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There’s nothing more rewarding (or adorable) than raising chicks in the springtime. Whether you’re expanding your flock or starting fresh, May is the perfect time to raise healthy, happy backyard chickens. Here’s your chick-raising checklist to make sure you have everything you need: Brooder Setup Brooder box – A plastic tote, livestock trough, or chick brooder works great Heat source – Use a brooder heat plate or heat lamp (with safety precautions) Thermometer – Keep temps around 95°F the first week, lowering weekly by 5°F Feed & Water Starter feed – Choose a chick-specific crumble with high protein (18–20%) Waterers...

Spring is the perfect time to prepare your garden and pasture for a season of strong growth and abundant harvests. Proper soil care, the right fertilizer, and selecting quality seeds can make all the difference in your pasture’s yield and your garden’s success. Whether you're growing crops, raising livestock, or simply maintaining a backyard garden, here are the essential steps to get your land ready for spring. 1. Start with a Soil Test Healthy soil is the foundation of a productive garden or pasture. Testing your soil before planting helps you understand its pH levels, nutrient content, and any deficiencies...

Most pet owners are diligent about feeding their pets a healthy, nutritious diet. It can be tempting, however, to offer a pet a tasty treat, especially on a special day such as a holiday or the pet's birthday, or even as a reward for mastering a new trick or obeying a command. There are some foods, however, that can be toxic to pets and should never be offered, even in small quantities. The Effects of Toxic Foods on Pets Giving a pet inappropriate foods can have many possible consequences, from mildly uncomfortable side effects to dangerous, even deadly results. The...

Cats and dogs are naturally meat-eaters, and grain-free treats are all the rage to offer your pets. But how appropriate are grains, really, in your pet's diet? What types of treats are suitable and how can you find the best options to meet your pet's nutritional needs? Grain and Your Pets Naturally carnivorous pets such as cats and dogs require diets high in protein and made of mostly meat for strong, healthy muscles and overall nutritional balance. While it is true that carnivores cannot easily digest grains, modern domesticated dogs and cats can usually eat small amounts of grain without...

Ulcers – sores in the gastric lining of the stomach or colonic ulcers in the hindgut – can make feeding a horse a proper diet more challenging. With conscientious effort and thoughtful care, however, you can ensure your horse has the appropriate nutrition without aggravating this often painful condition. How Horses Get Ulcers The exact causes of ulcers in horses can be difficult to diagnose, but it is a widespread problem among all ages, genders, breeds, and conditions of horses. Stress is believed to be a strong factor in the development of ulcers, and horses that generate excessive stomach acid...