are so sensitive you have to wash your hands before touching. This shows how important it is to keep things clean in the room.


Keep your seed packaging safe

Sometimes you may want a refund for poor seeds. The manufacturer may provide a refund but you will need the packaging.
These are just some of the tips you can follow for great produce. There are many other, but you need something to start from. We hope it helps.

Sources:

https://www.aerogarden.com/media/wysiwyg/kbase/507323-0000_Lit_Insert_GrowAnything_02_09_15.pdf
https://morninghomestead.com/aerogarden-ultra-led-review/
https://www.nairaland.com/3992260/optimizing-photosynthesis-indoor-growth
https://morninghomestead.com/best-aerogarden-reviews/
https://morninghomestead.com/aerogarden-classic-7-review/
https://www.nairaland.com/4315608/15-best-plants-every-room
https://elliotthomestead.com/much-need-plant-feed-family/
https://elliotthomestead.com/everything-need-know-growing-heirlooms/

An incubator is a device used in keeping eggs warm in the correct temperature and executing all the required measures to hatch them successfully. This practice is mostly done by poetry farmers for certain reason beneficial to them. Some of these reasons are;

* Chicken deformities/ injury – this is where the chicken is deformed or injured in way that it might find it uncomfortable to hatch all the eggs successfully.
* For experimental purposes – some farmers are passionate about what they do and hence they’ll have to have a glimpse of everything that comes with it. They will practice it to see whether it turns out to be better option than the naturally way of hatching the chicks
* There are some cases of breeding where the chicken instead of spending 21days hatching the eggs, it’s relieved of the time and its out there breeding once more. This also results to fast chick multiplication.
* In cases of chicken death, it might also prompt the farmer to use an incubator as an alternative.



Hatching fertile chicken eggs under an incubator can be a rewarding experience if all goes well after 21 days. However, its important to know that hatch naturally hatched eggs are far more higher than incubated eggs. This means that in order to obtain high yield results from an incubator, certain incubator measures should not be ignored.

Choose a reputable breeder, local farm or hatchery.

Shipping eggs makes them less productive due to handling purposes foe example; they could be constantly moved around, left out in the sun, and jostling mostly during shipping. This can damage the contents of the egg even if it doesn’t break and for this reason its better to choose your eggs locally or better still hatch your own eggs. Even when choosing your own eggs, make sure to choose the best eggs in shape, size and clean. If at all u will need to acquire your eggs locally, then do it from a trusted shop.

There are hatcheries u can obtain advice on how to handle and the measures u should take for better productivity. They should be able have good broodiness and feed their birds a healthy diet. The conditions the birds are kept in will give you an idea of the breeding stock. Eggs from a poorly bred chicken will not produce fertile eggs.

Its important that the chocks should be up to date with worming since it has an impact on the eggs.

Age of the eggs & storage

Its recommended that eggs should not be left out too much before being introduced to the incubator. They should not be more than 7-10 days any older eggs than might not be very productive. In some instances where you are not ready to hatch the eggs immediately, they should be kept in a cool place with temperature degrees of 60.

They should also be inclined in an angle of 45degrees (with the pointy end down). Turning the eggs gently few times also ensures that the yolk is centered. Remember this should not last more than 7-10 days. Any further time, the eggs productivity drop.

See also: How Much Does It Cost To Produce A Dozen Eggs?

Choosing a good incubator

For a successful hatch rate, the incubator you use must be of high consideration. Its important to use a well construct incubator than can be more secure for the chicks. Go for certified incubators since there are lots of poor quality incubator out in the market. After choosing your preferred incubator, you should test them. Test the temperature to be sure you can maintain a constant environment throughout the hatch.

Setting the incubator

Purchasing an incubator is one thing while setting it up is another. You should be keen on what environment to set up the incubator since a little rise or drop in temperature will affect the conditions of the eggs. the set up manual that comes with the incubator has instructions on how to set the incubator. Do not set the incubator near sunny windows or in a room that has fluctuating temperatures.

The best recommended way of testing the conditions of the incubator; fill the water channels according to the instructions in manufacturers manual then let it run overnight. Here, you can be able to note if there’s any faults in the incubator and conclude if it’s the perfect conditions for conditions for your eggs.

Keep the incubator clean.

Take good hygiene precautions when handling the incubator. Its good practice to disinfect your hands before handling the eggs in the incubator. Care should be taken not to break the eggs while handling. Use disinfectants to disinfect the incubator to prevent the existence of bacteria in that may interfere with the developing embryo.

Turn the eggs

There is much than just laying the eggs in the incubator and waiting for them to yield. The eggs should be turned atleast few times a day. This prevents adhesion of the embryo to the inner shell membrane and this stimulates the rate of development.

Taking these tips to consideration will result into high hatch rate.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEE4QPgCqdw
https://morninghomestead.com/what-feed-baby-chickens-hatching/
https://morninghomestead.com/best-chicken-egg-incubators-reviews/
https://elliotthomestead.com/warm-chickens-without-burning-coop/
https://morninghomestead.com/best-chicken-coops-for-sale/
https://morninghomestead.com/best-probiotics-chickens-reviews/