keep animals away from plants

Best Animal Options for Your Family Homestead – Let us look at chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, sheep, cows, beef cattle, and pigs.

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Best Animal Options for Your Family – Let us look at chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, sheep, cows, beef cattle, and pigs.

One of the most exciting parts of having a homestead is being able to raise animals. However, it is extremely important to do your research before purchasing an animal because you want it to thrive on your homestead without complications.

  1. Selecting an animal for your homestead is largely dictated by why you want the animal in the first place.
    • First, you want to ask yourself what your goals are. Some people want to butcher their animals, while others want them for show.
    • These will determine which animals you will purchase and how you will feed and shelter them.
  2. The second question you want to ask yourself is whether you are permitted to have animals on your homestead.
    • This is particularly important for those that are establishing an urban homestead, as cities and towns tend to have strict rules regarding which animals are allowed in those areas.
  3. The third consideration is the space.
    • You want to determine how much room your animals will take up on your homestead. You want to ensure that each animal has enough space to grow and thrive.
    • Larger homesteads can accommodate larger animals, while the smaller land plots should stick with animals that occupy a minimal amount of territory.
    • If you must leave your homestead often, you may want to consider keeping animals that are known to be self-sufficient.
    • Animals like rabbits and chickens can be okay on their own for days at a time, so long as automated systems for feeding and watering are provided.
  4. Another crucial aspect to consider is if your animal will produce something useful to you, such as protection, eggs, manure, fur, or meat. If you’re going to spend money and time on an animal on your homestead it should give in return. Especially since the point of having a homestead is to be self-sufficient.
    • Most of your animals should be giving you some type of food or something you can make an income from like sheep fur. You should also think about the animals’ adaptability to your climate. Different breeds are better equipped to handle the cold, while others flourish in the heat.

These points of consideration will help you determine whether an animal is a good fit for your homestead or not because they will all have their inevitable pros and cons.

Let us look at chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, sheep, cows, beef cattle, and pigs.

  • The benefit of having chickens on your homestead is that you will be provided with eggs and meat. Chickens are versatile animals and are fit for small or large homesteads.
    • They are usually low-cost, and maintaining them is quite simple (feed them, give them water, and ensure they are protected at night). The disadvantages of raising chickens are The noise., The length of time required for them to lay eggs (up to 24 weeks for some chickens)., The fact that they are prey animals.
  • Rabbits can also be raised for meat, but with a simpler process than chickens. Rabbits offer versatility to your homestead.
    • They reproduce rapidly, which provides lots of meat for consumption, while the maintenance costs are also relatively low. The main disadvantage of having rabbits is that they are prey animals, which means they demand an effective sheltering strategy. The cleaning of their cages is something that needs to be done often, and most people don’t consume rabbit meat which makes it harder to sell.
  • Ducks are like chickens as they can provide meat and eggs. They require a pond or pool, so that is something to consider.
    • Their eggs are larger than chickens, and their meat is rich and delicious. Ducks are less prone to diseases when you compare them to chickens and have a lower infant mortality rate. The main disadvantage is that it takes roughly six months for ducks to begin laying eggs. They need to be locked away during the nighttime, or else they risk swimming in the night, making them prey. They are also quite noisy and messy.
  • Goats and sheep can be quite difficult to manage as they aren’t particularly obedient to fencing parameters. However, goats produce milk, which is an excellent alternative for people who cannot digest cows’ milk, cheese, and meat.
    • They are also excellent at clearing overgrown land. They can easily be raised in a backyard or on a large farm. Some of the disadvantages are that they need to be sheltered adequately to control their potential escapes and tend to require a lot more care than other farm animals. Sheep are like goats but can also provide additional fiber benefits.
  • Cows are wonderful animals to keep for milk. They also require minimal daily care aside from milking (if you have a dairy cow) and feeding.
    • The disadvantages are that they require a lot of space and a lot of hay for grazing. Breeding cows can also be extremely complicated, with low birth rates. This makes it hard to earn income from cows, so it’s possible that having a cow would only be good for family to eat.
  • Pigs are a great animal to have for meat which makes up for their intimidating comportment. The good thing is that these animals consume anything, so you don’t have to throw away items you no longer need.
    • They also produce a lot of meat, which makes them effective for feeding a family. In addition, they breed rapidly, rendering them an excellent income source. However, they do have their disadvantages. They consume a lot of food, can be escape artists (so they require proper fencing), and become harder to raise the larger they get.

Family A would do well with chickens, rabbits, and ducks. The quantity of each animal remains highly dependent on the size of their land plot. Similarly, families B and C would do well with larger animals like cows and pigs, although they can also include smaller animals in their homestead if they desire.

  • If your homestead has been plagued by pest activity, you may consider having barn owls, cats, dogs, frogs, or ladybugs.
  • Barn owls are experts at hunting rodents and can help you control the rodent population on your homestead. You can attract them by providing shelter in strategic areas.
  • Other birds are also effective at controlling pests like slugs, webworms, grasshoppers, and snails, which will benefit your garden.
  • Cats are another excellent animal for rodent control. Dogs can assist with bedbugs and termites. They have excellent sniffing abilities that help cut pest control costs by locating the initial population or ensuring that no pests have remained after treatment.
  • Frogs are effective for insect hunting. However, they may consume ladybugs, which are beneficial, and another pest control animal that feeds on aphids (which kill crops). Regardless, frogs are great to have around if you struggle with caterpillars, moths, or beetles.
  • Another concern for a lot of homesteaders is snakes. Dogs, chickens, cats, geese, and ducks are known to be effective at controlling the snake population.
  • Note that these animals can only handle baby snakes, so adequate measures need to be taken to control larger snakes on your land.

How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garden – How to preserve your harvest

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How to Keep Animals Out of Your Garden

Your garden is thriving. You are harvesting and enjoying the fruits of your labor, and a few animals want to join the party. As much as you may be sympathetic to their cause, you can’t let them bring chaos into the order you have meticulously created in your garden. So, how to keep animals away from your garden becomes a vital skill.

Fence

The first thing you can do to minimize the appearance of pests is to fence your garden. Higher fences will keep animals like deer away, while shorter fencing can help keep animals out like rabbits.

Wire cloche

The second protection method to consider is a wire cloche. This one is effective when you notice that a particular plant has been under attack. Place these on top of the specific plant; they will keep animals from chewing on your hard work.

Baffles

Baffles are domes that can be attached to poles. This method is designed to keep squirrels away.

Hot pepper sauce

Hot pepper sauce can be sprayed on your plants to change their taste. This will make them unappealing to pests and reduce their motivation to keep snacking on your produce. You can make this solution at home by creating a fusion of hot pepper sauce and natural dish soap.

  • Add some water and place the mixture into a spray bottle.
  • You can also use store-bought repellents, but these will be highly dependent on what type of pests you have.
  • Speak to an expert for additional assistance.

Aside from these methods, you could opt to grow plants that repel animals. For example, lavender is a great plant to grow if you want to repel insects like mosquitoes, moths, and fleas. This plant is great to be placed near your house entryway as well.

  • Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrum, which is utilized in dog shampoo to ward off insects. The plant’s benefits are found even in its natural form.
  • The pyrethrum can kill ticks, roaches, spider mites, ants, and even bedbugs. You can place them in pots dispersed throughout your garden.
  • Basil keeps away houseflies and mosquitoes. This plant is best kept in sitting areas around your garden. Nasturtiums are perfect for planting amidst your vegetables and your flower beds.
  • If you decide to grow mint as a protective plant, ensure that it is kept in a confined pot, as it can spread and grow rapidly, eventually overtaking your garden. Other plants to consider are petunias and rosemary.

Another way to keep animals out of your garden without harming them is to employ noise. This will make the animals think that a predator or a human being is in the garden, which will decrease the likelihood of them showing up uninvited.

  • Leaving a radio on or hanging wind chimes can be an effective tool. You can also consider providing an alternative nourishment source for the animals. This will help them focus on consuming what you set out instead of nibbling on your plants. An example would be to install a bird feeder and see how the animals respond.

How to preserve your harvest

So, your garden is producing, and now, you have an abundance of homegrown produce at your disposal. First, you should start preserving your harvest so that you have access to good fresh food for months to come. You can preserve your foods by fermenting, freezing, canning, drying, or infusing.

Fermentation for preserving is one of the oldest food preservation methods. This process can increase the availability of nutrients and introduce probiotics through a process called Lacto-fermentation. Most vegetables respond well to fermentation.

Through fermentation, you can also obtain yogurt, miso, kimchi, tempeh, kombucha, and sourdough. This process is sometimes done by adding salt to a food item; it generates a ripe environment for microbes to multiply while the harmful bacteria are unable to thrive. This leads to yeast being present and actively breaking down the food item, turning it into acid and other compounds. This acid is what produces the tarty flavor that fermented products have.

When you collect vegetables from your garden, shred them and place them in Ziplock bags. Then, put them in the freezer for long-term preservation and consumption. This is one of the simpler food preserving methods. Most fruits and vegetables that are put in the freezer do not look or taste appetizing once defrosted. You won’t get that “crunch” like when you bite into a fresh from the garden cucumber or that savory taste when you eat a fresh strawberry.

So, if you’re going to freeze fruits and veggies just know that most of them will do well as prep-ready foods for cooking, making into smoothies, jams, and juices. Then there is the canning process that has been around for over 200 years. Water bath canning and pressure canning.

Each type is best for certain foods and this method allows you to preserve food in airtight jars in the pantry that can last a long time. If you’re going to go this route which is time-consuming but very rewarding you for sure need a large pantry or plenty of shelf storage. You can also dehydrate your food and store them in a jar. These will be ready for use whenever you need them.

  • This is the drying method, and it involves extracting moisture from a food item to prevent the growth of bacteria.
  • This can be done by the oven or a dehydrator. If you can’t get a dehydrator, the oven is just as good but takes longer. You want to heat your oven as low as you can. Usually, 140°F or lower. You want to cut the food the same thickness. A sliver works great for this. They pop in the oven for about 8 hours or until the food has shrunk and is crispy. If it’s fully done it will give you a snap sound and should break. If it just bends, then it still has moisture in it and needs to bake longer. Note the thinker the food is the longer it will take. Once the food has cooled completely store it in jars.
  • Air drying is effective when you want to preserve spices and herbs. Infusion is the process of extracting the chemical compounds of certain foods into a solvent, such as alcohol or oil, which will allow the final product to become a synergy between the food item and the liquid.
  • Infusion is great if you want to create things like infused honey, oils, vinegar, alcohol, and much more. You want to make sure that your vegetables or fruits of choice are not scraped or bruised. Sterilize your containers to eradicate the risk of residual pathogens being present.
  • Once your final product is created, you can freeze or refrigerate it to preserve its quality. This will also decrease the probability of bacterial reproduction.